FAQ
What is fair music?
Fair music is an initiative founded by mica-music austria and supported by many partners in Europe. It seeks to bring fair conditions to the music business by strengthening the position of both fans and artists. This includes fostering cultural diversity and the provision of appropriate remuneration and recognition for artists. In return, the fan can be sure to purchase a fair music labelled album, concert ticket or music download that significantly supports the artist and his/her work.
What does fair music do?
Fair music will brand venues, albums and online music services with the fair music label if the respective meets the fair music standards. These standards have been developed by several stakeholders and ensure that artists will receive adequate payments for their work and that the conditions under which music is performed, produced or sold are equitable.
Why is it important to make the music business more fair?
In the recent past, the access for musicians to the music market was closely linked to record labels, which took over the costs of producing and distributing music. Unfortunately, this ‘gate-keeper-function’ led to a disequilibrium concerning contractual conditions for artists, which had to struggle with a weak bargaining position.
To reverse this situation and in order to grant musicians all over the world access to music markets, an independent organisation is needed, at the one hand supporting the right of musicians to obtain an adequate remuneration for their art and on the other hand ensuring consumers that the money they spend on music is received by the artist. This part is played by the fair music initiative, which strives to bridge this gap in the music industry.
What are the fair music standards?
Fair music has developed several standards under which music should be produced, performed and sold in order to guarantee that artists will receive appropriate remuneration and recognition. Only if these standards are satisfied, the regarding organisation (i.e. label, venue or online music service) will be allowed to use the fair music logo. Overall, there are 3 different standards:
a) Standard for Recorded Music: certifying contracts between record labels and artists.
b) Standard for Online Music Services: certifying contracts between online music services and artists.
c) Standard for Live Performance: certifying contracts between artist and venues.
The standards have been developed in collaboration with fair music stakeholders (artists, labels, NGOs, etc.) and are revised on a regular basis. Here you can find a link to the Standards
How is the compliance with the standards monitored?
The creation of a fair music agency as independent certification organisation is in a planning stage. The staff will control and monitor the labelled organisations and take the necessary measures if the standards are not adhered to.
At the beginning of the certification process, several contracts of a label, venue or online music service are checked. Additionally, interviews with artists who have worked for these organisations are conducted and the accounting between organisation and artist is audited. If certification is successful, the certified organisation will be allowed to use the fair music logo (note: there are exact regulations on how the fair music label has to be used). After 3 years, the certification has to be renewed.
In which phase is the fair music project currently?
At the moment, the fair music project phase is soon about to end. After the end of the project, the creation of the fair music agency, the question of funding and further issues will be addressed to implement the fair music certification mechanism.
How can I contribute?
There are several ways to contribute to fair music. First of all, you can subscribe the newsletter to receive information about events and activities. Or you could become a supporter of fair music and sign the fair music manifesto by sending an email to office@fairmusic.net. If you are an artist, producer or any other stakeholder in the music business, answering the questionnaire on the fair music standards for recorded music will help us to develop and adjust the existing standards.
Where can I buy fair music labelled products?
Since the project is still in progress, fair music labelled products are not yet available in the usual points-of-sale. But it is the long-term goal of the fair music initiative to convince retailers and record shops of offering fair music labelled products.
The first example for distributing fair music was set up at the homepage of mica-music austria with the following link: http://shop.musicaustria.at/pages/product/fair.jsp
