Sony/ATV chief calls for songwriter credits on streaming services

Sony/ATV Music Publishing chairman and CEO Martin Bandier, while being recognised with an award at a National Music Publishers’ Association’s (NMPA) function in New York, aired a commonly held grievance by songwriters around the world.

Bandier called for streaming services to fully and clearly credit songwriters, saying it was essential as more major acts were using a committee of songwriters to make hits. 

“The fruits of our labour are not being equitably rewarded and we are not benefitting from the streaming revolution as meaningfully as we should,” he said, after receiving a lifetime achievement trophy from Smokey Robinson. 

“I’ve always believed that songwriters are not getting proper recognition. This is even more prevalent today on the leading music streaming services.

“Far too often the songwriter’s contribution is overlooked or even forgotten.

“I have no doubt that this lack of public recognition has played a major part in why songwriters are not treated on an equal basis as the recording artist.

“When I look today at the likes of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, I ask: where are the names of the songwriters? 

“They are either not there or so hidden that you would have to be a special prosecutor, or perhaps The Washington Post to find them. 

“It is as if the songwriters do not exist and the only people who matter are the recording artists.

“However, without the songwriters coming up with the words and music in the first place, there would be nothing for the artist to record and no music to stream.”

Spotify recently launched its Secret Genius program, which is designed to spotlight and support songwriters better. The scheme will see curated playlists, sognwriting camps, podcasts, awards and other initiatives.