European Composer and Songwriter Alliance

The overarching mission of ECSA is to improve the economic and social conditions of European music composers and songwriters. The professional advancement of composers and songwriters is therefore at the heart of ECSA’s very existence. Composers and songwriters were affected by the economic crisis. The audience of some music genres has been shrinking at a steady pace. But more importantly, the capabilities of digital network technologies have had a tremendous impact on the system of copyright that is at the basis of composers and songwriters’ revenues, a) because they facilitate the illegal dissemination of protected works, but more importantly, b) because they further accentuate the concentration of revenues on a limited number of artists enjoying worldwide fame (usually in the Anglo-Saxon repertoire), with a direct impact on cultural diversity. Fostering the adaptation of composers and songwriters to the challenges but also the opportunities that new technologies offer will therefore be ECSA’s first priority for the 2014-2017 time period. Two aspects related to professional adaptation to the digital age will be covered by ECSA’s activities: • Digital technologies need not be a threat for composers and songwriters: they also enable the transmission of works on an unprecedented scale and can help composers build new audiences (in particular the youth) through IT channels these audiences are familiar with. ECSA will adopt a positive approach and help composers and songwriters harness the power of new technologies. • Digital technologies do not have to undermine composers and songwriters’ remuneration: the real question is about the fairness of new revenue-sharing business models in the digital age. Over the 2014-2017 timeframe, ECSA will therefore strive to help European composers and songwriters adapt to the digital age, both professionally (by improving their professional IT skills) and commercially (by fostering collective thinking on new business models).