The Law of Averages: The Use and Abuse of Statistics in UK Music Streaming Debates

In the UK, three legislative recommendations have been made to improve recording artists’ remuneration from streaming: equitable remuneration, rights reversion, and contract adjustment. As proposed, each measure would witness the recording artists’ share of revenue increase at the expense of the recording companies’ share. This article addresses the recording industry’s attempt to thwart these recommendations on the grounds that average royalty rates have improved. First, it looks at evidence relating to royalty rates and finds that the increase is less marked than has been presented. Second, it argues that improvement to average royalties does not provide a legitimate means for rejecting these proposals.