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MPG open up digital credits debate to wider record industry
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 24 June 2010
The Music Producers Guild is launching a campaign called Credit Where Credit’s Due which is calling on the record industry to set up a standard database for filing production credits and information for all album releases, and to then make that database available to digital music services so said information can be provided as metadata on download and streaming platforms.
The campaign follows a recent debate among the producer community on the MPG’s website about the fact that, in the digital age, where album sleeves and liner notes have generally been phased out, those involved in the sound recording process are no longer actively credited for their work on records. Other trivia, such as which studios were used for recording an album, are also harder to find. The MPG thinks some sort of new data service is needed so those working behind the scenes on records are still credited.
In a statement announcing the campaign, the MPG says: “Actively crediting contributor’s inspiration and hard work is standard across all forms of the creative spectrum from movies to art galleries. Why, then, has the collective music business let this slide? Blackberrys and iPhones have technology that can help you find your car, keep tabs on your bank balance or check how straight your shelves are. Yet we don’t know the name of the musician shredding
the guitar solo you happen to be listening to”.
Producer and MPG director Tommy D told CMU: “Credit information needs to be incorporated into the listening experience and made accessible for those that wish to know it, need it, account to it and, most importantly, be inspired by it. We should be proud of the work we do and ensure our names are proudly attached to that work. If we’re not, who will be?”
Fellow MPG director Mick Glossop, meanwhile, said recording studios should also get involved in any credit database project, so that artists self-releasing their own recordings are encouraged to document who is involved in their studio work.
He told CMU: “Archiving is the responsibility of the recording copyright holder, and this has traditionally been the record companies. However, many artists are now DIY, and are record companies themselves. Most artists will have no knowledge of these issues, and archiving will not have even appeared on their radar. There’s a business opportunity here for recording studios which have archiving facilities to offer this service to DIY artists who run their own record companies”.
As a first stage of their campaign, the MPG has set up a special website and are inviting all interested parties, including artists, labels, publishers and music fans as well as producers to join the debate. The website is at www.creditisdue-mpg.co.uk
