The implementation of the EU's Copyright Directive, the launch of the legal download services, the growth of support within government circles and another 250 excellent editions of the CMU Daily were all (possibly) reasons why Peter Jamieson, chairman of the UK music industry trade body the BPI, felt he could say the last year had been one of "remarkable progress" in the British music industry.
However he warned industry players at the BPI AGM in London yesterday that there was still much work to do. A particular issue of concern, he said, was persuading EU officials to increase the copyright on recorded music from the current 50 years - a bid to stop all those rock 'n' roll recordings of the fifties from coming out of copyright in Europe.
Other areas of concern for Jamieson included the failure of the BPI to make a deal with the UK's independent music trade body, AIM, and the dominance of Apple's iTunes in the digital music space. On the latter he added: "Very few of our members have expressed delight with the terms offered by Apple".
Elsewhere at the AGM, more committee style things. Sony boss Rob Stringer and Warner chairman Nick Phillips were re-elected as major label reps on the BPI Council, while Liberty Bell Production's Steve Mason, First Night's John Craig and the man behind the legendary success of One True Voice, Pete Waterman, were all elected to the Council as independent members.