Fucking BPI fucking favouring the fucking major labels over the fucking indies, fucking wankers. Not my words I should stress and, more importantly, not the words of the UK indie sector either. Got that? Good. The record label trade body has responded to allegations that the independent sector would be angry at the news that budget cuts for 2008 mean that the four major record companies will be contributing up to 30% less to the BPI pot.
BPI bosses revealed earlier this week that the industry association will streamline next year so to reduce the burden on the majors. The decision followed comments by new EMI boss Guy Hands, who criticised how much the major record labels paid to trade bodies, though the BPI stress the streamlining plans were already in place sometime before those comments were published. While the majors' investment into the BPI will fall in 2008, indie labels will continue to pay the same, though the trade body insist that move has the support of the independent label owners, pointing out that the indie label rate for joining the BPI is already pretty damn low (£75 plus 10% of PPL royalties).
Asked if the budget changes would alienate the indies, BPI chief Geoff Taylor told Billboard: "The relationship between the BPI and the indie sector is fantastic, and that's why our membership has grown. And there has been absolutely no protest. The bar on indie subs is already set so low so as many companies as possible can join. That's recognized by our indie membership and that's why it's growing".