HomeInsightsBritish Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors delivers letter to Bulgarian Ambassador to ask for support in protection of copyright

Contact

On 1 January 2018, Bulgaria took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU for six months. On 13 February 2018, BASCA Chair Crispin Hunt, BASCA CEO Vick Bain and members Nitin Sawhney and Mira Calix visited the Bulgarian Embassy in West London to personally deliver a letter to the Ambassador and ask for his country’s support for future creativity and culture in Europe.

One of the key priorities on the agenda of the Bulgarian Presidency is the Digital Single Market. In particular, copyright legislation, which aims to harmonise the essential rights of authors and of performers, publishers and broadcasters, is a key priority.

BASCA says that the EU needs modern copyright rules fit for the digital age. The Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market is the first update of copyright legislation for 20 years. The European Commission has presented legislative proposals to make sure that consumers and creators can make the most of the digital world and ensure a fairer market place for online content. BASCA says that it has campaigned consistently for the past few years to “ensure that the wording of this legislation will best protect and support songwriters and composers.”

BASCA CEO Vick Bain said: “The Copyright Directive is in now its final stages and so it is vitally important the voice of the music creators and performers are heard at the highest level. That is why BASCA organised a meeting with the Bulgarian Ambassador in order to ensure our points of concern over the future of music and culture in the EU are delivered directly to the Bulgarian Presidency”.

BASCA member Nitin Sawhney said: “Campaigning to ensure songwriters and composers are protected and can earn a liveable income from digital platforms such as YouTube and Spotify is an essential aspect of the BASCA mandate. In that regard, it was an honour yesterday to meet with the Bulgarian Ambassador and ensure the voice of songwriters and composers was heard in this important debate”. To read BASCA’s press release in full, click here.

Topics