Understanding IP Matters

Rock On – ‘Cracker’ Lead Singer Advocates for Musicians and Creators

November 02, 2022 David Lowery Season 2 Episode 4
Understanding IP Matters
Rock On – ‘Cracker’ Lead Singer Advocates for Musicians and Creators
Show Notes Chapter Markers

Songwriter and copyright activist, David Lowery, led a class action against Spotify for failure to pay songwriters and publishers fairly. He won a $43 million settlement. Copyright is not only about creator survival, it is about who gets to determine what is creative and what and how the market values it. 

Music business pre-internet
Advocating for musicians in response to internet piracy
YouTube's low royalties harm small artists
How does the modern digital environment compare to the past for musicians?
Pop music is better suited to survive in this digital era
Risk and revenue sharing structures
Tech companies are adverse to paying for creative content
Popular artists like Sonny Bono and Taylor Swift advocate on behalf of smaller acts
Class action lawsuit against Spotify
How working class creators can enforce their rights
Juggling teaching, touring and advocating
Monetizing content would be easier with stricter regulations on piracy