News from ECSA: May 2023
Discover ECSA's 2022 - early 2023 activity report!
ECSA has published its activity report, showcasing our various advocacy and cultural activities. In the last year and a half, we continued playing a leading role to promote music author’s rights and cultural diversity in Europe with the support of all our members and Creative Europe. We take this opportunity to thank all our members and partners and we look forward to many more future events and fruitful collaborations!
© Gleamlight Watch the aftermovie of the Creators Conference!
Back in March, the 2023 edition Creators Conference took place. Check out the aftermovie via the link below to rewind and watch back all highlights of the discussions on music streaming, buy-out contracts, artificial intelligence, and the EU strategy for the music sector. If you want to catch up on all the panels and sessions from the conference, watch the recording of the event on YouTube and read our press release.
Advocacy
Joint press release: the European audiovisual sector welcomes the EP’s report on the implementation of the AVMS Directive
© PixabayOn 9 May, the European Parliament (EP) adopted its report on the implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive. ECSA, together with various other organisations representing European screenwriters, directors, composers, producers, distributors and sales agents, welcomes this report and highlights the importance of the AVMS Directive. Therefore, we insist on the importance of the AVMS Directive as the cornerstone of cultural regulations fostering European audiovisual creation, production and distribution. Read the joint press release, signed as well by CEPI, ECCD, EPC, EUROCINEMA, Europa Distribution, Europa International, FERA, FSE, and SAA, below.
First exchange of views on the European Parliament report on “Cultural diversity and the situation of authors in the European music streaming market”
The first exchange of views on the upcoming European Parliament (EP) report on “Cultural diversity and the situation of authors in the European music streaming market” was held on 24 May in the Culture and Education committee. During the meeting, MEP and rapporteur Ibán García del Banco (S&D, Spain), shared his perspectives on how to ensure the long-term sustainability of the digital music streaming ecosystem for music creators and the entire value chain. Among the various points raised, he emphasized the need to look at the legal nature and revenue allocation of music streams, competition issues, the detrimental effects of streaming fraud and manipulation, issues surrounding music royalties and the identification of authors, and a new strategy for promoting music diversity in Europe (including ensuring the viability of European niche repertoire).
ECSA at collective bargaining panel organised by FERA, FSE and UniEuropa
On 11 May, FERA (Federation of European Screen Directors), FSE (Federation of Screenwriters in Europe) and UNIEuropa held a seminar in Brussels on “Strengthening Collective Bargaining for Audiovisual Creators”. ECSA Secretary General Marc du Moulin participated in the panel on “Authors and performers’ future prospects”, with Pauline Durand-Vialle (FERA), David Kavanagh (FSE), Nina George (European Writers’ Council), and Dominick Luquer (International Federation of Actors). Among other things, the discussion highlighted the common challenges of authors and performers across different sectors, the current state of play regarding the EU Copyright Directive, and the European Commission guidelines for self employed collective bargaining.
AI and Authors Rights: ECSA Capacity Triangle at Soundtrack_Cologne
From 20-23 June, Soundtrack_Cologne takes place, hosting various panels, workshops and networking events for music and sound in film, games and media. In cooperation with Soundtrack_Cologne, ECSA organises a panel in the frame of its Capacity Triangle series, called “AI and Authors Rights: what awaits us?”, on Wednesday, 21 June at 12:00. The panel will be livestreamed and open for everyone. More information will follow very soon.
ECSA in Lyon for Nuits Sonores Lab & EACEA Networks Session
From 17-19 May, ECSA EU Affairs and Programme Officer Claire Iceaga participated in the Creative Europe Networks: Focus meeting #1: "Youth, Independent Culture, Artistic Freedom and Democracy", and Nuits Sonores Lab in Lyon, France. The latter provided a vibrant platform for diverse workshops and panels on numerous relevant topics in the creative and cultural industries, connecting music and ideas, among others musical prescription and algorithms, the future of independent music journalism, and how to support the Ukrainian artistic scene, young artists and independent cultural organisations.
European Media Outlook presented in Cannes
On 18 May, at the Festival de Cannes, Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton presented the European Commission’s European Media Industry Outlook report, analysing trends in the audiovisual, video game and news media industries. The report reveals imbalances in the retention and ownership of intellectual property rights, notably through buyout contracts which affect European producers as well as European music composers. It underlines that concerns have been raised over the use of such practices on music composers, which “needs to be further examined”. In his speech during the European Film Forum, the Commissioner added: “We can see more and more cases of buyouts. (...) This dynamic, of course, is quite disturbing and must lead us to react, because management of Intellectual Property rights in the EU is fundamental for the prospect of growth”.
Cultural activities
ECCO Concert organised by Forum de la Création Musicale
On 24 May, the ECCO concert, organised by Forum de la Création Musicale, took place at le Senghor in Brussels. The event is funded by ECSA’s ECCO-System grants and supported by Creative Europe. During the event, the fantastic Sturm und Klang Ensemble performed various creations of international composers such as Ziv Cojocaru, Moritz Eggert, Henrik Strindberg, as well as Belgian composers Sarah Wéry and Christian Klinkenberg. Congratulations to Forum de la Création Musicale with an inspiring edition!
Reminder for ECSA members: submit your proposals for the ECSA playlist!
ECSA has launched the call for works for the second edition of the “Discover ECSA Music Creators” Playlist. On World Music Day (21 June), a collection of compositions and songs from ECSA’s member organisations will be made public. The goal is to promote European composers and songwriters and raise their visibility to the wider public. The theme for the playlist this year is “Melodies of the Future”. The call is dedicated to ECSA members only. Please send us your submissions at the latest on Friday 2 June. For more information, please contact: machiel.smit@composeralliance.org.
European Music Council (EMC) Forum on Music 2023
From 8 to 10 June 2023, EMC is organising its European Forum on Music: 'Sustain Music' in Budapest, Hungary. ECSA European Affairs and Programme Officer Claire Iceaga will represent ECSA during the event, which fosters exchanges between organisations, projects, and individuals from the music and arts sector with keynote speeches, panels, and workshops. Find out more here.
IMC Music Rights Award 2023
Nominations for the International Music Council (IMC) Music Rights Award are open and organisations are invited to submit any programme or project, supporting one or more of the IMC’s Five Music Rights. The award will be presented at the IMC’s 40th General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco, on 21-23 November 2023. Submissions are open until 17 June.
Members' news
Ivors Academy Awards
The Ivors Academy Novello Awards, celebrating creations of songwriters and screen composers, took place on 18 May in London. ECSA congratulates all incredible composers and songwriters who were honoured during the ceremony. Among them are Wet Leg, Raye, Charli XCX, and Sting. The full list of winners can be found here.
U2C Film Music Awards
The U2C Film Music Awards, organised by French ECSA member Union des Compositrices et Compositeurs (U2C), takes place on 1 June in Neuilly sur Seine, France. Talented nominees are competing in the following categories: fiction feature, feature film animation, short movie, fiction TV, young talent, international score. More nominees will be announced during the event. For more information, contact contact@u2c.fr.
Repertoire statistics from Denmark: towards a better gender balance
On 11 May, the Danish Composers' Society, Art Music Denmark, Edition Wilhelm Hansen, Music Publishers’ Association Denmark, and Edition-S published the third edition of the statistics on the repertoire played in Danish concert halls, opera houses and at festivals. Despite showing progress in some categories, the repertoire statistics underline the importance of putting more new music on the program for a better gender balance. Find out more about the statistics here.
Music trail on Dutch Composers Day
For this year’s edition of Dutch Composers Day, which takes place on 17 June, New Music NOW organises a unique opportunity to showcase new music with a music train called the New Music NOW Express. The train will cross over 347 kilometres in the Netherlands, starting its journey in Amsterdam. Discover the programme below!
What else?
FEST 2023 - Music Walk With Me
FEST - “Music Walk With Me” connects musicians and filmmakers and serves as an opportunity to discover various music performances, enabling cross-industry collaborations. Filmmakers will have the possibility to explore selected music creations and enhance their works with the power of music. FEST takes place from 20-25 June in Espinho, Portugal.
European Folk Day
Folk music, dance, and storytelling are essential cultural expressions that connect communities, preserve traditions and foster a collective memory. The first edition of the European Folk Day, organised by the members of the European Folk Network (EFN) on 23 September 2023, covers all of these expressions and highlights the importance of traditional performing arts.
Valence Scénario festival
The 26th edition of the Valence Scénario Festival takes place from 5-10 June in Valence, France. The festival highlights the creativity of young screenplay authors and composers, showcases their works, and encourages the creation of new cinematographic, audiovisual, and other musical projects. The event includes various discussions on audiovisual, cinematographic and sound writing.