Do Recording Artists Deserve a Greater Share of Revenue in the Emerging Digital Age?

John P. Kellogg

University of Colorado Denver

Abstract

Entertainment is one of our country’s leading exports and the music industry is a key component of this economic engine. Technological innovation over the past ten years has changed forms of music distribution in ways that could drastically increase both this sector’s revenues and values of music-related companies. However, the typical recording agreement limits the artist’s share of such revenue in unjustified ways. The decline of CD album sales caused by a rise in illegal peer-to-peer file sharing and other problems has reduced earnings of record companies and decimated artist revenues. This article: 1) explores four problems negatively affecting artist income streams that hamper the artists’ ability to pursue their careers; 2) examines two areas of concern regarding digital royalty provisions of recording artist contracts; and 3) offers justification for artists to receive a greater portion of revenue generated from digital earnings that could enable music creators to continue to pursue their careers developing these valuable, world-respected works.

Keywords: music industry, music business, music distribution, recording industry, recording contracts, file sharing, artist royalties, digital music

Kellogg, John P. “Do Recording Artists Deserve a Greater Share of Revenue in the Emerging Digital Age?" Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association 5, no. 1 (2005): 119-138. https://doi.org/10.25101/5.8

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