The UK music industry has committed to a new sector-wide voluntary agreement on improving streaming metadata.

The agreement, announced by the Intellectual Property Officer (IPO), outlines a commitment by industry players over a two-year period to “progressively improve metadata in new recordings” and deliver consistent crediting on streaming services.

Minister for the creative industries John Whittingdale said that the “landmark agreement” would mark a step towards making sure UK musicians in the digital age are “fairly credited and compensated” for their music contributions.

“The UK is a hotbed for world-beating musical talent but as technology advances we need our thriving music industry to continue to offer viable career opportunities,” continued Whittingdale.

The government said it would also launch a working group made up of experts across the music sector to explore industry-led measures on remuneration for existing and future creators.

“Good quality metadata benefits everyone who creates and enjoys music,” said Viscount Camrose, minister for AI and intellectual property. “The agreement on metadata is a positive commitment by the music industry to improve the quality of metadata in the UK.”

The new voluntary agreement outlines a shared ambition to progressively improve metadata in new recordings and consistent crediting on streaming services over a two-year period.

It also outlines an agreement to take steps to ensure a core data set is associated with all new recordings and to follow and promote good practice in the industry and a commitment to establish expert working groups on education and technical solutions to drive forward further improvements during the two-year period.

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