Current BASCA Campaigns

BASCA's primary purpose is to campaign for the rights of composers and songwriters.  We successfully achieve this through our partnerships with likeminded organisations both in the UK and Europe. Click on the tabs on the left-hand side for more information.

Current campaigns include (for more information on these, click on the tabs on the left-hand side):

Collective Licensing

Over the past few years there have been major changes to the way in which copyright is administrated in the online environment, resulting in market fragmentation and confusion over who owns the rights to songs and how those songs can be licensed. We’re all changing the way we buy music. The deals that are being struck today are groundbreaking. However, it is hard to see which business models best suit rightsholders and songwriters in particular. We have to keep control of our rights and BASCA believes that a strong collective licensing regime is the only way for writers to maintain their careers.

Commission Fee Guidelines

BASCA historically published its “Commission Fee Guidelines,” setting out indicative rates for the commissioning of various types of concert music.  In 2005 the Office of Fair Trading ruled that Commission Fee Guidelines were in breach of Competition Law and ordered BASCA to cease its publication. However, BASCA was advised that the objection does not apply to the circulation of historical information on rates that have been paid. BASCA continues to collect this information for the benefit of its members.

Gigs and Clubs Scheme

PRS For Music has for a number of years run a Gigs and Clubs Scheme, allowing bands who perform in small venues to send in a setlist to the collection society and receive a payment. The payment is very small indeed - only £6 - but is certainly better than nothing. PRS For Music's previous method - sampling - meant that most performers received nothing, while the lucky few who registered on the 'sample' received an over-inflated amount. Most  automatically presumed that this could only be claimed by those playing either pop and rock since the PRS For Music wording was ambiguous on the matter. After some lobbying by BASCA, this has been changed so that musicians performing classical and jazz are also informed that they are entitled to the payment.

Value of Copyright
Please see the tab on the left for more information.

Coercion
Please see the tab on the left for more information.