Last.fm under fire for music payments

No sooner has Last.fm started dishing out money to unsigned acts than it gets a moaning at from Indie labels.

Merlin, the global rights body for independent music, has let rip with a statement suggesting the streaming music service might have a gloomy track record in the legal department.

“The Program announced today does not appear to offer any compensation for any past illegal use of repertoire,” the statement reads.

“It is unclear to us whether or not the terms and conditions of the Program are intended to prevent master owners pursuing such compensation.”

Ouch. Seems like the battle for the affections of the world’s un-tapped musical tallent could rage for a while. Is this the indie scene clinging to its artists, or a genuine concern for individual rights?

Merlin currently represents more than 12,000 indie labels.

Via Distorted Loop

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