Music stars unite to gain more control over music

Robbie Williams, Radiohead and Kate Nash are among Britain's top pop and rock acts who are demanding more control over their music today.

Dozens of the music industry's biggest names are launching an organisation to protect the interests of performers and musicians.

More than 60 acts have joined the Featured Artists' Coalition to wrest back some control from record labels.

They want to see artists retain ownership of the copyright of their music which they could then lease to their label.

The coalition is also asking for the music industry to explain to stars how, where and why their music is being used and to get a bigger slice of the takings when it is.

They say that the explosion of digital media means that their songs can be sold and used in many more ways than before and that artists are being ignored as these new markets are exploited.

Brian Message, co-manager of Radiohead and Kate Nash said: "It is time for artists to have a strong collective voice to stand up for their interests. The digital landscape is changing fast and new deals are being struck all the time, but all too often without reference to the people who actually make the music.

"The Featured Artists' Coalition will help all artists, young and old, well-known or not, drive overdue change through the industry in their interests and those of fans."

Jazz Summers, manager of The Verve, said: "The Featured Artists' Coalition is an organisation for artists, which will be run by artists. It will ensure that in future the voice of artists is properly heard in discussions with music and technology companies, trade organisations and most importantly, with Government.

"It will also seek to improve the treatment of artists within the business and campaign to update laws and practices that better reflect the new music landscape. Digital technology gives artists the opportunity to control their future - this is the time to seize that opportunity."

A number of bands have recently exploited the internet to release music without the backing of a large record deal. Radiohead released their last album, 'In Rainbows', through their own website and Oasis's latest offering has been published on social networking site, MySpace ahead of its release next week.

The new organisation will be launched tomorrow at music industry event In The City, in Manchester.