#RespectTheCreators: An effort for fair music attribution on social media
The initiative is supported by BAM! Popauteurs, fabric, Richie Hawtin, Glasgow Underground, Your Army, and other industry leaders.
Photo credit: Association For Electronic Music – Official
The #RespectTheCreators campaign, backed by the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM), is rallying industry leaders to establish a new standard for attributing musical works in social media content.
This initiative comes at a crucial time, as research reveals startling statistics about music attribution in the digital age. According to Dutch DJ and Producer Frank Nitzinsky, only 3% of tracks in an average DJ set are self-produced. Even more alarming, up to 90% of DJ performance content shared on Instagram fails to credit the featured music.
The campaign’s supporters, including influential names like Mason, fabric, and Glasgow Underground, emphasize the vital role of proper attribution in nurturing new talent. They argue that the video clips of DJ sets and events should also benefit the original creators of the music.
The reasons behind the lack of crediting are varied, ranging from simple oversight to the controversial practice of “gatekeeping” popular tracks. However, the #RespectTheCreators campaign asserts that an attitude of respect towards fellow artists is fundamental to electronic music culture and should extend to social media practices.
By promoting a healthy ecosystem the campaign aims to reinforce artists’ fundamental right to recognition for their work. This principle, they argue, should apply across the board in DJ culture.
The campaign provides comprehensive guidelines for various stakeholders in the music industry. For DJs, the focus is on tagging artists and listing track names prominently when sharing performance videos or mixes. Online platforms are encouraged to display visible track lists for all sets, positioned directly below the video or audio content. Promoters are advised to include proper music credits in all promotional materials for events.
The initiative emphasizes the importance of utilizing built-in music stickers on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, or manually adding artist and song details in captions. Overall, the campaign strongly urges industry professionals to prioritize creator recognition in all online content.
More information at AFEM’s Instagram.
