MusicTeam has today become a signatory to the UK Industry Agreement on Music Streaming Metadata, a voluntary pact spearheaded by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to tackle shortcomings in the data that underpins streaming services.

Inaccurate or incomplete metadata can leave songwriters, composers and performers uncredited—or even unpaid—for their contributions. Under the two-year initiative, participants commit to enhancing the quality and promptness of both work and songwriter metadata for all new recordings made available on streaming platforms. Signatories will also ensure that credits are consistently displayed alongside tracks.

Key elements of the agreement include the delivery of a standardized core data set—covering songwriter, composer and recording details—to streaming services at the same time as basic artist metadata. Signatory organisations will follow and champion industry best practices, and support dedicated expert working groups focused on education and technical innovations to drive further improvements over the life of the programme.

As part of the initiative, the IPO has also launched the digital Get Paid Guide, a step-by-step online resource designed to help creators understand why metadata matters and how to manage it effectively. MusicTeam joins industry bodies such as the BPI, PRS for Music, the Musicians’ Union and others in backing the guide and wider metadata commitments.

Although the agreement is non-binding, it forms a central strand of the government’s response to the DCMS Select Committee’s inquiry into the economics of music streaming, aiming to reduce payment delays and ensure that all contributors are properly acknowledged and remunerated.