Why should artists like Cliff Richards enjoy royalty payments for more than 50 years?

Question

They earned very well when they produced records all those years ago but to carry on getting paid year after year for something done all those years ago doe not seem right. music is something that should be available free after say 10 years after it was realeased. as we will have more and more free time music will become even more important to society

Answer 1

Because it is their work and their talent not ours to exploit.

Answer 2

a) Because its not fair that music and books are treated differently

b) Because not everyone is Cliff Richard.

The vast majority of musicians, artists and writers work long and hard for little or no money. Royalties are their wages. A successful song can come after years of earning zero. And people don't all buy the record or book at once so these payments have to be made over time.

Look at Iggy Pop - he's not exactly saved for his old age, then an ad agency uses one of his old songs ie The Passenger. Should Iggy get some cash, or the advertising boys get another new Porsche?

Yes it is like a pension for some people. What's wrong with that? Pensions are just deferred wages whatever job you do.

Original music is intellectual property. Old songs have value. Is it OK for corporations to exploit that value without limit of time, whilst the person who created it has nothing to live on? 'Course not.

Answer 3

The 50 year law was made years ago, when classical music and jazzz ruled the world, as most composers were dead the law seemed fine atthe time. When rock'n'roll started don't forget it was a teenage fad, not going to last etc, so the same simple law was applied. It not the artist or the writers fault that the law hasn't kept pace with society so why should they suffer? In actual fact there are lots of unrepealed old laws in the UK, like being able to kill a welshman found inside the City of Chester walls after dark and other such madness.

Answer 4

I sooooo agree with you Cliff Richard is a total w****r he makes money out of the record that he made with the children's lords prayer i am not that religious but that is a kids thing

Answer 5

If they are still alive and have worked for this, they deserve the fruits of their labors.

Why shouldn't an artist enjoy the results of their efforts?

Answer 6

those are his songs he wrote and frankly can you see dolly pardon singing "we dont talk any more" he made his songs what they are-on the other hand I personally think if you have bought a 45 or 33 record or cassette tape or cd I think you also have the rights to the song once you have bought it I think it should be yours!

Answer 7

good question mate... old "Has Been's" like CR should just fade away while they still can..... and stop money grabbing...

But who the hell would want to do a "Cover" of CR...? ....there all crap, and i know that "Whiter then white Cliff " has many skeletons in the cuboard that will come out one day..!

Answer 8

i dont agree, think the real person that wrote the songs should get more of th money

i do think some musicians should be tried for crimes against humanity?

Answer 9

i think its fair play to people like sir cliff. if you copywrite a piece of work, it should continue to serve you in royalties for the whole of your life. that work is his possession, not our property.

Answer 10

why 10 years. why not 10 weeks, or 10 days,or even 10 minutes. you have to draw the line somewhere.

Answer 11

So called stars like Cliff should pay us to listen to his records