Whoever succeeds Johnson as prime minister — the timetable for a leadership contest will be announced next week — it will mean a cabinet reshuffle and the likely departure of culture secretary, who as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport oversaw the government department most prominently looking into the issue of fair payment for artists from streaming.
Since then, Johnson’s government has initiated a number of working groups with industry stake holders exploring issues raised by the DCMS committee and has refused to rule out legislating change if the industry can’t work together to find its own solutions.
A 12-month review of the streaming business by U.K. competition regulator The Competition and Markets Authority , looking at concerns related to the major labels’ dominance of the industry, is unaffected by recent events, as the CMA is an independent non-ministerial government department. It’s expected to publish its interim findings this month.
Since the U.K. left the European Union in January 2020, U.K. acts have needed to acquire a vast number of visas and work permits to tour in Europe . And new cabotage regulations have restricted the number of stops U.K. truck drivers could make in EU countries.