The document discusses legal and ethical considerations for print media products in the music industry. It defines terms like copyright, slander, royalties, and others and how they could impact print products. It also describes several regulatory bodies in the UK music industry like BASCA, PRS, BPI, and others. These organizations aim to protect songwriters and composers, collect royalties, distribute music, and promote the interests of the music industry as a whole. Referring to these legal issues and regulatory bodies is important to ensure any print products related to music do not infringe on copyright or fall outside of what is considered appropriate or in the public interest.

1. Learning outcome 2: Tasks D and E
Note from the exam board
When considering legal and ethical issues candidates should refer to the code of
practice for the regulatory body, which affects the production of print media (in our
case – the music industry).
Work could be evidenced in written format, letters to relevant bodies or online
requests applying for copyright permission. It is important that learners relate the
relevant legal and ethical issue to the print product they are producing, for instance
when considering the photos/images and language for inclusion in a print product
such as a magazine etc.
Students aiming for merit or distinction would present all of their research in a
more creative manner such as prezi, powtoom, emaze etc and use images,
videos and hyperlinks to enhance their work.
D - Legal and Ethical Considerations
Find out/define the below terms and tell us how this might have an impact on
your print products.
How this effects my print product?
Copyright/intellectual property rights Copyright is the legal right that protects
the use of someone’s work once your
idea has been physically expressed. If
my album cover or poster contained
content that belonged to someone else
it could lead to a lawsuit or if someone
used my work without my permission I
would be entitled to take them to court.
Slander/libel Slander/libel is a false statement that is
damaging to a person’s/company’s
reputation and if such statements were
made of my album or poster it could
damage my artists music sales and
overall image.
Royalties A royalty is a sum of money paid to a
patentee for each public performance of
their work. This could lead to my gaining
revenue from radio stations and
streaming services such as Spotify who
will pay to use my music.
Violence Violence is behaviour involving physical
force intended to hurt, damage, or kill
someone or something, which if used
excessively could lead to my artist’s
music being age restricted if my lyrics
are deemed too aggressive.
Offensive language/behaviour/material Blasphemous or obscene language in
my lyrics could also lead to my artists

2. music becoming age restricted, limiting
my audience and denying my artist a
family friendly image.
Public interest Public interest is a common concern
among citizens in the management and
affairs of local, global, big or small. For
my artist to become successful it is
necessary that they remain within the
public interest to gain popularity but if
this interest is negative it could drive
away listeners.
E - Regulatory Bodies in the Music Industry
The music industry is mostly a self-regulated organisation. But just as any other
industry it must have regulators to protect all the people involved in the production
and realisation of a song, cd, a concert etc (copyright, trade, music representation).
The most important are listed below. Although all these companies have different
aims the vision is the same, keep the music industry alive. However, the fact that
technology is evolving so fast, makes it even harder for them to protect every single
detail.
Research the following organisations and find out what they aim to do. Think
about how their regulations would impact on your print work.
Who are they and what do
they do?
What
impact this
organisation
would have
on my print
product?
BASCA
British Academy of Songwriters,
Composers and Authors
https://basca.org.uk/home/
The British Academy of
Songwriters, Composers, and
exists to support, protect and
campaign for the interests of
songwriters, lyricists and
composers.
They would
provide my
artist with
insurance
legal advice
and allow
them to join
a
community
where they
can easily
reach other
members of
the music
industry.
MPA
Music Publishers Association
http://www.mpaonline.org.uk
The Music Publishers
Association is a non-profit
organization representing
Would give
my artist a
sense of

3. music publishers in the United
Kingdom and serves to
safeguard and promote the
interests of music publishers
and the writers signed to them
security
while giving
them
resources
to further
music
career and
to promote
their image.
PRS
Performing Rights Society (who are
now linked with MCPS – The
Mechanical Copyright Protection
Society)
https://www.prsformusic.com/
PRS for Music Limited is the
UK’s leading collection
society, bringing together two
collection societies: the
Mechanical-Copyright
Protection Society and the
Performing Right Society.
This would
provide my
artist with
legal
security by
protecting
their work
from
unlawful
use and
helping to
secure
royalties for
their work.
OFCOM
Office of Communications
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/
The Office of
Communications is the UK
government-approved
regulatory and competition
authority for the broadcasting
and telecommunications.
Helps to
promote
new artists,
such as my
own, to the
public and
protects the
public from
harmful or
offensive
material.
PPL
Phonographic Performance Limited
http://www.ppluk.com/
A music licensing company
that licenses recorded music
played in public or broadcast
on the radio or TV and then
distributes the fees to its
performer and record
company.
Would help
my artist to
distribute
their music
across radio
and TV and
then to
collect
revenue for
my artist
and record
label.
BPI
British Phonographic Industry
https://www.bpi.co.uk/default.aspx
The BPI, commonly known as
the British Phonographic
Industry, is the British
Helps to
distribute
the music of
most UK

4. recorded music industry's
trade association.
artists
including
85% of all
UK record
labels.
Spreading
my artist’s
music
across the
globe.
Songrite UK
Songright Copyright Office
http://www.songrite.co.uk/index.html
They protect the right for
artists/songwriters/composers
to gain economic reward for
their creative efforts
This would
help my
artist to gain
revenue
from any
and all work
they have
written or
composed.
UK Music
(umbrella company linked with
many of the above)
http://www.ukmusic.org/about/
UK Music is a British
organisation which represents
the collective interests of the
production side of UK's
commercial music industry:
artists, musicians,
songwriters, composers,
record labels and artists.
They aim to
protect the
interests
and aims of
music in the
UK at all
levels
including
my artist
and their
respective
record
label.