BBC reach temporary agreement with Welsh language musicians over royalties dispute

The BBC have reached a temporary agreement with Welsh language musicians who were boycotting their radio stations due to a royalty dispute.

Wales’ national Welsh language station, BBC Radio Cymru lost the rights to play around 30,000 songs after Eos, the representatives of musicians in Wales, broke away from PRS (Performing Right Society) back in December.

Eos broke away from PRS after a change in procedure meant that musicians would be paid less royalties for their music being used.

But now the two factions have come to a temporary agreement to allow Welsh language music be heard on air, while still trying to resolve the long-term future.

BBC Radio Cymru Director Rhodri Talfan Davies said of this recent development:

“I am delighted that Eos has agreed to allow Radio Cymru to play its members’ music once again. This is an important development and one which ensures that Radio Cymru’s service to listeners can once again be the best it can be.

Our focus is now on reaching a permanent agreement which is fair to Welsh language musicians and the licence fee payer. It is reassuring that we can now continue these discussions knowing that the dispute is no longer affecting Radio Cymru’s output.”

CMU note that the pair still may go to a copyright tribunal over the disagreement.