Tom Jones, Emeli Sandé and Jarvis Cocker join list of artists calling on PM to change streaming law

The open letter, first published on Twitter in April by #BrokenRecord campaign founder Tom Gray, called on Boris Johnson to "put the value of music back where it belongs - in the hands of music makers."

Names including Tom Jones, Emeli Sande, Jarvis Cocker, The Rolling Stones, Pet Shop Boys, Yoko Ono, Barry Gibb and more have joined the previous list of 156 musicians including Stevie Nicks, Kano, Lily Allen, Damon Albarn, Paul McCartney, Wolf Alice, Tim Burgess, Celeste, Kate Bush, Self Esteem, Marianne Faithfull, Laura Marling, Johnny Marr, Chris Martin, Kate Nash, Yannis Philippakis, Nadine Shah, Shura, Mike Skinner and more on the open letter, which asked for the UK government to update the "1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act" with "two words" so that "today's performers receive a share of revenues, just like they enjoy in radio."

An extraordinary list becomes ever more extraordinary.

The signatories to the letter we've sent to @BorisJohnson today.

156 becomes 234. #BrokenRecord pic.twitter.com/HYnCkYuEWu

— Tom Gray #BrokenRecord (@MrTomGray) June 7, 2021

The letter, which is also backed by the Musicians' Union, the Ivors Academy and the Music Producer’s Guild, highlighted that the update "won't cost the taxpayer a penny but will put more money in the pockets of UK taxpayers and raise revenues for public services like the NHS."

"Ultimately though, we need a regulator to ensure the lawful and fair treatment of music makers," the letter continued. "The UK has a proud history of protecting its producers, entrepreneurs and inventors. We believe British creators deserve the same protections as other industries whose work is devalued when exploited as a loss-leader."

Before the letter ends, the signees urged the PM to "take these forward and ensure the music industry is part of your levelling-up agenda as we kickstart the post-Covid economic recovery."