Songwriter Iain Archer tells MPs streaming model is unethical

An award-winning songwriter from Northern Ireland has described the current model of music streaming as "inequitable and unethical".

Iain Archer made the remark in evidence to a Westminster inquiry into the economics of online music streaming.

Mr. Archer co-wrote the song Run - a hit for both Snow Patrol and Leona Lewis.

Other musicians who gave evidence to the inquiry included Nile Rodgers, Nadine Shah, Ed O'Brien from Radiohead, and Guy Garvey from Elbow.

Stars including Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Robert Plant, and Stevie Nicks previously called on the government to reform the way musicians are paid when their songs are streamed online.

MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) concluded that many successful musicians received "pitiful returns" from streaming.

They called for a "complete reset" to fairly reward performers and creators.

Music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube have become the dominant way many people listen to music.

But Spotify is believed to pay between £0.002 and £0.0038 per stream, while Apple Music pays about £0.0059.

Originally from Bangor, County Down, Mr. Archer has been nominated for a Grammy award and won two Ivor Novello awards - one of the highest accolades for a songwriter.