Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/798939
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 15 MARCH 2017 News 6 THE Performing Rights Society, the collecting society which rep- resents songwriters, composers and music publishers in Malta, hosted a roundtable with Na- tionalist MEP Therese Comodini Cachia, discussing the future of the music industry in Europe. The roundtable coincided with Comodini Cachia's report on the future of copyright law in Europe, which will have a profound im- pact on the future of the creative industries in Malta and around Europe. Composer Paul Abela, Scream Daisy founder Brendan Jackson, nosnow/noalps frontman Nick Morales, as well as other Maltese musicians and songwriters, ex- plained to Comodini Cachia how digital technologies are changing the way music is consumed, and the impacts on songwriters. The songwriters and composers set out their concerns that ser- vices such as YouTube are gener- ating billions of euros in revenue from providing access to music and other content but are shar- ing little of that income with the creators. They urged Comodini Cachia to support legal measures to ensure digital platforms are required to share more fairly the income generated in order to safe- guard the future of Europe's crea- tive industries. "Artists and performers are at the heart of the creation of works which so many of us enjoy," Co- modini Cachia said. "Yet they, together with other right holders, face several copy- right-related challenges within a continuously changing market dependent on fluid user consump- tion patterns. I am certain that right holders do not want to bring down the channels which bring their works closer to consumers, but do want to have their rights recognised and to be able to retain the value of those rights. "There are instances these chal- lenges have been addressed by market-led solutions. Further le- gal certainty which does not itself cause serious market disruption is however needed." John Mottram, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at PRS for Mu- sic said: "The European Parlia- ment, and Dr Comodini Cahica in particular, have a unique op- portunity to create an online mar- ket which works for everyone, in which users can continue to enjoy easy access to great music, TV and films but where creators, who are the foundation of Europe's crea- tive sector, can share in the vast revenues being generated. We are grateful for Dr Comodini's com- mitment to understand the issues facing songwriters and composers and the need for a strong and fair copyright regime so our members can continue to create the music we love." Jobsplus would like to notify its clients and stakeholders that the Jobseeker's Advisory Services and Registration Unit in Hal Far, as well as the Birgu, Birkirkara, Mosta, Qawra and Valletta Job Centres will be closed on Friday 17 th March 2017. NOTICE TO OUR CLIENTS Tarxien mayor non-committal on eight-storey home JAMES DEBONO "IT is up to the Planning Au- thority… I do not involve my- self in such matters," Tarxien mayor Paul Farrugia replied when asked for his opinion on a proposed eight-storey old people's home in an area where only four-storey buildings are allowed. The proposed nursing home with 104 rooms is set to rise to eight storeys above road level and includes three basement levels. The application was pre- sented by Frank Spiteri on a site within the development zone where a maximum height of 14 metres is allowed. The proposed building which will would be- come the highest in the locality if approved, would be nearly 29 metres high. While the Labour mayor is non-committal, PN councillor Lawrence Bonavia will be rais- ing the issue at the next council meeting. "I have nothing against nursing homes, but eight storeys above ground is too much especially when considering the height of buildings in the area," he said. The site fronts Triq tal-Barrani in the corner with Triq il-Palma and Triq Lorenzo Gonzi in Tarx- ien. The application is being proposed on a vacant site where the PA has already approved a showroom and three storeys for offices and apartments in 2014. A draft policy regulating build- ing heights of old people's homes is set to allow residential homes for the elderly to add an addi- tional two floors over and above the number of floors allowed in the local plan. Moreover, ac- cording to design guidelines is- sued last year, the PA may con- sider higher buildings in corner sites like the one in Tarxien. A petition against the pro- posed nursing home in Tarxien has already been signed by more than 400 residents. The petition appeals on residents to unite to protect Tarxien from a develop- ment which is deemed too high for a locality characterised by low rise construction. Music artists want platforms like YouTube to share revenue fairly Maltese music creators meet MEP Therese Comodini Cachia ahead of the EU's copyright overhaul Therese Commodini Cachia talks to singers and song writers