A LEGENDARY record producer and musician has praised two district MPs for their efforts to ensure artists get “a fair share of the pie” when songs are streamed.

Keighley MP Robbie Moore and Philip Davies, who represents neighbouring Shipley, have both been pressing for a fairer system regarding the division of royalties.

And they were name-checked for their campaign by Nile Rodgers – who has worked with stars including Madonna, David Bowie and Diana Ross – during a concert at Hampton Court Palace.

The MPs say streaming services take between 30 and 34 per cent of revenues and the label 55 per cent – with the rest being shared between the recording artist, publisher and songwriter.

Mr Davies said: “With live venues closed for so long due to the pandemic, there has been increased scrutiny on streaming.

“The way the revenue is divided is wrong and needs to change to ensure a level playing field for everyone involved.

“With the increase in streaming, it is many musicians’ only source of income.”

The Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee – of which Mr Davies was a member for over ten years – has been looking into the issue and heard from Mr Rodgers and other musicians as part of its inquiry.

The committee said that whilst streaming had “brought significant profits to the recorded music industry, the talent behind it – performers, songwriters and composers – are losing out”.

Mr Moore said: “We are a nation of music lovers – from pop and rock, to classical and jazz.

“The UK has produced – and continues to produce – some of the world’s best and most celebrated musicians. It is only right that they are compensated fairly for their work. It has been a tough 17 months for our music industry. Let’s support them properly by fixing this problem so they can receive their fair share of the pie.”

Mr Rodgers, who has sold over 500 million albums worldwide throughout his career, paid tribute to the MPs.

And he added: “We started this fight four years ago. We never would have thought it would be politicians and Members of Parliament that could clearly see the problems of the music industry.

“The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee made incredible, astute and strong recommendations to Government on behalf of songwriters.

“On behalf of the artists and songwriters, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the work that you are doing.”

Both Mr Moore and Mr Davies have previously written to the Prime Minister asking him to “fix problems” surrounding the streaming laws, claiming that “Britain’s cultural heritage is under threat”. They said streaming was creating opportunities, but artists were missing out.