07/06/2025
Good job Elton…
Thank you to Billboard for honouring myself and David Furnish with the Creators’ Champion Award at their UK Power Players Event. Supporting the next generation of British artists is one of the major driving forces in my life.
As everyone in that room was aware, the Data Bill is currently looming over our industries and the future livelihood of all artists. It is an existential issue.
Earlier this evening, the government was defeated for an unprecedented fifth time by the House of Lords who have backed the crucial amendment to the bill. I am now calling on the Government to do the right thing and get transparency added to the bill.
Administration of copyright must be transparent. And it must have an artist’s full permission. These two principles are the bedrock of our industry. They must be included in the data bill as a backstop.
Let’s be clear - we want to work with the government. We are not anti A.I. We are not anti Big Tech. We are not against Labour. We want a solution that brings all parties together in a way that’s transparent, fair and allows artists to maintain control of their work.
We will not let the Government forget their promise to support our creative industries. We will not back down and we will not quietly go away. This is just the beginning.
Thank you Billboard. And thank you Baroness Kidron and The House of Lords for standing up for our world-beating artists, journalists, playwrights, designers and authors.