New research shows YouTube dominates in Malta as EP nears copyright vote

Research carried out by PRS for Music, the performing rights society for songwriters and composers in Malta, shows that 85 per cent of people in Malta have used YouTube to listen to music over the past three months, with over a quarter (28%) using only YouTube to access music.

By contrast, just 32 per cent used Google Play, while 28 per cent used Spotify. Only 14 per cent of those surveyed said they had not used any digital music platform in the last three months, demonstrating the dominance of streaming in the Maltese music market.

Online streaming services provide huge opportunities for the local music industries but pose significant challenges for creators trying to make a living from their work. Some online platforms – those hosting useruploaded content – use legal ambiguity to avoid paying royalties to creators.

The proposed changes to copyright law currently under review by the European Parliament (EP) seek to address this imbalance in the online market by clarifying that platforms such as YouTube are liable for the use of copyrighted material on their site and must obtain a licence for the works they make available.

The EP will vote on the proposed legislation on 12 September. PRS for Music is part of the #europeforcreators and#lovemusic campaigns to support the vote, and is calling for music lovers to sign a petition asking MEPs to safeguard music’s future online.

John Mottram, head of policy and public affairs at PRS for Music, says: “The research shows the importance of YouTube to users and to the music industry in Malta. Services like YouTube and Facebook have built massively successful global businesses by providing users access to music and other content, and it is essential that those who create and perform the music we all love can share in that success.”