Streaming deals designed to reflect success of biggest artists, says label boss

Universal’s UK head tells MPs services are not perfect, as it emerges it can take over 1m streams to make £1,000

The UK chief executive of Universal Music, the home of stars including Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and the Beatles, has said streaming deals are designed to reflect the success of biggest music artists – as it emerged it can take more than 1m streams to make £1,000.

David Joseph also told MPs that greater effort was needed to force more royalty payments from YouTube, which is responsible for the majority of music consumption but pays relatively small fees by taking advantage of loopholes in copyright laws.