The Rolling Stones are among more than 75 artists that have added their support to a letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for reform on music streaming laws to ensure that music creators are paid more fairly.

The Pet Shop Boys, Emeli Sandé, Barry Gibb, Van Morrison, Sir Tom Jones and the Estates of John Lennon and Joe Strummer are also among the artists that have added their names to a letter originally signed by the likes of Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, Boy George, Joan Armatrading and Kate Bush.

The new additions mean that all of the modern British recording artists named by Boris Johnson in his Desert Island Discs are now represented on the letter.

Now with 227 signatories, the letter calls for the PM to update UK law and “put the value of music back where it belongs – in the hands of music makers.”

The letter was organised by the MU in conjunction with the Broken Record campaign led by artist, songwriter and MU member Tom Gray, along with the MU’s Fix Streaming partners The Ivors Academy, and the Music Producer’s Guild.

“I’m delighted to see so many artists, performers and songwriters backing our call,” said Horace Trubridge, General Secretary of the MU. “Streaming is replacing radio so musicians should get the same protection when their work is played on streaming platforms as they get when it’s played on radio.

“As the whole world has moved online during the pandemic, musicians who write, record and perform for a living have been let down by a law that simply hasn’t kept up with the pace of technological change. Listeners would be horrified to learn how little artists and musicians earn from streaming when they pay their subscriptions

“By tightening up the law so that streaming pays more like radio, we will put streaming income back where it belongs – in the hands of artists. It’s their music so the income generated from it should go into their hands.”

To add your voice to the call, sign the petition here.