Will the EU’s directive on copyright in the digital market change the power balance of the music industry? Views from Norway

The EU’s directive on copyright in the digital single market (the DSM directive) has been associated with pervasive transformations in the exploitation of copyright-protected work, particularly by holding online services, such as YouTube, more accountable for the music consumed by their users. The directive also features a series of other articles, however, suggesting substantial strengthening of the entitlements of songwriters and performers in the digitized music industry, such as the right to proportionate remuneration, the right to transparency in terms of how their work is exploited, and the right to have unfair contracts adjusted. But what kinds of change will the directive actually trigger for musicians? This article explores the notion of change by inquiring how people invested in different parts of the Norwegian music industry interpret the articles of the directive and what they expect from them. The study finds that the directive inspires music industry players to join forces in their struggles with online services, but that it goes on to challenge deep-seated power structures within the music industry in ways that also trigger opposition to the directive.