IRON MAIDEN and PINK FLOYD's DAVID GILMOUR are among the artists who have signed up for the Featured Artists Coalition. The Manchester-based organization campaigns for the protection of performers' and musicians' rights. Formed by some of the best-known names in music, the Coalition will give artists the voice they need to argue for greater control over their music.

According to their mandate: "We want all artists to have more control of their music and a much fairer share of the profits it generates in the digital age. We speak with one voice to help artists strike a new bargain with record companies, digital distributors and others, and are campaigning for specific changes."

To date, over 60 artists have joined the Coalition by signing its founding Charter.

The Coalition will begin by focusing on six areas where it is seeking change:

1. An agreement by the music industry that artists should receive fair compensation whenever their business partners receive an economic return from the exploitation of the artists’ work.

2. All transfers of copyright should be by license rather than by assignment, and limited to 35 years.

3. The making available right should be monetized on behalf of featured artistes and all other performers.

4. Copyright owners to be obliged to follow a ‘use it or lose it’ approach to the copyrights they control.

5. The rights for performers should be the same as those for authors (songwriters, lyricists and composers).

6. A change to UK copyright law which will end the commercial exploitation of unlicensed music purporting to be used in conjunction with ‘critical reviews’.

For more info visit www.featuredartistscoalition.com.