British Record Industry Seeks Tax Breaks

The British Phonographic Industry today argued that record labels should get tax breaks for promoting British music and adding to the economy through the VAT levied for music purchases.

The BPI claims record labels spend the same amount on "research and development" as pharmaceutical companies, yet don't receive the same tax credits. Whether British taxpayers consider the comparison valid may depend on whether the taxpayers asked are employed by a record company and part of their job entails going to clubs to check out bands. If not, their response may involve hearty laughter or a look of disdain or disgust. Hopefully, the government gives tax breaks to drug companies to promote the development of medications to cure and treat illnesses. That's not on the same level as promoting British music. The BPI complains that many other industries also get tax breaks. If the British government is as corrupt as the American government can be, cronyism may play a role in why some of those breaks were given. That's a reason to examine them more closely, and perhaps take some of them away, not to create more. There must be more deserving causes in the UK than record labels.

Trying out ezarchive, so it's a right-click to direct-download these:

THE DOUBLE - Hot Air (available on the 10" EP "Palm Fronds")

Rick Astley - Ain't Too Proud To Beg (available on Hold Me In Your Arms)

The Psychedelic Furs - All That Money Wants (available on All Of This And Nothing)