Some people make copyright feel intimidating. Dr Hayleigh Bosher makes it make sense and that matters more than ever.
We first came across Hayleigh after reading her brilliant book Copyright in the Music Industry. Not long after, we discovered her podcast Whose Song Is It Anyway? and it quickly became clear she has a rare talent for breaking down complex ideas in a way that actually sticks, especially for music creators who would much rather be in the studio than reading legal small print.
Dr Hayleigh Bosher is a leading voice in music copyright, working across academia, policy, and the music industry itself. She teaches at Brunel University of London, advises on copyright as a legal consultant, and contributes to policy discussions at the highest level, including current research with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. At the heart of everything she does is a simple goal: helping creators understand their rights so they can make better, more confident decisions about their work.
In this interview, Hayleigh talks about why knowledge really is power, what needs to change to create a fairer system for creators, and why respect for creative work is becoming even more important as we move deeper into the age of AI. It is a refreshing, practical perspective from someone who truly believes that when creators understand the system, they are better equipped to shape it.
“If you are informed, you are in a stronger position."
— Dr Hayleigh Bosher
Who are you and what do you do?
Hello, my name is Dr Hayleigh Bosher. My mission is to help music creators understand more about their rights to empower them to make informed decisions, and to look at how the laws that govern those rights can be fairer and clearer. I do this as part of my academic job – at Brunel University of London – as a legal consultant specialising in copyright in the music industry and through policy work, giving evidence at select committee inquiries for instance, and am currently doing a research fellowship with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. I am the author of the book ‘Copyright in the Music Industry’ (second edition out later this year!) and the creator of the podcast ‘Whose Song is it Anyway?’
Why is your role is important?
For me, it is important that creators understand their rights so that they can make informed decisions. Oftentimes, lack of knowledge can leave a creator in a vulnerable position when it comes to the management of their rights; this impacts their control over their work as well as any remuneration they might receive. I totally understand that creators want to focus on the creating part, but this is a crucial part of the puzzle, so I try to make it as engaging and fun as possible.
When it comes to the research and policy work, this is important because copyright must always evolve with new technology and societal developments to ensure that it can fulfil its purpose – to encourage the creation and dissemination of knowledge and culture. Copyright is a constant and careful balancing act between different stakeholders which constantly needs reviewing and refining in order for it to remain fair and just.
If you could change one thing about your sector, what would it be?
I would redistribute the wealth so that creators of copyright protected works receive the benefits of their work more fairly, particularly in proportion to the eye-watering profits and executive bonuses that we often see by corporations that disseminate or market that creativity. Whilst I recognise that those companies play an important role, I would like to see a fairer portion of the profits going into the pockets of the creators, without whom the company would not exist. As part of this, I think we need to have more respect and reverence for creators and their works, particularly as we move deeper into the artificial intelligence era – both in terms of profits and permissions.
What piece of advice would you give readers?
Knowledge is power. Unsurprising from me I know, but I genuinely believe that if you are informed, you are in a stronger position. Whether that’s collecting the royalties you are entitled to or negotiating a contract, knowing what you are entitled to makes all the difference. It’s also the first step in being able think critically about the system you are in, if something isn’t working, we can fix it, but you need to first understand it to be able to. That’s why I always encourage creators to get to know their rights for their own sake, and then to engage on a collective level in the process of ensuring that the laws that govern those rights are fair.
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