(Reproduction of the article “FairMusE: Rethinking Fairness in Europe’s Music Ecosystem”, posted on November 25, 2025)
Is there a way to integrate fairness into rapidly changing digital environments? This question was addressed by the European program "Fair MusE - Promoting Fairness of the Music Ecosystem in a Platform-Dominated and Post-Pandemic Europe," which concluded its cycle in February 2026.
Online platforms, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and data-driven distribution models are at the heart of the project. But how do these new realities ultimately transform the creation, circulation, and remuneration of recorded music within the European music industry? These were the key areas explored by the participants.
The project was hosted by the Católica Global School of Law and the Research Centre for the Future of Law under the Horizon Europe framework, organized by Professor Giuseppe Mazziotti. The research team was comprised of professionals from various organizations across Europe. Legal experts, communication specialists, academics, music industry members, and artistic representatives contributed significantly to the project’s board, which launched in March 2023.
Fair MusE’s interdisciplinary approach combines legal, economic, and political analysis, aiming to create a protective framework for creators and their works. With transparency and value recognition as core objectives, the project also examines EU Copyright Law. Emphasis is placed on the 2019 Digital Single Market Directive to achieve a condition of equal access to culture and innovation.
The program was completed in February 2026, delivering significant research findings, proposals, and educational materials, all of which are available on the project’s website.
Fair MusE reflects the academic community's commitment to connecting with the real world and serving evolution, sustainability, and justice. The project and its results prove that fairness requires specific tools to protect human creations as a weapon against the ever-increasing power of technological giants.
Read the original article at:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/research/catholic-university-portugal/fairmuse-rethinking-fairness-europes-music-ecosystem