Pop stars due at 'union' meeting

Coldplay singer Chris Martin is backing the Featured Artists Coalition

Coldplay and Robbie Williams are expected at the first meeting of a group to push for a greater voice for musicians in their industry.

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) wants to promote artists' rights, and ultimately hopes to distribute revenues from their work.

Directors include Blur's Dave Rowntree, Kate Nash and Radiohead's Ed O'Brien.

"By making ourselves heard and arguing for what's fair, we can help reshape the industry," Rowntree said.

The other directors of the coalition, which is holding its meeting in central London, are Soul II Soul's Jazzie B, Billy Bragg and hip-hop MC Master Shortie.

Blur's Dave Rowntree says musicians should be alert to new opportunites

Other artists expected at the meeting include Annie Lennox, The Guillemots, Badly Drawn Boy, The Feeling and The Futureheads.

Rowntree said musicians should be able to take advantage of the technological changes which have swept through the music industry and weakened the position of record companies.

"Musicians as a group do tend to grumble about what's happening in the industry - well, here's an opportunity to do something about it rather than grumble about it," he said

"The doomsayers are saying that the music industry is over and the digital revolution has killed everything and we're all out of jobs.

"We're saying the digital revolution presents some incredible opportunities and has transformed the relationship the artists have with their fans."

The drummer added: "There are a lot of big issues at the moment - the government's Digital Britain green paper, copyright extension and so on. It's no accident that this body is being set up now.

"It's absolutely vital that our interests are represented when decisions are made."