British Phonographic Industry

The BPI (British Phonographic Industry) is the trade group in charge of UK recorded music, as well as an anti-piracy group protecting the interests of its label members.

Members include the UK's major four labels (UMG, Sony, EMI, Warner) as well as hundreds of smaller independents. The BPI says members account for just over 90 percent of all the recorded music currently sold in the region.

The group was created in 1973 with the goal to “discuss matters of common interest and represent the British record industry in negotiations with Government departments, relevant unions and other interested parties and to promote the welfare and interests of the British record industry.”

For anti-piracy the group normally uses several methods including lobbying against filesharing sites, civil suits, criminal suits, and complete support of other anti-piracy agencies such as FACT.