The digital era: the position and interests of creators and performers

This contribution presents the results of a survey held among creators and performers in media, arts and entertainment in The Netherlands. It concerns the future of copyright in the digital age and its implications for the creative professions as perceived by those working in it. Based on cluster analysis of the survey data as well as additional analysis, the article provides an inventory of different experiences and positions of creators and performers, as well as an exploration of the socio-economic and professional factors explaining these positions. It shows that many creators and performers perceive digitisation primarily as a threat to their potential future in the creative industries, whereas in some cases in some areas of the creative field, professionals see digitisation mainly as an opportunity. Although age is a relevant explanatory factor for the opinions regarding digitisation, the analysis demonstrates that the notion of a generation gap is an oversimplification. Other relevant dimensions are income, level of education, the position of creators and performers within their household and the way digitisation has yet affected the specific discipline in which respondents operate.