The Musicians’ Union is set to take legal action against major labels who claim ownership over digital rights for works signed at a time before streaming and downloads existed.

MU assistant general secretary Horace Trubridge told a Great Escape audience that the major record labels “don’t play fair” and “are screwing musicians” by claiming royalties on digital.

Trubridge said that he still receives royalties from his time as a founding member of Darts, which operated in the late ‘70s and ...