ACADEMY FIGHT SONG: CHANGE MUSIC LAWS

The Recording Academy has gathered songwriters and musicians to head into offices across the country today, singing “Come senators, congressmen. Please heed the call.” Their request: Update music legislation.

Taking place in nearly 300 congressional districts, artists and industry professionals will meet with congressional offices in their home districts to discuss legislative issues affecting the music industry, including performance rights, copyright reform, and the impact of digital services.

"The participation of members across all 50 states is an unprecedented milestone signaling that the music community is firmly united in advocating for a fair and just future for all music creators," said Daryl Friedman, the Recording Academy's Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer.

Issues to be discussed are:

Fixing outdated laws. The lack of a performance royalty in the U.S. leaves $200m in royalties for U.S. artists overseas. The bipartisan Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2017 would change this through reforming music licensing for sound recordings in a comprehensive way.

Modernizing copyright protections. Music producers have never been mentioned in any part of the copyright law. H.R. 881, the Allocation for Music Producers (AMP) Act, would fix this by extending copyright law to music producers, ensuring fair compensation for their work.

Protecting songwriters and composers. Decades-old consent decrees suppress songwriter royalties below fair-market value. Music licensing reform must include changes to ensure songwriters and composers receive fair compensation.

Advocating for the next generation. By advocating for these issues and others, Recording Academy members can ensure that music is valued today, and in the future, both culturally and economically.

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