Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be on everyone's mind these days — and last week, both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees held hearings on the controversial and game-changing tech.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence" took place on Tues. May 16th; the House Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: Part 1 – Interoperability of AI and Copyright Law" occurred the following day.

Although the hearings focused on different aspects of AI, both raised timely questions about the future of AI and how it will affect different industries — including music.

The Senate hearing, led by the Chair of the Privacy, Technology, & the Law Subcommittee, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), focused on the potential consequences of AI such as job loss, impacted elections, disinformation, and privacy, but also on potential solutions to mitigate these concerns such as transparency and government regulation. 

Throughout the hearing, senators questioned the witnesses on what they believe can be done to ensure a safe advancement of these rapidly growing technologies. The witnesses consisted of: 

• Samuel Altman, CEO, OpenAI  

• Christina Montgomery, Chief Privacy & Trust Officer, IBM 

• Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus, New York University

When it came time for Senator Blackburn (R-TN) to question the witnesses, it came as no surprise that the Tennessee Senator raised concerns about the effect of AI on the music community. Notably, she made clear that the creative community should have a choice in whether or not their copyrighted works are used to train AI models. The Senator even raised concerns that OpenAI's jukebox has songs similar to Garth Brooks — indicating that it was trained on his music.

In response, Altman stated that he agrees that creators deserve control over how their content is used and that we need to figure out a way that they benefit from this emerging technology.

Blackburn further questioned Altman on how artists would be compensated for the use of their copyrighted works in training AI models. Although he agreed that was needed, Altman did not have a plan for ensuring that artists are compensated.

Blackburn's time for questioning expired, but it was noted throughout the hearing that this would be the first of many Senate hearings on AI and the Recording Academy will continue to monitor what this could mean for music.

The next day, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet held its own hearing on AI. This hearing, led by Subcommittee Chair Darrell Issa (R-CA), focused on AI and copyright — a topic that the Recording Academy has been focused on throughout 2023. The hearing's witnesses included:

• Dan Navarro, GRAMMY nominated songwriter, singer, recording artist, and voice actor

• Sy Damle, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP and former General Counsel of the U.S. Copyright Office

• Chris Callison-Burch, Associate Professor of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania and Visiting Research Scientist, Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence

• Ashley Irwin, President, Society of Composers and Lyricists and Emmy Award-winning music director, conductor, composer, arranger, and producer

• Jeffrey Sedlik, President & CEO, PLUS Coalition, Member, Joint Committee on Ethics in AI, and professional photographer. 

In his opening statement, Issa highlighted that copyright laws exist to encourage and award creative expression. He also noted that this was the first of many hearings and that the end goal was to safeguard the rights of existing creators. 

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) expressed similar sentiments in his opening statements by calling for attention from Congress and AI developers to ensure that AI does not displace human creators or threaten the ability for the creative workforce to thrive. 

Over the course of the hearing, representatives and the witnesses toggled with the question of what, if anything, should congress do to ensure they strike the right balance between protecting and promoting creators and ensuring a safe advancement of AI technology.

In an attempt to answer that question, three key components were established when it comes to the use of copyrighted materials being used to train and develop AI technology. These three components were credit, consent, and compensation.

As the hearing went on, committee members came back to these three pillars. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) posed this question to Navarro: as a generational singer, why is it not enough to just give credit to an artist if their voice is being used in AI-generated work? 

Navarro, who is a member of the Human Artistry CampAIgn, a coalition the Recording Academy helped launch in partnership with other stakeholders in the music community, responded that royalties are generated when an artist's work is used, so if they did not give consent then credit is not enough.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), whose district includes Hollywood, brought up a recent study that found that 11% of AI learning comes from the entertainment industry. He stated that although AI can be used to enrich the works of the creative industry, behind all of that work are the actual creatives — the people. Schiff continued that copyright is the foundation that allows American artists to earn a living and creates jobs for the sake of creating art.

In addition to copyright regulation, the right to publicity was also raised. One witness, Professor Callison-Burch, made a point to mention that when AI generated work sounds similar both in voice and in content to a copyrighted material such as a Taylor Swift song, that even though AI generated music may not be a copyright infringement, setting up right to publicity safeguards is an important measure to protect artists' rights.

The purpose of the hearings was to gather information and insight from people who are well versed in the creative and AI worlds. Although no policy decisions were made over the course of these two hearings, this is just the start of Congress working to ensure that AI enhances — not stifles — the creative community and American music creators.  

Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act Reintroduced In Congress: Carry The Fight Forward With These Inspiring & Galvanizing Quotes From The 2023 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards & Advocacy Day

Thirteen-time GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams understands how to wield his influence for the betterment of humanity. When he's not in the studio making award-winning music, the prolific multihyphenate spends his time supporting causes like education, sustainable fashion, conservation, and human rights, and leverages his platform to make change happen — creating a blueprint for merging passions with social causes.

The visionary's philanthropic reach is awe-inspiring. Since establishing his first non-profit, From One Hand to AnOTHER, in 2008 — a six-week summer camp that offers learning programs focused on science, technology and the arts to children from low-income families — Williams has given a host of communities access to resources, tools and life-changing opportunities. He's helped build an after-school center in his hometown of Virginia Beach, offered internships to students from Harlem, New York, and launched a non-profit initiative for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs on the heels of the 2020 racial justice protests.

Ultimately, the mega-producer wants to make the world a better place for future generations, which shines through in his dedication to education, climate action and equality. By taking action to tackle these big-picture issues, Williams is showing others in his position that it's possible to do what you love and make a difference in the world.

To mark Williams' efforts and their impacts, the multihyphenate will be honored alongside U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) at this year's GRAMMYs On The Hill in Washington D.C. The annual event spotlights congressional leaders and music makers who have worked together to raise awareness and pass legislation to help ensure fair pay and equal rights for creators. 

Ahead of the event on April 26 and 27, take a look at four ways Williams has supported the music industry — and beyond. 

He Advocates For The Protection Of Creators' Rights

Williams has made a concerted effort to negotiate with labels for control of his music, and he uses his platform to help fight for equality and equity for all artists. "I shouldn't be the only one with this preferred deal," Williams said to the head of Columbia Records after negotiating a deal to own his masters in 2015. "All artists should own their intellectual property — otherwise you're just working for someone else. It's really weird: They own the fields where you and God have laid the seeds; you do the harvesting, but they have the ownership."

Williams has consistently highlighted the importance of ownership in music, and his push to usher in new protections for artists extends to the virtual world. In 2021, the music mogul joined the advisory council of CXIP DAO, a decentralized organization that allows creators to protect their copyrights and manage their digital assets.   

Read More: Everything You Need To Know About GRAMMYs On The Hill 2023: What It Is, Who It Benefits & What It Has Accomplished

He Supports And Funds Arts & Music Education Programs

Williams got his musical start as a drummer in elementary school before taking band in middle school, where he met a similarly music-minded classmate named Chad Hugo, his future production partner in the Neptunes. Along with support from his grandmother, this educational experience shaped Williams into the innovator he is today, and encouraged him to center much of his philanthropy on the arts and education as a whole.

"I want all children to have access to that kind of creative growth, access, and support. All kids, not just my own," Pharrell told Billboard in 2019. 

His actions have shown just that: In 2009, Williams' non-profit launched a Summer of Innovation camp in association with NASA. His foundation would go on to donate school supplies and offer free after-school programs and camps to kids from his hometown areas. 

In 2018, the "Happy" singer partnered with American Express Platinum for The Yellow Ball, a fundraising event at the Brooklyn Museum to benefit Young Audiences Arts for Learning. Soon after, he joined forces with Verizon to launch a tech-forward music curriculum for underserved middle schools all over the country, which provides students with access to virtual reality, 3D printers and other emerging technology. 

He Launched A Private School

Back in 2021, Williams took his education advocacy to the next level when he announced the launch of Yellowhab, a tuition-free private school for third to sixth graders from low-income families in his home state of Virginia. Always innovating, Williams's micro-school takes "a future-forward approach" to learning that includes using tech and other methods to immerse students in the educational process.   

"If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken," Williams said in a press release.  "We don't want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight."

He Uses Fashion To Help Global Causes

The fashion influencer has created a number of clothing and accessory lines throughout his career, from the Billionaire Boys Club label to its many offshoots. He's partnered with high-profile brands to create collections that raise awareness and funding for socially conscious causes; in December 2022, his global lifestyle brand ICECREAM collabed with Mini USA for a capsule collection whose proceeds went to Polar Bears International, a non-profit that works to protect the endangered species.

But with eight million metric tons of plastic in the ocean, his sustainable denim collection with Bionic Yarns may be his most socially impactful. Over a two-year period, this collaboration converted an estimated seven million plastic bottles into clothing items.

"We are trying to infiltrate the entire spectrum of fashion, high-end and low. It's a part of sustainability and the cause is to never throw anything [plastics and trash] into the ocean again," Williams told Women's Wear Daily in 2014. "The ocean is just one part of the earth we're concentrating on, but the world is made up of 75 to 80 percent water. It's a huge place to start."

Inside GRAMMYs On The Hill 2023: How The Recording Academy Will Fight For Creator's Rights

As we prepare to celebrate music's best and brightest at the 2022 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 64th GRAMMY Awards, we must also recognize those who are dedicated to serving our music community year-round.

The active participation of Recording Academy members makes a difference, whether it's voting in the GRAMMY Awards process, recommending peers for membership, or registering for the District Advocate advocacy movement.

The upcoming Chapter Board Elections are a pivotal opportunity to serve our local Chapter communities and to help launch the next generation of Recording Academy leaders. The results of this election will impact the future of the Academy from the local to the national level.

Here's everything you need to know about the Recording Academy's 2022 Chapter Board Elections before voting opens next week.

When are Chapter Board Elections?

The Chapter Board Elections are typically held in early April of each year. The 2022 Elections are open Tuesday, March 29, at 8 a.m. local time – Monday, April 4, at 11:59 p.m. local time.

What are Chapter Boards?

The Recording Academy's membership is organized into 12 Chapters nationwide. Each Chapter has a local Board of Governors that advises and supports the National Board of Trustees and collaborates with the Chapter President and Academy staff on local programming and Academy initiatives.

Who is eligible to vote in Chapter Board Elections?

Each Chapter's Voting and Professional membership vote in their respective Chapter Board Elections to elect their Chapter's Governors.

Who serves on Chapter Boards?

A Chapter Board is composed of Recording Academy members who are elected to the positions of Trustee; Chapter Officers, which include a President, Vice President, and Secretary; and Governors.

Why is voting in Chapter Board Elections important?

Voting is a right and a responsibility as a member.

While we love hearing creators' voices on stage and on recordings, it's our responsibility to listen to their concerns, ideas and recommendations in order to keep our Academy and our industry moving forward.

Your vote makes a difference.

Voting in this election is an opportunity to help drive the Recording Academy and our music communities forward by electing the best and brightest members to your Chapter's leadership.

Your vote helps ensure a diverse, inclusive and representative Board.

Recording Academy members elected to their Chapter Boards ensure the policies and procedures put in place by the Academy reflect the needs and aspirations of our vastly diverse music community.

Your vote is your voice.

As a member of the Recording Academy, your vote carries weight and is tremendously valued.

How can I vote in the Chapter Board Elections?

When the elections open on Tuesday, March 29, Voting and Professional members will receive an email from the Recording Academy with a direct link to their online ballot. This login will be different from each member's Recording Academy login.

Once you click on your ballot link, review the candidates' bios. Vote for the individuals who you believe will best represent your local music community.

Be sure to submit your Chapter Board Elections ballot before voting closes on Monday, April 4. If you have any questions or issues with your ballot, please reach out to elections@recordingacademy.com.

For more information about Recording Academy Governance or to view the current list of Elected Leaders, visit https://recordingacademy.com/Governance.

Recording Academy Bolsters Membership With 2,710 Music Creators And Professionals Invited

The Recording Academy has announced that it will continue giving credit where credit is due with its 3rd annual "Behind The Record" initiative, a global social media activation aimed at spotlighting the many producers, engineers, songwriters, composers, mixers, instrumentalists, and other creators who contribute to the music recording process. Taking place Friday, Oct. 15, the industry-wide conversation encourages artists across all music genres to celebrate their collaborators' incredible behind-the-scenes work on the tracks, records and albums loved by music fans around the world. This year's campaign features a short film, narrated by Recording Academy Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer Om'Mas Keith, illustrating that behind every hit song is an intricate dance of creativity that builds and builds to the final product.

A day before the social media activation's launch, on Thursday, Oct. 14, the Recording Academy will introduce Behind The Record Advocacy, a new virtual advocacy program to inform lawmakers about issues affecting the creators behind their favorite records. Building off the success of the Recording Academy's "Behind The Record" initiative, Academy members will meet virtually with members of Congress nationwide to discuss legislation that would have a direct impact on America's recording artists, songwriters and studio professionals, such as the HITS Act and the American Music Fairness Act. With nearly 200 meetings with congressional offices anticipated for Behind The Record Advocacy, members will focus on ensuring that the individuals behind the record are able to earn fair compensation for their work.

"It takes a village to create a recording, and as an organization that serves to support all music creators, we invite our peers to join us in spotlighting the many music professionals behind our favorite songs," Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said. "While we celebrate the music professionals behind the scenes, we also recognize the importance of fighting for fair treatment of creators. We're proud of the evolution of 'Behind The Record' to include an advocacy element this year as we continue our ongoing work to ensure all music creators flourish."

"Behind The Record" is supported by the Recording Academy's Advocacy Department, Producers & Engineers Wing and Songwriters & Composers Wing. Supporting all music creators—including the artists behind our favorite records—is an urgent initiative for the Recording Academy year-round. Within the past year alone, the Recording Academy established the Songwriters & Composers Wing to better represent the diverse community of music creators who provide the world with the gift of song. The Academy also reintroduced the HITS Act in the House and Senate, which would allow artists and record producers to deduct 100 percent of sound recording production expenses in the year they are incurred, and continued efforts to support women producers and engineers through its Women In The Mix initiative.

To help the Recording Academy further support creators working behind the scenes, artists can participate in "Behind The Record" by:

• Emailing givecredit@recordingacademy.com to request an access code to the Credit Cover Generator Portal.
• Posting your Credit Cover across social media channels and tagging those who worked on your project. Use hashtags #BehindTheRecord #GiveCredit #WeAreMusic.
• Artists can create Credit Covers for a single track or album, and covers will live in a gallery on the "Behind The Record" website for music fans to view and discover the roles of creatives behind some of their favorite records.

For the third year, Jaxsta, the world's largest public-facing dedicated database of official music credits, provided credits for Warner Music, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Merlin releases.

For more information, please visit the "Behind The Record" website. Follow and join the global conversation on social media using the hashtags #BehindTheRecord, #GiveCredit and #WeAreMusic.

Learn More About The Recording Academy's "Behind The Record" Initiative