Year round, the Recording Academy works tirelessly to advocate for all music people — but one day is especially important. That's District Advocate Day, whose 2023 iteration rolled around on Oct. 5. Held annually in the fall, this is the largest grassroots advocacy movement for music and its makers.

As with every year, Recording Academy members from across the country visited the local district offices of their elected representatives in Congress to discuss issues affecting the livelihoods of songwriters, performers, and studio professionals.

The key issues for District Advocate Day 2023 were AI (artificial intelligence), protecting free expression, protecting the live music experience for artists and fans, incentivizing new music via tax fairness, and providing a solution for artists' rights on radio.

These were front of mind across nearly 100 meetings throughout the U.S. — from Long Beach, California to Coral Springs, Florida; from Omaha to San Antonio; from Philadelphia to Tupelo. And that just scratches the surface of how the Academy sprung into action nationwide for all music people.

At the Recording Academy's New York Chapter Office in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, District Advocate Day kicked off much as it did in 2022. Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, swung by said office to meet up with the New York Chapter.

In the boardroom, Academy members — in a mix of formal and casual getup — got down to brass tacks, and made heartfelt expressions before Nadler.

The discussion of free expression was framed by the Academy-endorsed Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act. As for ticketing, bots were evoked as a major concern.

And regarding AI, guarding name, image, likeness, and intellectual property was of paramount concern. Nadler was receptive to these concerns from the New York Chapter, and offered co-signage to Academy-sponsored bills.

After an all-smiles group photo session in front of the New York Chapter Office — which sported some nifty new Academy-logoed flags — a group reconvened in the boardroom to watch the first-ever GRAMMY Advocacy Conference. This was just one of many such gatherings across the country. As uncertainty in Washington prevented many congressional offices from scheduling meetings, the virtual conference provided another opportunity for Academy members to connect with each other and engage with the issues no matter where they live.

Across the following hour, viewers heard directly from policymakers, industry stakeholders and fellow Academy members about the organization's crucial work in Washington.

The video included a conversation about AI between Todd Dupler, the Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer at the Recording Academy, and Mitch Glazier, the CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America.

After a message from U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) about the need to overhaul the current ticketing system, Shay M. Lawson, Governor of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy, introduced U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Calif.-37) and Torae, the President of the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy.

The three had a frank discussion about the need to safeguard free expression through the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, and Rep. Kamlager-Dove's historic resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

On screen, what followed was a conversation between Dupler and Nicole Elkon, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State. This interchange had to do with music diplomacy, a crucial tool in the department's arsenal, and came fresh off the State Department's launch of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative that the Recording Academy played an instrumental role in developing.  

The final major portion of GRAMMY Advocacy Conference 2023 reflected the Academy's hardworking Songwriters & Composers Wing. The Wing's very own Sr. Managing Director, Susan Stewart, led a conversation with singer-songwriter Alex Hall, and Evan Bogart, the Chair of the S&C Wing.

After a pragmatic and necessary talk about the importance of fair compensation in the streaming age — and navigating the labyrinth of an increasingly complex music landscape —  it was clear to all involved that we do this because we love the music, first and foremost. And with that, members of the New York Chapter filed out into the autumn air, ready to put that shared love into action.

5 Key Issues For District Advocate Day 2023: AI, Live Music, Free Expression & More

For the Recording Academy's Advocacy family, the fight for music people's rights is year-round — but still, one day is paramount.

Welcome to District Advocate Day,  whose 2023 iteration will roll around on Oct. 5. Held annually in the fall, this is the largest grassroots advocacy movement for music and its makers.

Therein, Recording Academy members visit the local district offices of their elected representatives in Congress to discuss issues affecting the livelihoods of songwriters, performers, and studio professionals.

Here are five key issues affecting the music industry that will be addressed at District Advocate Day 2023.

AI: Protecting Creators' Name, Image, Likeness, & Voice

AI, or artificial intelligence, is a front-of-mind issue for the Recording Academy, especially as it pertains to intellectual property. It's even been addressed in the GRAMMYs voting process.

Plus, in June, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer invited the Recording Academy to attend the announcement of his A.I. Framework to craft comprehensive legislation to better govern the use of the new technology across all industries — including arts and intellectual property.

This summer, the House and Senate Judiciary Committees have held hearings and roundtables

exploring the impact of AI on copyright and intellectual property, with a potential goal to craft targeted legislation.

At the same time we embrace the positive potential of AI, we must also be mindful of the risks and ensure that human creativity is always at the center of music.

Creative works shape our identity, values, and worldview. People relate most deeply to works that embody the lived experience, perceptions, and attitudes of others. Art cannot exist independent of human culture.

While existing copyright law already has the ability to protect the work of artists and

songwriters, there's very little protection for artists who see their own name, likeness, and voice used to create, market, promote and distribute AI-generated music. Human creators are the foundation of the creative industries and we must ensure that human creators are paid for their work.

That's why, as Al technology rapidly evolves, the Recording Academy is working with Congress to establish a federal right of publicity that protects a human creator from the unlawful use of their identity — including their voice — to make, market, and distribute Al-generated content.

A bipartisan effort in the Senate is leading the way to bring this important new safeguard into law — and the Academy asks Members of Congress to support a federal right of publicity bill.

Protecting Free Expression

The Restoring Artistic Protection Act protects the First Amendment rights of creators nationwide by limiting the use of an artist's lyrics as evidence in criminal proceedings.

The bill affirms that every artist, no matter the musical genre, should be able to freely express themselves. The bill protects the First Amendment rights of artists nationwide by limiting the use of an artist's lyrics as evidence in federal court proceedings.

While this prosecutorial practice is common in the hip hop genre, this is an issue that impacts creators from all genres and all artistic disciplines.

Thanks to the Recording Academy's advocacy, Similar legislation has become law in multiple states with strong bipartisan support. On Capitol Hill, the bill was reintroduced in Congress during GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day on April 27, 2023 — and the Recording Academy asks for Members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 2952.

Fix The Tix: Protecting The Live Music Experience For Artists & Fans

The relationship that forms when an artist connects to a fan through live music is at the core of what makes music special. Artists try to keep their tickets affordable for their fans, but unscrupulous scalpers move in and drive up the price and make it harder for fans to buy tickets to see their favorite artist perform live.

Congress needs to address the many predatory practices that drive-up ticket prices and deceive consumers by regulating and restricting bulk resellers and bots and providing real transparency. 

Legislation like the TICKET Act (H.R. 3950) is an important first step to promote price transparency, but comprehensive reform is needed to protect artists, fans and small businesses who bear the most harm from the deceptive trade practices common in the live event ticket industry. Stakeholders in the secondary market want to restrict the ability of artists to tour and sell tickets the way that they want.

It's time for Congress to listen to the artists on the stage and pass meaningful, bipartisan

ticketing reforms that protects consumers, elevates creative economic development, and restores trust in the ticketing experience. Artists want to protect their fans from bulk resellers, bots, and predatory practices, while putting new safeguards in place to restrict sales of fake tickets, limit price gouging, and address other deceptive practices. 

The Recording Academy supports the passage of the TICKET Act, as well as additional pro-artist and pro-consumer reforms.

Incentivizing New Music Through Tax Fairness

Reintroduced into Congress on Feb. 28, 2023, The HITS (Help Independent Tracks Succeed) Act is a bipartisan and bicameral solution that would provide independent creators with tax incentives to help boost the production of new music.

The bill, which the Recording Academy helped craft, would modify current U.S. tax law to allow independent artists and songwriters to deduct 100% of their production costs on new recordings or songwriting demos upfront.

Plus, it would align the tax code with similar provisions that exist for television, film and live theatrical productions.

The goal of the HITS Act is to incentivize the creation of new music by lessening the financial burden and risk of creating it. The HITS Act will aid independent artists, songwriters, and producers in creating new music that we can celebrate and enjoy.

The reintroduction of the HITS Act demonstrates the support various members of Congress have for the music community and their understanding of the importance of reviving the music ecosystem.

As such, the Recording Academy backs the co-sponsorship of H.R. 1959.

Providing A Solution For Artists' Rights On Radio

The American Music Fairness Act is a bipartisan and bicameral bill that establishes a

performance right for sound recordings broadcast on AM/FM radio in the United States

to ensure that performers receive compensation for their work.

The bill cleared the House Judiciary Committee in 2022 and contains important protections for small and non-profit radio broadcasters.

The bill ends a decades-long loophole that has enabled AM/FM radio broadcasters to use the music of hard-working performers and producers without compensating them for their work.

Under the bill, artists, performers, producers, and other music makers involved in the creation of a sound recording would be entitled to fair market rate for their music played on radio stations across the U.S. — just like they currently receive on other music platforms like streaming services, satellite radio and internet radio.

AMFA also contains important protections for small and non-profit broadcasters to ensure that local and community-supported radio stations can continue to be diverse and thrive.

It also empowers creators to have control over their own intellectual property is a fundamental and constitutionally protected right in America.

Big radio corporations have earned billions in advertising revenues by exploiting music and its creators, while the creators themselves have lost out on millions of dollars of potential royalties.

Following District Advocate in 2022, the House Judiciary Committee favorably voted the American Music Fairness Act out of committee for the first time. The Recording Academy believes that co-sponsorship of H.R. 791 is a must.

Granted, District Advocacy Day is a unique part of being a member of the Recording Academy. But if you're not a member, never fear — there are other ways to get involved and help advocate for creators' rights.

The Recording Academy invites you to engage in one of our numerous Call to Actions here — and it's our hope we'll see you at District Advocate Day 2024! With all this in mind, let's make District Advocate Day 2023 a success for all music people!

District Advocate Day Is Back On Oct. 5: How The Annual Advocacy Day Will Benefit Music People Worldwide

Continuing its mission to ensure that music remains an indelible part of our culture around the world, the Recording Academy has partnered with the U.S. Department of State and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken to help launch the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, an international initiative that will promote peace, diplomacy and democracy through music worldwide. Using music as a diplomatic tool globally, the initiative will leverage public-private partnerships to create a music ecosystem that expands economic equity and elevates the creative economy, ensures societal opportunity and inclusion, and increases access to education. The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative will also build on existing public diplomacy music programs to create partnerships with American companies and nonprofits to convey American leadership globally and create connections with people worldwide.

The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative also includes the American Music Mentorship Program, a partnership between the State Department and the Recording Academy, which will bring international mid-career music industry professionals and musical artists to the United States for mentorship and networking opportunities. The program will invite Recording Academy professionals and members to provide international participants with mentorship opportunities and professional development.

See a full outline of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative below.

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Secretary Blinken announced the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative Sept. 27 during a lively celebration at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. He signaled the start of the inaugural event by highlighting its attendees. "We have a few dignitaries come through this building, but it is a special treat to have so many members of music royalty here tonight," he said excitedly.

The evening engendered a melodic blend of music, peace and policy. The private event featured breathtaking performances from Dave Grohl, Herbie Hancock, Mickey Guyton, Armani White, and many other leading American and international artists. U2's Bono shared a special video message from Las Vegas as well.

Singer/songwriter Aimee Mann performed her 1999 song "Save Me" with the admission that she was "deeply honored but also a bit freaked out to be here."

Perhaps less nervous, Secretary Blinken added that he couldn't "pass up" the one-in-a-lifetime chance to "combine music and diplomacy," as he performed Muddy Water's 1954 classic, "Hoochie Coochie Man."

"If this doesn't clear the house, I don't know what will," Blinken said playfully ahead of his performance.

In addition to the performances, Secretary Blinken and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. presented 28-time GRAMMY winner Quincy Jones with the inaugural Peace Through Music Award.

A collaboration between the Department and the Recording Academy, the award recognizes and honors an American music industry professional, artist, or group that has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally.

"His work, his actions continue to advance peace through music, and I am sure they will for generations to come," Mason jr. said. "It's my true honor to recognize my friend and mentor, Mr. Quincy Jones, as the first-ever recipient of what will now and into the future be known as the Quincy Jones Peace Through Music Award."

Read More: Mogul Moment: How Quincy Jones Became An Architect Of Black Music

The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative was developed pursuant to the bipartisan Promoting Peace, Education, And Cultural Exchange (PEACE) Through Music Diplomacy Act, which was championed by the Recording Academy and its members in 2022 at GRAMMYs On The Hill and during the annual grassroots District Advocate Day. The legislation, introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in December 2022.

Here's a complete breakdown of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative:

• American Music Mentorship Program

The American Music Mentorship Program, a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Recording Academy, will bring international mid-career music industry professionals, which may include musical artists, to the United States for mentorship and networking opportunities, with an aim to cultivate a professional music industry ecosystem locally and globally, to support creative talent, and to strengthen the creative economy globally. It will leverage the networks and experience of Recording Academy professionals and members to provide international participants mentorship opportunities, boost their technical skills, and build the foundation for professional networks.  The first American Music Mentorship Program will be held in the fall of 2024.

• Fulbright-Kennedy Center Visiting Scholar Award in Arts and Science

The Fulbright Program, the United States' flagship international academic exchange program, will collaborate with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to create a new fellowship opportunity for foreign scholars.  The new Fulbright-Kennedy Center Visiting Scholar Award in Arts and Science will focus on the intersections of the arts (music, dance, theater, etc.) and science, including how the arts can contribute to individual and global health and well-being, and the environment. An award competition will be announced in fall 2023, and the Kennedy Center will host the first scholar in academic year 2024-25.

• Boosting English-Language Learning Through Music

Recognizing the strategic importance of English-language learning overseas, especially for youth and underserved communities, the Department will incorporate music into its existing $40 million investment in English-language learning worldwide, including through exchanges, curriculum, and scholarships to provide access to English-learning classes for promising students between the ages of 13 and 20.

The Department will augment broader global English-language learning by supporting Sing Out Loud, a program that provides resources for teaching English through music in collaboration with American Music Abroad (AMA), bringing music and lyrics into classrooms across the world.

In addition to the Secretary's announcements, the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative will include vast programming around the world, including:

• Arts Envoys to Travel to the Middle East, People's Republic of China

Herbie Hancock, along with Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Ensemble at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), will be performing in Jordan in October to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 1963 Jazz Ambassador tour of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

The Herbie Hancock tour will then travel to Saudi Arabia for a four-day Arts Envoy program – the first of its kind between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

From November 9-18, 2023, The Philadelphia Orchestra is slated to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its historic 1973 tour of the People's Republic of China (PRC) with Ensemble Performances and Residency Activities in multiple cities in the PRC.

• Ten American Bands to Travel to 30 Countries Starting in October Through American Music Abroad; AMA Academy Cleveland to Host Young Professional Musicians from Ukrainian Diaspora

Beginning in October 2023 and representing multiple genres, Birckhead, The Beatbox House, The Invisibles, Marielle Kraft, Matthew Whitaker, Pipeline Vocal Project, Raining Jane, Sihasin, Sub-Radio, and Tap Music Project will travel to 30 countries from October 2023 through June 2024.

In November 2023, the 2023 American Music Abroad Academy Cleveland will bring together young professional musicians from the Ukrainian diaspora and around the world for collaboration and mentorship opportunities from American instructors with a focus on cultural preservation through music. Learn more about AMA here.

• Next Level to Use Hip Hop in Nigeria, Bring International Artists to the U.S. to Focus on Conflict Transformation

In September 2023, four U.S. hip hop artists focusing on conflict transformation will travel to Lagos for a two-week Next Level Academy.  In addition, 10 international participants will travel to Washington, D.C. and New York, New York for a two-week professional development program on conflict transformation through hip hop. Learn more about Next Level here.

• Scaling Social Entrepreneurship Projects, Strengthening Creative Economy Through OneBeat

From November 6-20, 2023, musicians from Ghana and Nigeria will come together to collaboratively create and discuss how music can bring people together through social entrepreneurship projects, as part of the OneBeat program. Learn more about OneBeat here.

• Harmundi International Music Summit to Welcome Students from Every Continent in November 2023

Virtually connecting more than 60 international students from every continent through music, the Harmundi Summit will provide intense music training, cross-cultural collaboration, studio recording, and live performances under the mentorship of world-class musicians and producers.  The Summit, which will take place November 3-5, 2023, will be led by alumni of the Department's exchanges, and is part of the Department's Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund.  This fund provides grants of up to $10,000 for public service projects that utilize the skills, knowledge, and networks exchange alumni gained through their exchange experiences.

Learn more about the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative.

How Vice President Kamala Harris And The Recording Academy Celebrated The 50th Anniversary Of Hip-Hop: 'Hip-Hop Culture Is America's Culture'

After a yearslong process, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has officially published their determination on Phonorecords III — meaning songwriters will start to receive back pay on royalties they were owed from 2018-2022. 

As the Recording Academy covered earlier this year, the CRB announced a confirmation of the mechanical royalty rate increase from 10.5% to 15.1% for the Phonorecords III period (that covers 2018-2022). Despite that ruling occurring earlier this year, the process was not officially complete until the determination was published this month. 

This is a monumental win for songwriters and composers, who will soon begin to receive the additional owed royalties. To help break down some common questions, the Recording Academy put together a brief FAQ on what this means for songwriters:

How much will songwriters receive?

While the final calculation is not publicly known, some reports estimate that digital streaming services will owe as much as $200 million to songwriters and publishers from Phonorecords III.  

When will songwriters begin to receive the backpay?

Songwriters can expect to begin to receive their share of the owed royalties no later than February 2024 — streaming services have six months from August 10 to make arrangements and payments for the mechanical royalty rates they owe songwriters from 2018 to 2022.

How will songwriters collect the backpay? 

The Mechanical Licensing Collective is expected to pay any owed royalties that were incurred in 2021 or 2022, which is when it was operational following the passage of the Music Modernization Act.

For royalties owed from 2018 to 2020, the digital platforms will be responsible for making proper payments and may contract with a third-party vendor for processing.  

Will there be any oversight to this process?

The U.S. Copyright Office and Congress are monitoring this important process. In addition, stakeholders including the Recording Academy and its Songwriters & Composers Wing will work to ensure that payments are paid properly and timely. 

The Recording Academy has been vocal in advocating for songwriters and composers throughout this entire process and has continually pushed for these artists to receive a fairer royalty rate for their works. 

Now that the determination has been publicly released, payments to songwriters and composers must be done in an efficient and accurate manner.

The Academy intends to continue following the process and advocating for these artists to receive the payments they have earned.  

Songwriters Receive Monumental Victory From Copyright Royalty Board: Here's What The Increase Means For The Music Community