The 118th Congress is underway — and lucky for the music community, the top party leaders in the House of Representatives are also strong supporters of music creators.

The new Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and new Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have continuously demonstrated their commitment to advancing pro-music legislation while in Congress.

For their many years of support of music makers and their dedication to creators' rights, the Recording Academy has honored both McCarthy and Jeffries with the GRAMMYs On The Hill Award — McCarthy in 2014 and Jeffries in 2019.

Since 2013, McCarthy has been the co-chair of the bipartisan Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus. Together with caucus co-chair Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), McCarthy gave the caucus the high-profile leadership of both the House Majority Whip and the House Minority Whip.

Since its founding with Academy consultation in 2005, the caucus has provided Members of Congress with opportunities to interface directly with music creators to better inform their understanding of the music business and the impact it has on the American economy.

In 2014, during GRAMMY Weekend in Los Angeles, Rep. McCarthy led a first-of-its-kind town hall with Recording Academy leadership. Rep. McCarthy engaged in a frank and free-flowing conversation with Academy Trustees and Chapter Presidents regarding the congressional outlook for the coming year.

The recently elected Speaker continues to consistently meet with Recording Academy members during events like GRAMMYs On The Hill.

In 2022, McCarthy met with Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., along with 5-time GRAMMY winning duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, to discuss the American Music Fairness Act, the HITS Act, and the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act, which was passed into law in December.

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has also long been a tireless champion for the music community. Throughout his time in Congress, Jeffries has been at the forefront of many key pieces of legislation that have benefited the music community. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, he has been one of the most influential and impactful legislators working for stronger copyright protections and a fairer music licensing system.

In 2018, he was an original cosponsor and key architect of the Music Modernization Act, which ultimately became law and was the biggest update to music licensing in over 40 years. Thanks to Jeffries's work, songwriters now receive more fair and direct royalty payments from streaming services, legacy artists are able to collect royalties for digital broadcasts, and producers and engineers are protected under copyright law.

The next year, Jeffries introduced the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act into the House of Representatives, which was signed into law in 2020.

The CASE Act established a small-claims court for copyright cases allowing for independent artists and songwriters to protect themselves against copyright infringement — this new small-claims court began operations last year. Prior to the CASE Act's enactment, protecting yourself against copyright infringement was a costly and widely unattainable process.

Jeffries has also frequently participated in different Recording Academy advocacy events. He has been a keynote speaker during GRAMMYs on The Hill and often meets with Recording Academy members while they are in Washington, D.C. to hear their perspective on the importance of passing creator-friendly legislation, most recently meeting with GRAMMY nominated rapper Cordae in 2022.

Additionally, throughout the years, he has met with Recording Academy members from his home state of New York during our District Advocacy Day. These important opportunities allowed Academy members who live in his district to advocate for the music community.

As the 118th Congress continues their work, the Recording Academy looks forward to continuing to work with these leaders and supporters of the music community — to uplift and nurture all music people.

Looking Back On 2022: One Of The Recording Academy's Most Successful Years In Advocacy

On the traditional starting date of Jan. 3, the 116th Congress convened, filled with new and familiar faces, including many returning music champions, notably within the leadership of both the Democratic and Republican parties. To get a head start on the new Congress, many of our members met with then candidates and incumbents in October during District Advocate day and laid out a policy agenda in support of music, the arts and creators’ rights.

The budget impasse has the parties at odds for the time being, but music unites us all and we welcome the 116th with the same bipartisan spirit that made the 115th Congress so historic for copyright law. The co-chairmanship of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are moving us ahead with the sense of accomplishment held over from last year's triumph — the Music Modernization Act's historic copyright reform passed Congress unanimously and was signed into law on Oct. 11.

In the Senate, the Judiciary Committee will  be chaired for the first time by  Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) with Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) returning as ranking member. The House Judiciary Committee will be chaired by Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) with Doug Collins (R-Ga.) as ranking member. Collins and Nadler both introduced key components of the omnibus MMA during the last Congress, and remain dedicated to creators’ rights.

Like music, life and policy keeps moving ahead and thus so does our political advocacy on music's behalf. We are here year-round, meeting with lawmakers and assisting our members who feel the urge to reach out and make their voices heard.

Two GRAMMY winners who have already visited the 116th Congress are Tony Bennett and the Grateful Dead's iconic drummer Mickey Hart. They were guests of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her swearing in, and comes shortly after a visit by singer/songwriter Julia Michaels last month during the Recording Academy Advocacy's holiday party.  The December party was filled with bipartisan spirit as lawmakers and artists joined together to cut the ribbon on our new offices in Washington, D.C.

Looking-ahead at issues sure to cross the legislative agenda this Congress, our members already have emphasized a few key issues with lawmakers. First and foremost, getting performance rights on terrestrial radio is still a goal we strive for. At the Copyright Office, which is not affected by the partial shutdown, modernization for the 21st century is an urgent issue. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill join the Copyright Office in pushing for efforts to establish a small claims court for independent creators. Meanwhile programs for music in the schools and funding for the National Endowment for the Arts—an agency currently shuttered due to the government shutdown—call for increased advocacy efforts. And we continue to make sure legislators know that the music community cares about negotiations on trade agreements and how they intersect with creators’ rights.

The 116^th Congress has great potential to continue to support music and its creators, and the Recording Academy will be sure to continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to achieve much needed policy goals.

Celebrating District Advocate Day Engagement & Looking Ahead

The Recording Academy's hard work on Capitol Hill has paid off in 2018 with real progress, and the time to celebrate has come! On Dec. 12, the GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, Julia Michaels, joined the GRAMMY Advocacy staff, lawmakers, Congressional staff and stakeholder groups—over 200 guests in total—for a holiday open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Recording Academy's new offices in downtown Washington, D.C. The new space is intended to be a home for Academy members visiting the nation’s capital, and help better unite the policy community—in bipartisan fashion—with the music creator community.

“I want to thank the Recording Academy for being here in DC to represent those of us who make music” --GRAMMY nominee Julia Michaels at the GRAMMY Advocacy open house.

This special unity was on display throughout last week’s celebration, including during the official ribbon cutting ceremony that brought together musicians like Michaels and Academy Trustee and singer/songwriter Tracy Hamlin with lawmakers Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Hoyer, who was recently elected Majority Leader for the 116^th Congress, addressed the crowd praising the Academy for its efforts and successes in Washington.

Earlier in the festivities, Michaels had a bipartisan visit with Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Norma Torres (D-Calif.). McCarthy will be the top Republican in the House next Congress and continue to serve alongside the aforementioned Hoyer as co-chairs of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus. Their bipartisan partnership on behalf of music led to 2018's historic victory when the Music Modernization Act was signed into law after having unanimously passed Congress.

Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), and Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) also joined in to celebrate with us. D.C.-based producer, engineer and songwriter—and recent GRAMMY nominee—Matt Squire entertained the crowd on Pro Tools, demonstrating how a song is brought to life as a recording, from start to finish. Michaels also addressed the importance of what happens after that, bringing the creative process full circle in context for the crowd.

The year of progress we've had and the passage of the Music Modernization Act are so important because the professionals who create the music we all love — the music that unites us — have to make a living to pour their time and talent into their craft successfully. Cheers and more to come in 2019—with a new home in D.C.!

GRAMMY Advocacy In Action: The Music Modernization Act & Beyond

"Like their Republican counterparts, one thing incoming Democratic leadership shares has been their support for music's best interests" — Conversations In Advocacy #45

Democrats elected to the incoming Congress elected party leadership on Nov. 28–29, with some established leaders chosen to remain in leadership roles. With the House Of Representatives majority switching to the Democrats folowing the Midterm Elections, current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — an outspoken advocate for music creators and speaker at GRAMMYs on the Hill 2018 — has been selected by her peers as  the nominee for Speaker of the House. Her final confirmation awaits a vote in early January that requires support by a majority of the House chamber.

Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has been serving as House Democratic Whip and will move on to be incoming House Majority Leader. Thanking fellow Dems for the honor, he said, "Our caucus is energized by a dynamic freshman class, and we will benefit from their experiences and the perspective they bring to the table."

Also serving as co-chair of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus, Hoyer will be uniquely able to share his own awareness of music's most important issues with lawmakers just starting their careers in Congress. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) was also selected for House majority whip and Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) for assistant Democratic leader.

Another music champion, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), was chosen as Democratic Caucus Chair. Jeffries was the lead Democrat sponsor for the original Music Modernization Act and for those who watched the music hearings before the House Judiciary Committee that led to unanimous passage of the historic bill memories of Jeffries' impassioned and informed remarks on music's behalf remain fresh. Other music champions elected to leadership positions this week include Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I), and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.).

Congratulations to the new team of Democratic lawmakers selected for leadership in the Congress ahead. During District Advocate day 2018 on Oct. 24, more than 1,500 Recording Academy members discussed music's policy goals with lawmakers and candidates, including advocating for the CASE Act which was introduced by Rep. Jeffries. Our goals are clear and we look forward to continuing what Pelosi referred to as our "tireless advocacy" on behalf of music's creators.

Music Advocates Among Republican Leadership Team For The Incoming Congress

"Conversations in Advocacy" is your weekend digital tip sheet on music advocacy and the policies that affect music makers and their craft. New installments post every Friday.