Fulfilling on a vision of copyright reform first proposed by Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow in 2014, the music industry has banded together to support key legislation.
These organizations include the Academy and a formidable list of major music industry organizations, including American Association of Independent Music, the American Federation of Musicians, PROs ASCAP and BMI, the National Music Publishers' Association RIAA, SoundExchange, and more than a dozen others.
For the first time, the entire industry stated its support for the performance right for sound recordings. In addition, four legislative principles agreed to are crucial: the Music Modernization Act of 2017, the CLASSICS Act and the Allocation for Music Producers Act, and establishing a market-based rate standard for satellite radio.
The Music Modernization Act aims to create a single licensing body to administer the mechanical reproduction rights for all digital uses of musical compositions, while the CLASSICS Act would establish royalty payments for pre-1972 sound recordings. The AMP Act will codify into law the practice of paying studio professionals such as producers and engineers their fair royalties.
Hopes this moment would arise in 2018 have been realized and the coming months will be a truly important time for active advocacy by the music community and patrons who support fair pay in the arts.
A field hearing in New York by the House Judiciary Committee to address these key legislative issues is anticipated on Jan. 26 — just two days before the 60th GRAMMY Awards. Music creators will look to make most of this chance to speak directly with lawmakers and set the stage for Congressional copyright reform in 2018.
"For years, our creator membership has sought a holistic approach to update music licensing," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "Artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers have each advocated for their fellow creators because we're all in this together. Today, our industry unites in the same manner to support a comprehensive slate of legislative issues that will improve the environment for music makers, music services, and music fans. As we prepare to celebrate music at the GRAMMYs, we can celebrate this important milestone as well."