Skip to main content
 
  • Recording Academy
  • GRAMMYs
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
Advocacy
  • Advocacy
  • Awards
  • Membership
  • GRAMMYs
  • News
  • Governance
  • Jobs
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Login
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
  • More
    • Governance
    • Jobs
    • Press Room
    • Events
    • MusiCares
    • GRAMMY Museum
    • Latin GRAMMYs

The GRAMMYs

  • Awards
  • News
  • Videos
  • Music Genres
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Music Genres
    • Recording Academy

Latin GRAMMYs

MusiCares

  • About
  • Get Help
  • Support
  • News
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Person of the Year
  • More
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Support
    • News
    • Events
    • Shop
    • Person of the Year

Advocacy

  • About
  • News
  • Issues & Policy
  • Act
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Issues & Policy
    • Act
    • Recording Academy

Membership

  • Join
  • Events
  • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
  • SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS WING
  • GRAMMY U
  • More
    • Join
    • Events
    • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
    • SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS WING
    • GRAMMY U
Log In Join
  • SUBSCRIBE

See All Results
Modal Open
Subscribe Now

Subscribe to Newsletters

Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events. Privacy Policy
GRAMMY Museum
Membership

Join us on Social

  • Recording Academy
    • The Recording Academy: Facebook
    • The Recording Academy: Twitter
    • The Recording Academy: Instagram
    • The Recording Academy: YouTube
  • GRAMMYs
    • GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • Latin GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • GRAMMY Museum: Facebook
    • GRAMMY Museum: Twitter
    • GRAMMY Museum: Instagram
    • GRAMMY Museum: YouTube
  • MusiCares
    • MusiCares: Facebook
    • MusiCares: Twitter
    • MusiCares: Instagram
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy: Facebook
    • Advocacy: Twitter
  • Membership
    • Membership: Facebook
    • Membership: Twitter
    • Membership: Instagram
    • Membership: Youtube
Rep. Doug Collins and Daryl Friedman at the 2018 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards

Rep. Doug Collins and the Recording Academy's Daryl Friedman
Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage.com

News
Music Modernization Act Passes House Of Reps. music-modernization-act-passes-house-representatives-unanimously

Music Modernization Act Passes House Of Representatives Unanimously

Facebook Twitter Email
Passage comes one week after GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy
Brian Haack
Advocacy
Apr 25, 2018 - 2:28 pm

The Music Modernization Act officially passed the U.S. House of Representative today, winning its first battle for legislative approval on the House floor with a unanimous 415–0 vote. Having previously passed mark-up by the House Judiciary Committee on April 11 with a unanimous 32–0 vote of approval, the MMA arrived at the House with a mandate from the masses that Congress enact equitable reforms in the music industry.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte Mentions GRAMMYs on the Hill

"Sometimes big pieces of legislation can come together only through the efforts of a large number of people who invest their time in making change happen, as so many members of this committee and so many stakeholders in the music and digital delivery communities have done," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) during the committee's mark-up.

Just last week, the Recording Academy hosted the 2018 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards gala, bringing together a who's who of Capitol Hill heavyweights and music creators. The combined forces not only celebrated the power of advocacy, creativity and music but pushed forward the momentum for the MMA.

Why GRAMMYs On The Hill Makes A Difference

"Music creators compose the soundtrack to our lives. These creators deserve to be paid a fair wage for their work," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "The passage of the Music Modernization Act in the House of Representatives is a historic step forward for all music creators, ensuring that they are credited, paid, and shown the respect they deserve for the impact they have on our culture and daily life. We are honored that GRAMMYs on the Hill helped to pave the way for these long overdue updates."

"Last week, GRAMMYs on the Hill brought the stories of artists, composers, producers, and songwriters to Washington, sharing the challenges of their industry and the robust solutions provided by the Music Modernization Act," added honoree Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.). "The Recording Academy and an array of stakeholders have helped a bipartisan group of legislators protect an American art form, and I'm grateful for the consensus that was reflected in today's vote."

Looking forward, a happy ending for music creators would be a bill signing ceremony at the White House before the end of this year. However, before that can come to fruition, the bill will next proceed to the U.S. Senate, with the burden now on our nation's senators to make the right choice to protect music creators and update the laws that prevent music creators from being fairly compensated for their creative works.

Music Modernization Act: A Vision For Unity

Reps. Bob Goodlatte and Jerrold Nadler

Reps. Bob Goodlatte and Jerrold Nadler

Photo: Sean Zanni/WireImage.com

News
Music Modernization Act Takes Big Step Forward house-judiciary-committee-approves-music-modernization-act

House Judiciary Committee Approves Music Modernization Act

Facebook Twitter Email
Bill with unprecedented support that would revolutionize the music industry moves closer to becoming law, ensuring fair pay for music creators
Renée Fabian
Advocacy
Apr 11, 2018 - 3:23 pm

The Recording Academy has been trumpeting the Music Modernization Act a lot lately, and for good reason. Since rumors broke on the comprehensive bill in January, which garnered historic support from the far reaches of the music industry, the Academy has remained optimistic and enthusiastic that the MMA would pass Congress this year. Now, that dream is one step closer to becoming a reality.

On April 10 House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and 29 additional members of the House of Representatives introduced the MMA. Today, the bill, H.R. 5447, went to the House Judiciary Committee for markup, where it passed unanimously with a vote of 32–0 following review.

From here, the MMA will proceed to the full House for a vote in the near future, and then attention turns to the Senate who will be tasked with considering similar, comprehensive reforms. A Senate Judiciary hearing and markup on music licensing reform is anticipated in the next few months.

The MMA marks a historic step forward for music legislation, which hasn't been updated in a generation. The comprehensive package combines three previous bills, including a songwriter-focused Music Modernization Act (H.R. 4706), which establishes an independent board to handle mechanical royalties while offering digital music services a "safe harbor" from copyright infringement lawsuits.

It also includes the CLASSICS Act (H.R. 3301), which requires digital services to pay for songs recorded prior to 1972, and the Allocation for Music Producers Act (H.R. 881), which codifies into law the way that producers and engineers get paid royalties for their work on sound recordings.

The current version of the MMA has also adopted a feature of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act (H.R. 1836) to update how the Copyright Royalty Board determines the rate digital services pay for recordings.

The Music Modernization Act is the first major update to our music licensing laws in decades. Will help ensure American music creators are properly recognized and rewarded for their works, and is vital to promoting American creativity and innovation in the digital age.

— Bob Goodlatte (@RepGoodlatte) April 10, 2018

"This legislation, which is the first major update to our music licensing laws in decades, brings early 20th century music laws for the analog era into the 21st Century digital era," said Goodlatte.

"I look forward to working with [Chairman Goodlatte], and all those who made this bill a reality, to see that it is enacted into law," added Nadler.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the introduction of the Music Modernization Act," Neil Portnow, President and CEO of the Recording Academy told Billboard. "This historic bill has been a goal of the Recording Academy for several years as it unites the music community under one piece of legislation and provides meaningful updates to copyright law to help all music creators.

"This collaboration is the kind of work that changes the game for the music industry. Congress is recognizing the impact and cultural significance of work before 1972, while paving the way for the next generation of music creators."

Pitch In! Tell The House To Pass The Music Modernization Act Today

The hearing room on Capitol Hill

Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images

List
2018 Advocacy Primer: 7 Things To Watch music-advocacy-primer-7-things-watch-2018

Music & Advocacy Primer: 7 Things To Watch In 2018

Facebook Twitter Email
Attn. Music Creators: Here are the political storylines you should keep a watchful eye on this year
Tim McPhate
Renée Fabian
Advocacy
Jan 3, 2018 - 11:36 am

Are you looking to make a different kind of New Year's resolution for 2018?

If you're a music creator, how about making educating yourself on important issues affecting the music community a top priority?

Of course, sometimes it's difficult to keep your ear to the ground with regard to what's happening in our nation's capital and how it affects music creators.

From midterm elections, key departures and new appointments to music licensing, consent decrees and funding for the arts, here is a handy list of seven key music-and-advocacy storylines to keep your eye on in the Year of the Dog — straight from our Washington, D.C., Advocacy & Public Policy office.

1. Rep. Goodlatte's Last Year

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a key supporter of intellectual property, will retire at the close of 2018.

In recent years, the Virginian conducted hearings on the state of our nation's copyright laws in addition to helming policy proposals that called for changes to the Copyright Office. Alongside Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and GRAMMY winner Alicia Keys, he was honored by the Recording Academy at the 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards.

"This is a natural stepping-off point and an opportunity to begin a new chapter of my career and spend more time with my family, particularly my granddaughters," said Goodlatte, a 13-term Congressman who has served as the committee's chairman for the last five years.

Goodlatte's departure begs the question: Which Republican will emerge as the front-runner for the party's top seat on the House Judiciary Committee?

2. Midterm Elections: Who Will Take Control?

Speaking of races, it's the biggest political question of the year. What's going to happen with the midterm elections on Nov. 6, 2018?

Depending on your news outlet of choice, the predictions are likely as varied as the GRAMMYs' 84 categories. While this past year has been eventful as far as politics go, it's difficult to prognosticate what the national political landscape will be like next November. But the facts remain: All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate are up for grabs, and that looming uncertainty could shape the legislative agenda over the next 12 months.

3. Rep. Nadler: The New House Judiciary Top Dem

On Dec. 20 Rep. Jerrold Nadler emerged victorious in the race for the top Democratic spot on the House Judiciary Committee. Nadler bested challenger Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) by a final count of 118 to 72.

Nadler's appointment, which fills the seat vacated by former Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), could bode well for the music community this year. The former GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree is a longtime champion for music creators with credibility on music licensing issues thanks to his many years of experience as the leading Democrat on the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet. 

"The Recording Academy looks forward to working with the Congressman in his prestigious position to advance this important legislation and advocate for a sustainable future for all music creators," said The Recording Academy's Daryl P. Friedman.

4. Music Licensing Legislation Ripe For Action

Several music licensing reform bills have been introduced into the House of Representatives, making 2018 ripe for action. First, the Allocation For Music Producers (AMP) Act would ensure how producers and engineers get paid by codifying into law, for the first time, the producer's right to collect the royalties they are due and by formalizing SoundExchange's current voluntary policy.

Meanwhile, the Compensating Legacy Artists For Their Songs, Service And Important Contributions To Society (CLASSICS) Act would bring pre-1972 recordings into the federal copyright system and ensure that digital transmissions of both pre and post-1972 recordings receive the same treatment — allowing rights holders an avenue to protect their copyrights and get paid for their work.

Both the AMP Act and the CLASSICS Act are also contained in the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, a more comprehensive reform measure that would modernize laws governing sound recordings, including the establishment of a domestic public performance right for broadcasts of recordings on terrestrial radio. Fair Play Fair Pay ensures that all broadcasted recordings, regardless of platform or date released, receive the same federal copyright protections and have the ability to collect royalties.

And just weeks ago, the Music Modernization Act was introduced with bipartisan and industry support to update antiquated laws that govern songwriters. The bill ensures songwriters are paid when digital platforms use their music, while also improving transparency, providing better royalty rates, and giving songwriters more involvement over their mechanical rights.

As we move into the New Year, these important pieces of legislation would better standardize music licensing rules for music creators, creating a more level playing field for musical works currently protected by copyright laws.

5. Protect National Endowment For The Arts Funding

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts provides federal funding to artists and organizations making outstanding cultural contributions to the U.S. This funding has allowed music and the others arts to flourish nationwide, creating jazz festivals, choral events and providing at-risk students enrichment opportunities, among many other projects.

"The modest support that we provide to music and the arts is returned many times over, whether measured in jobs and economic impact, or sheer cultural enrichment and introspection," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow in May 2017.

Under the current administration, funding of the agency remains at risk. In March 2017, President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget would have eliminated the NEA, which would create a huge deficit in funding for arts programs that help sustain our country's healthy arts and economic ecosystem, which generates $166 billion in revenue and 4.6 million jobs across multiple industries, according to a 2017 study.

Advocates of the arts have helped protect the NEA thus far, with bipartisan Congressional support pushing to fully fund the agency for the current Fiscal Year.  Later this month, Congress aims to pass a full spending bill that would include NEA funding, but experts predict that the president could propose similar cuts for his Fiscal Year 2019 budget. If you believe in the value of the arts, visit our Advocacy Action page to learn how you can make a difference.

6. Save The Date: District Advocate 2018

Strength in numbers. That's the underlying thought behind the Recording Academy's District Advocate Day, the largest grassroots initiative for music in the nation.

More than 1,000 music creators, across all 50 states, united on Oct. 18 for the 2017 installment with the mission of addressing a range of key legislative issues affecting the music industry with congressional offices in their home districts. Lawmakers from California to New York were peppered with discussions about improving outdated laws, modernizing copyright protections, protecting songwriters and composers, and advocating for the next generation of music makers.

Look for news on the official date for the 2018 District Advocate Day, which is tentatively slated for October. This year's campaign will carry an even greater importance given it will precede the aforementioned November midterm elections.

7. Consent Decrees Under Makan Delrahim

The consent decrees that govern performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI are sorely in need of a refresh since they haven't changed much since 1941. This year, the Department of Justice that governs these regulations has a new frontman, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim.

As the new head of the antitrust department, Delrahim brings with him a philosophical outlook that seems to include an understanding that many of our outdated consent decrees need an update to stay on par with dramatically changed markets and technologies.

"We're thinking hard about ways that consent decrees can be improved," Delrahim said during his keynote speech at the American Bar Association in November 2017. "Believe it or not, we have nearly 1,300 judgments in effect, with some that are well over 100 years old. One dates to 1891. My favorite is the one pertaining to music rolls, still protecting consumers against the ills of anticompetitive behavior in the mechanical organ market. … Do you see what I mean about static solutions to the realities of dynamic markets?"

While it remains to be seen how Delrahim's favoring of less regulation could impact the consent decrees that impact PROs and music royalty payments, it does seem that he has his eye on updating outdated laws, which could be to music creator's benefit. 

Guns N' Roses' Slash Lobbies Congress For Fair Pay For Musicians
 

116th Congress Nancy Pelosi

Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

News
Welcoming the 116th Congress welcoming-116th-congress-now-session

Welcoming the 116th Congress, Now In Session

Facebook Twitter Email
Looking forward to working with the 116th Congress on behalf of all music creators
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Jan 9, 2019 - 4:30 pm

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.

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1080947339681058816

Congratulations to House @SpeakerPelosi + the Recording Arts & Sciences Caucus Chairs Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) and Majority @LeaderHoyer for leading the #116thCongress! We look forward to working with them on behalf of all music creators. pic.twitter.com/O3CtmqgeHu

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) January 3, 2019

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.

https://twitter.com/itstonybennett/status/1080927271777722371

Attending the swearing in ceremony for @SpeakerPelosi at the Capitol today. pic.twitter.com/nNKOnSe4GO

— Tony Bennett (@itstonybennett) January 3, 2019

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 116th 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

Advocacy Holiday Party_121918

Lawmakers and the Academy celebrate together
Photo: Recording Academy

News
Celebrating 2018 At Washington, D.C. Open House successful-year-grammy-advocacy-culminates-celebration-new-dc-hq

Successful Year for GRAMMY Advocacy Culminates at Celebration in New DC HQ

Facebook Twitter Email
A bipartisan bash brought together music's creators and top lawmakers at our new Advocacy offices in the nation's capital
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Dec 19, 2018 - 4:09 pm

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.

Julia Michaels at the GRAMMY Advocacy open house.

“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 116th Congress, addressed the crowd praising the Academy for its efforts and successes in Washington.

https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1073239919588491264

It was great to join @juliamichaels to cut the ribbon on the new office for @GRAMMYAdvocacy and celebrate passage of the Music Modernization Act. Even in DC, music can bring Republicans and Democrats together! https://t.co/1695vVBOmu

— Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) December 13, 2018

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.

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1072998425883541504

Our holiday reception is off to a great start with @GOPLeader & @NormaJTorres stopping by to visit with @juliamichaels! pic.twitter.com/ciZvlpTKeX

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) December 12, 2018

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

Top
Logo
  • Recording Academy
    • About
    • Governance
    • Press Room
    • Jobs
    • Events
    • FAQ
  • GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Store
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Cultural Foundation
    • Members
    • Press
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • COLLECTION:live
    • Museum Tickets
    • Exhibits
    • Education
    • Support
    • Programs
    • Donate
  • MusiCares
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Support
    • News
    • Events
  • Advocacy
    • About
    • News
    • Learn
    • Act
  • Membership
    • Chapters
    • Producers & Engineers Wing
    • Songwriters & Composers Wing
    • GRAMMY U
    • Events
    • Join
Logo

© 2022 - Recording Academy. All rights reserved.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • Contact Us

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates.