GRAMMYs Advocacy Group Fight for Law Changes

via press release…

Today, as part of GRAMMYs® in My District, nearly 1,650 music makers will visit their local legislators office to discuss issues facing creators, in an annual advocacy event organized by The Recording Academy®. This grassroots advocacy initiative allows Recording Academy members to address important issues, including creators’ rights, copyright review, and the impact of digital services on the music industry.

“For the first time in 40 years, Congress is considering major changes to the nation’s copyright laws,” said Daryl P. Friedman, The Recording Academy’s Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer. “Creators are currently operating in a patchwork system of outdated rules that inadvertently stifle innovation and discount creative labor. If Congress is going to fix music law, then it needs to be fixed in a way that is fair to all creators and complements the continuous evolution of music technology.”

Meetings for this year’s GRAMMYs in My District will take place in more than 330 congressional districts and include participants from various sectors of the music industry, including songwriters, producers, engineers, and performers. The key issues that will be discussed include:

H.R. 1733: The Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015 – The Fair Play Fair Pay Act addresses four previously separate parity issues within one encompassing piece of legislation. The bill would establish a process for setting fair-market royalty rates; create a performance right for artists on terrestrial radio; close the pre-1972 loophole to ensure that veteran performers receive royalties; and codify royalty payments to music producers for the first time.

 
H.R. 1457: The Allocation for Music Producers Act – The AMP Act provides fairness for producers and engineers. Producers and engineers are an integral part of the creative process for a sound recording, yet despite their indispensable role in the creation, they have never been mentioned in any part of the copyright law. The AMP Act would codify into law the producer’s right to collect the royalties they are due, and formalize SoundExchange’s current voluntary policy.

 
Fairness for Songwriters – The Department of Justice is reviewing decades-old consent decrees that prevent songwriters from receiving fair-market value for their work. The consent decrees need to be reformed to reflect the modern music marketplace. In addition, the Songwriter Equity Act (H.R. 1283/S. 662) would update other areas of the law so that songwriters can receive fair compensation.

 
This proposed legislation seeks to provide fair compensation across the music industry and bring music legislation into the modern age, addressing compensation from digital and streaming platforms as well as terrestrial radio. For more information about GRAMMYs in My District and the pending legislation, please visit www.grammy.com/action.