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Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow (left) greets Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The Academy raised awareness about music issues at both national conventions this past summer.
Photo: The Recording Academy |
In 1998, The Recording Academy established an office in the nation’s capital, seeking to amplify the voice of music creators in national policy matters. Today, The Academy’s Advocacy & Government Relations office represents artists, songwriters, studio professionals and other music makers before Congress at a critical time for the music industry. As legislation adapts to rapidly changing technologies, The Academy works to protect creators’ rights through its GRAMMYs on the Hill Initiative.
As a founding member of the musicFIRST Coalition, The Academy has taken a leadership role in the fight to expand radio performance royalties to all music creators. (Currently, the law gives traditional radio an exemption from paying featured artists, background singers, session musicians and producers for use of their work.) Recording Academy members have testified before Congress, come to Washington to advocate, and written thousands of letters to legislators. These actions have resulted in congressional hearings on this issue and the introduction of bipartisan legislation to create a fair performance right.
Other issues the department is taking an active role in range from expanding health insurance access for artists, to ensuring wireless microphones and monitors are protected from interference, to allowing arts presenters to expedite visa processing for foreign performers.
Other activities include:
GRAMMY winner Lyle Lovett and Chicago Chapter Governor Alice Peacock are briefed before their Senate testimony on fair compensation for music creators. (left to right): GRAMMY winner Ray Benson, Lovett, musicFIRST Coalition’s Jennifer Bendall, Peacock, and Recording Academy Vice President of Advocacy & Government Relations Daryl Friedman
Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage.com |
Advocacy
- Recording Arts Day on Capitol Hill gives music professionals the opportunity to meet with national leaders in Washington. The day concludes with the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards Dinner honoring a senator, representative and music creator.
- Partnership with the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus, which provides The Academy and caucus members with discussions, demonstrations and other events allowing opportunities for creators and legislators to learn from each other and jointly address the needs of the music community
- Input into critical national legislation on copyright reform, royalty payments, free speech, music education and other issues
- Advocacy Amplified facilitates meetings between Academy members and their legislators in their home states
- Regional and state initiatives on behalf of the local music community
Education
- Capitol Tracks, a regular publication for members of Congress, cultural stakeholders and Academy members
- The GRAMMY Town Hall, providing high-level panels that serve as an open forum for music professionals to address, hear from and question national political leaders
- GRAMMYs Rock The Conventions events gave participants at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions an increased understanding of music and arts education
- Demonstrations, briefings and events for members of Congress
Dialogue
- The GRAMMY Industry Roundtable
- Music Leaders Retreat, co-hosted by Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, giving the leaders of every major music association an opportunity to jointly address community issues in a closed-door working session
- Music & Technology Leadership Retreat at Skywalker Ranch, addressing issues affecting the digital music marketplace
- Advocacy Action @ GRAMMY.com, providing Academy and industry members with an online tool to communicate with their local political representatives
As advocacy continues to be a priority of The Recording Academy, music professionals are invited to be part of the fight for creators' rights.
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