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Peter Asher

Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto/Getty Images

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Advocacy Spotlight: Peter Asher's Fab Advocate Track Record & New Beatles Book

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A look inside the Los Angeles Chapter Governor and super producer's staggering history in music and contributions to creators' rights
Nate Hertweck
Advocacy
Oct 30, 2019 - 2:33 pm

Few careers in music have spanned as much time, distance and greatness as Peter Asher's. More than 55 years after his musical journey began, Asher stands today as one of music's strongest advocates, fighting for the rights of creators to receive proper protection and fair compensation for their work.

Dating back to the mid-'60s, Asher broke onto the music scene with his British pop duo Peter and Gordon, striking gold in 1964 with their first single, the Paul McCartney-written "A World Without Love." Asher's Beatles connections would deepen in the years that followed, and he ran A&R for the band's Apple Records label, singing a young James Taylor and producing several albums that would send his career into the stratosphere. A two-time winner of the Producer Of The Year GRAMMY Award, he went on to work with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carol King, Cher, Hans Zimmer and many more.

Asher's music industry perspective is as unique as his experience. In an ever-changing landscape of the music industry, he has been instrumental in fighting for artists left out in the cold due to "pre-1972" loophole in the music licensing system. Many legacy acts can now receive compensation for their work when it's played on digital services under the game-changing Music Modernization Act, which was ardently supported by Asher.

More recently, he has also advocated for The Copyright Alternative Small Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act (S. 1273), which recently passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 410-6. The bill empowers songwriters of all levels by establishing a small claims court for copyright infringement cases, removing the cost prohibitive barriers for songwriters who couldn't afford costly federal court action to protect their work.

Earlier this month, Asher hosted a conversation with Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) during District Advocate day at the GRAMMY Museum, discussing key issues to music creators. No stranger to supporting the Recording Academy's Advocacy initiatives, he has also participated and performed at other District Advocate events as well even hosted GRAMMYs on the Hill in 2018. Earlier this year GRAMMY Week, Asher used the opportunity of the spotlight being on Music's Biggest Night to speak with lawmakers about how the policy they pass affects the music community.

Peter Asher Shares How He Got Behind The Board

Asher currently serves as the Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Governor and Advocacy Representative, where he continues to speak up on behalf of music makers of all kinds.

Asher's latest production is a new kind of Beatles book, The Beatles From A to Zed: An Alphabetical Mystery Tour, wherein he takes an alphabetical approach to recalling songs, instruments and other assorted terms and memories letter by letter. The idea for a book grew out of Asher telling these stories on his weekly Sirius XM radio show, Peter Asher: From Me To You. With so many fascinating memories to share, a book seemed inevitable. But the format had to be fresh.

"It seems like everyone Beatles-related has written a book… I was (talking) more about music and songs, along with some stories," Asher told Billboard. His account of all things Fab Four offers a completely different experience from a conventional autobiography, and in many ways reflects Asher's bottomless knowledge and boundless creativity.

The Beatles From A to Zed: An Alphabetical Mystery Tour was released Oct. 29 and is available here. To add your voice to Asher's in support of the CASE Act, contact your Senators and urge them to support all creators by co-sponsoring the act.

District Advocate Day 2019: Music Creators Raise Their Voices Across The U.S.

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Karyn A. Temple

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D.C. Report: Judiciary Committee Brings Copyright Back Into Focus

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Today's House Judiciary Committee hearing touched on crucial copyright matters such as setting up the MLC for success, passing the CASE Act, and more
Nate Hertweck
Advocacy
Jun 26, 2019 - 5:00 pm

Since the historic passage of the Music Modernization Act, the Copyright Office has been busy implementing its provisions. That process, along with additional copyright updates, was the focus of today's House Judiciary Committee hearing with Karyn A. Temple, Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office as witness. In what has become a divisive committee of late, Democrats and Republicans put differences aside today to discuss the pending designation of the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), active legislation like the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE) Act, and other issues in the copyright space.

Starting with the MLC, Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) entered a letter from Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow and Chairman Harvey Mason Jr. into the hearing’s official record, using it to help frame his questioning for Temple regarding the Copyright Office’s views on how the MLC will distribute funds and ensure payments reach the songwriters who've earned them. The letter from the Academy’s leaders reinforced its formal comments on the MLC designation process. Last month, the Academy’s comments helped shape follow-up meetings between the Copyright Office and the two MLC candidates in which the Copyright Office posed many of the same questions recommended by the Academy regarding unmatched songs, unclaimed royalties, and songwriter outreach.

With the July 8 deadline for designating who will administer the MLC quickly approaching, many other committee members also raised questions on the process, including Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla), and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who represents the Recording Academy home office. All of these voices expressed similar inquiries on how the Copyright Office is ensuring all songwriters are paid properly, that data matching is robust, and that effective outreach and education to the songwriter community is conducted.

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) also urged the Copyright Office to ensure diverse representation on the MLC board. Looking ahead, Rep. Lieu asked about appropriate oversight and accountability of the MLC once it's up and running. Clearly, the Committee is highly committed to and invested in the MLC's success.

The other legislation taking the spotlight at the hearing was the CASE Act, a bill with strong bipartisan support that has already secured more co-sponsors than ever before—including more than half of the Judiciary Committee. The bill would allow creators without the resources to engage in expensive litigation the opportunity to protect their work via the creation of a new small-claims copyright court. Ranking Member Doug Collins (R-Ga.) kicked things off expressing strong support of the CASE Act to help small and independent creators protect their copyright. Likewise, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), the bill’s lead sponsor and most recent recipient of the GRAMMYs on the Hill Award, also outlined the need for CASE. Throughout the hearing, Temple showed emphatic support for the bill

Hopefully, the next big step forward for the CASE Act is a mark-up of the bill before the August recess.

There were also a number of questions regarding allowing the Sec. 119 STELAR compulsory license, which allows satellite providers to retransmit broadcast television content, to expire. Of course, and as we've reported, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) strongly opposes being forced to give their content to other video services without consent, an impossible stance to reconcile with their insistence on using artists' music without consent or compensation.

Overall, the hearing included a swell of healthy dialogue surrounding creators' rights, legislative collaboration and the future of Copyright law. As Recording Academy Senior Director of Advocacy Todd Dupler summarized the events in his live tweet thread of the hearing, "House Judiciary hearings have often been contentious & controversial this year, but today's hearing was a great reminder that lawmakers can still work together in a bipartisan fashion."

From Advocate To Board Chair: Harvey Mason Jr.'s Tireless Quest For Creators
 

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Sen. Ron Wyden (D–Ore.)

Photo: Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images

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CASE Act Update: Why Won’t Senator Wyden Support Music Makers?

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A new billboard, an enlightening op-ed and a mounting online surge of support for music creators are all asking: why won't Oregon's Sen. Wyden release his hold on the bill?
Advocacy
Jan 15, 2020 - 4:38 pm

The Copyright Alternative Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) has gained bipartisan backing and widespread support from across the creative community – so why hasn't this bill become law? Sen. Ron Wyden (D–Ore.) continues his hold on the bill, unwilling to compromise.

Fortunately, a surge of grassroots activism from many types of creatives, including music creators, is turning up the heat on Sen. Wyden. Oregonians and creators across the country alike have built increase online activity to pressure Sen. Wyden to reconsider and remove the hold, including the hashtag  #JustOne designed to highlight that only one lawmaker is standing in the way of this bill becoming law.

Most notably, a new billboard went up near Sen. Wyden's office in Portland that draws attention to Wyden’s hold on the creative community. Additionally, an op-ed ran today in the The Oregonian titled "Sen. Wyden, Please Don't Harm Oregon's Music Scene." Written by four current and past Recording Academy leaders, including Stone, Sylvia Massey, Amy Dragon and Amber Sweeney, outlines why the CASE Act is, "A vital piece of legislation that will empower music creators."

"Indie creators are uniquely vulnerable to the realities of the modern music industry. With the massive expense of litigation to protect intellectual property, they are crushed under the weight of a copyright system which leaves music creators unable to claim ownership of what’s rightfully theirs," the article states, concluding with, "Will Sen. Wyden support the music creators in our state, or will he go down in history as the senator who killed this important bill?"

As part of the rollout of the billboard, which went up earlier this week, Oregon creators shared their reasoning for erecting it during a press briefing today where they further articulated their frustrations with Sen. Wyden’s continued hold on the bill.

Participating in the briefing are several members of Oregon's creative community, including MIT Portraits' Bryan Welsh, photographer Lisa Dillon, Executive Director of Music Portland Meara McLaughlin, Polara Studios' Michael Shay, Immediate Past President of Oregon Professional Photographers Association and Light Science Studios' Sam Tarrel, as well as producer, vocalist, DJ and former Recording Academy Trustee Tyler Stone.

This diverse and passionate roster participants in today's briefing are a testament to the impact the hold on the bill has on creators in Oregon and beyond.

The CASE Act would fix the current system makes it expensive and complex for creators to fight against infringement of their work in a federal court by setting up a simpler and more streamlined small claims court. The bill recently passed by a landslide 410-6 vote in the House and will move to the Senate next. Sen. Ron Wyden's hold might come as little surprise, considering he also previously opposed the Music Modernization Act (MMA).

Indeed, the critical question remains whether Sen. Wyden will continue to decide the fate of the CASE Act. Now is the time to contact Sen. Wyden to let him know you stand with the bill that will simplify and streamline the process for all creators to defend their work against infringement.

What's Ahead In 2020 For Music Creators' Rights?

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Karyn A. Temple

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Karyn Temple To Exit U.S. Copyright Office: How The CASE Act Can Continue Her Great Work

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As the current Register of Copyrights prepares to move on to a new role, we look at how the CASE Act is still setup for success and what's left to be done
Nate Hertweck
Advocacy
Dec 18, 2019 - 4:23 pm

For the times they are a-changing in Washington. Karyn Temple, who has been instrumental in the successful implementation of the Music Modernization Act (MMA), is leaving her post as the 13th Register of Copyrights at the conclusion of this year. Temple is departing the U.S. Copyright Office to become the Motion Picture Association’s General Counsel. Her dedication to the effort to modernize the Copyright Office has been admirable and will surely be missed.

One of many to congratulate and laud the outgoing Register leading up to her departure, Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden stated that Temple, "Greatly improved [the Copyright Office’s] critical functions and paved the way for a modernized Copyright system."

Temple has been with the Copyright Office since 2013, and even shared the stage for a panel at SXSW in 2017 with the Recording Academy's own Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, Todd Dupler. And her legacy will live on through her many accomplishments such as the establishment of the Mechanical Licensing Collective, compensation for pre-1972 recording artists, and strong devotion to the importance of copyright and creativity.  The Recording Academy sends a big "thank you" to Temple for her efforts to build a better system for music makers.

But Temple's diligent work on behalf of creators won’t stop with her departure. In fact, she leaves behind a Copyright Office that is already effectively implementing last year’s MMA and is well-prepared for the eventual passage of the CASE Act, which will establish a simpler and more streamlined small claims court to empower and protect all songwriters, artists, and creators.

The CASE Act's momentum continued during the Senate Committee on the Judiciary's hearing on Dec. 10, where their discussion of modernization efforts included the Copyright Office's readiness to implement the CASE Act. The hearing also outlined the timeline to name Temple's replacement, with Dr. Hayden saying they'd like to name a replacement in as soon as possible and that she would prefer to coordinate on this decision with the Senator’s offices. In the meantime, Dr. Hayden recently appointed Maria Strong to serve as the Acting Register.

And while passage of the CASE Act would make for a nice cap off to Temple's tenure, the bill is still being blocked by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), who previously opposed the MMA. As lawmakers and the music community alike deepen their understanding of the CASE Act's many benefits. Now is the time to contact Sen. Wyden to tell him know you stand with the bill that will simplify and streamline the process for all creators to defend their work against infringement.

District Advocate Day 2019: Music Creators Raise Their Voices Across The U.S.

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Sen. Durbin, Jason Mraz and Daryl Friedman meet to discuss the CASE Act
Photo: Recording Academy

News

The CASE Act Empowers And Protects Songwriters, So Why Is It Being Blocked?

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Despite bipartisan support and rallying from all corners of the music world, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden opposes the bill
Nate Hertweck
Advocacy
Dec 13, 2019 - 3:20 pm

"Have you heard? Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, who also tried to block the MMA last year, has now put a hold on the CASE Act. Here's how you can help…" –Conversations In Advocacy #70

Sure, sometimes copyright law can be complicated. But some truths are simple: the current system makes it expensive and complex for creators to fight against infringement of their work in a federal court. The Copyright Alternative Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) seeks to fix this and empower all songwriters, artists, and creators by setting up a simpler and more streamlined small claims court. So what's holding it back?

Despite bipartisan support and championing from the music community, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), who previously opposed the Music Modernization Act (MMA), has placed a hold on the CASE Act and is unwilling to compromise on this much needed copyright reform.

In a Bloomberg Law article, a Wyden spokesman stated that the Senator is holding up the bill due to the new claim board’s ability to award "virtually unappealable" infringement damages of up to $30,000 for posting memes on the internet."

In fact, copyright trolling of this kind, where the troll attempts to coerce a legitimate copyright holder or user into court by bringing frivolous claims against them, is specifically safeguarded against in the CASE Act beyond even current federal law. There are severe penalties for bad faith or frivolous claims, and the Copyright Claim Board has the authority to award attorney fees up to $5,000 to the respondent, ban the claimant from filing for a year and even dismiss all pending cases filed by the claimant. Simply put, the CASE Act creates an expensive nightmare for trolls.

And while the claim made by Sen. Wyden's spokesman is incorrect, it will not deter artists of all mediums from fighting for their rights.

For instance, in Sen. Wyden's home state of Oregon, there has been a grassroots surge of creators speaking up to help their Senator realize the importance of the CASE Act in protecting their work. It's not just songwriters who will benefit from the bill, but everyone from photographers to filmmakers to creative small business owners as well.

During October's District Advocate day, Recording Academy members met with Sen. Wyden’s office to explain the positive impact of the CASE Act. Additionally, Academy members, including former national trustee Tyler Stone and her bandmate Patrick Hinds, have met with Sen. Wyden’s district office to further explain their support of this bill in greater detail.

But the reality is the CASE Act is gaining steam. It recently passed by a landslide 410-6 vote in the House and as it moves to the Senate, support continues to grow. This past Tuesday, GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Jason Mraz met with several lawmakers, including the bill’s bipartisan lead sponsors, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), to discuss a path forward for the bill.

So what can you do to join the cause in support of equal copyright protection for all creators? Contact Sen. Wyden, who is blocking the CASE Act from a vote, to let him know you stand with the bill that will simplify and streamline the process for all creators to defend their work against infringement.

District Advocate Day 2019: Music Creators Raise Their Voices Across The U.S.