District Advocate Day 2017 in Los Angeles

Photo: Alison Buck/WireImage.com

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District Advocate Day: Music Creators Unite In All 50 States

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More than 1,000 music creators meet with members of Congress to protect the interests of all music creators
Tim McPhate
Advocacy
Oct 19, 2017 - 10:54 am

From California to New York, and all points in between, more than 1,000 music creators united on Oct. 18 for District Advocate Day to put a range of key legislative issues affecting the music industry on the table for discussion.

Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Steve Russell (R-Okla.), and Karen Handel (R-Ga.) represent just some of the members of Congress who met with music creators. Issues addressed included improving outdated laws, modernizing copyright protections, protecting songwriters and composers, and advocating for the next generation of music makers.

(Photographed at top: GRAMMY winner Peter Asher, Rep. Ted Lieu [D-Calif.], Concord Records President John Burk and GRAMMY nominee Mindi Abair attend District Advocate Day in Los Angeles at Recording Academy headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif.)

Your Voice Amplified: Be A District Advocate

Little Big Town

Little Big Town

Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage

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Quincy Jones, Linda Perry & More: 61st GRAMMY Nominees Who Put Music Advocacy In Action

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Take a look at the many policy advocates whose music received nominations this year
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Feb 6, 2019 - 1:47 pm
Members of the music community appreciate the impact policy has on their livelihoods, and these 61st GRAMMY Awards nominees made a difference with their activism.

Activism on behalf of music creators is the mission of the Recording Academy's ongoing Advocacy efforts, enlisting the support of our membership who best understand and appreciate how policy affects their livelihoods. Here are 20 artists, producers and professionals who have joined the cause and are also recognized this Sunday with nominations at the 61st GRAMMY Awards.

Why GRAMMYs On The Hill Makes A Difference

The 2018 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards honored country quartet Little Big Town. Previous winners of three GRAMMYs, this year their song "When Someone Stops Loving You" is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna of the Love Junkies performed at the event and were two of the song's co-writers, earning them a nomination this year for Best Country Song. Also at GRAMMYs on the Hill 2018 were Fantastic Negrito, whose Please Don't Be Dead is up for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and classical producer David Frost, who is nominated for Producer Of The Year, Classical and Best Opera Recording for his work on Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier.

The 2017 GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree was Keith Urban and this year his song "Parallel Line" is up for Best Country Solo Performance. Lauren Daigle also participated, and her Look Up Child is nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and its song "You Say" is up for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.

The 2007 GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree Quincy Jones is nominated this year under Best Music Film for Quincy, a documentary recounting his legendary life in music. The winner of last year's Best Comedy Album award, Dave Chappelle is nominated in the same category again this year for Equanimity & The Bird Revelation — Chappelle participated in the very first GRAMMYs on the Hill event.

Year round the Academy's National Advocacy Committee helps to guide and lead our policy activism and this year, two of its members received nominations. Co-chair Harvey Mason Jr. is up for Best Musical Theater Album for his production and mixing on Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert. Committee member Lalah Hathaway has three R&B nominations including Best R&B Album for Honestly.

District Advocate Day is an exceptional opportunity for our members to make their voices heard and in 2018, more than 1,500 raised their voices together, meeting with lawmakers and candidates. Hawaiian artist Kalani Pe'a has been a stalwart advocate and his No 'Ane'i is up for Best Regional Roots Music Album this year. Another leader in music activism who participated is Memphis Chapter Board Member Sean Ardoin, whose Kreole Rock And Soul is up for Best Regional Roots Music Album as well. The album's lead track "Kick Rocks" is also up for Best American Roots Performance. Dom Flemons was active at District Advocate Day last year and his Black Cowboys is nominated this year for Best Folk Album.

Nominated for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, Linda Perry gets special kudos for encouraging voter turn-out with her #GetUpandVote campaign.

Sara Bareilles played a special role in last year's GRAMMY Week briefing of Congressional Lawmakers. She's nominated alongside Mason Jr. for Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert. The 2017 briefing enjoyed the participation of Kelsea Ballerini, nominated this year for Unapologetically under Best Country Album.

Sting and Shaggy are nominated together under Best Reggae Album for their collaboration 44/876. They participated in a GRAMMY Museum Up Close & Personal event on Oct. 7, 2018 where they spoke extensively on the theme of music advocacy.

PJ Morton is heading into the 61st GRAMMY Awards with four nominations, including Best R&B Album for Gumbo Unplugged (Live). His advocacy was instrumental on May 16, 2017, during the Louisiana Music Industry Day.

We thank all of our members and nominees for sharing their talents and using their voices to advocate for music creators at both a national and state level. Their activism helps to positively shape the futures and livelihoods for music creators today and for generations to come. As our Advocacy efforts continue and we celebrate this year's recognition at the 61st GRAMMY Awards, we are a team making a difference and looking forward to continuing our work in 2019.

Hosted by Alicia Keys — herself a 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree — the  61st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Cary Sherman

Cary Sherman

Photo: Courtesy of RIAA

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RIAA Chairman/CEO Cary Sherman, A Music Champion, To Retire

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Sherman's unique position as an advocate for the major music labels helped guide the challenging transition to today's thriving digital marketplace for music
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Dec 12, 2018 - 1:32 pm

On Dec. 31 a major change of the guard at The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) will see former President and current Chairman/CEO Cary Sherman retire, with his responsibilities taken over by current President Mitch Glazier as of January 2019. While the Recording Academy represents all music creators, the RIAA represents the major music labels. Sherman's leadership steered a steady course through challenges including internet piracy and intellectual-property legal developments that led to today's successful digital ecosystem.

"Business models change, and shifts in policy positions follow," Sherman said in his speech at MIDEM on June 8, 2018. "Be alert for changes in business, and then look for the opportunity to find common ground, even with, in fact especially with, those who once were adversaries."

Sherman made the point that changing developments have forced artists to learn more about the music business and be prepared to shift position as the high-tech landscape continues to evolve. This has been just one of many areas where the Recording Academy and the RIAA found their own common ground. At the Academy's District Advocate day on Oct. 24, more than 1,500 of our members lobbied for constructive intellectual property policy changes — a powerful grassroots mobilization that was inconceivable in the days before digital changed the music business.

Accepting The Music Business Association (Music Biz) Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement on May 16, 2018, Sherman expressed pride in being the first attorney to achieve that honor. He described his first intellectual property assignment as a young lawyer in 1974. "I knew nothing about copyright or legislative work," he said about his first three weeks researching the potential establishment of a broadcast performance right for sound recordings. This is a struggle that continues to this day as broadcasters consolidate power without paying fair royalties to performers.

"For those of you who think that music policy and government regulation are not relevant to you, think again," he said in his acceptance speech. "Whether you're an artist, label, a songwriter, a publisher, a digital music service or a start-up, governmental policy will determine how you can operate and how you can earn money — or not."

On Nov. 15 in Washington, D.C. Sherman's retirement bash hosted a high-powered crowd of 300, including CEOs and lawmakers, filled with memories and gratitude for his steady leadership as digital ate half of the music industry's revenues and the music business struggled to successfully respond. His final day on the job will be Dec. 31 and his future plans include returning to "taking piano lessons." He described the signing of the Music Modernization Act into law — another area of mutual Recording Academy and RIAA support — as "the icing on the cake" of his storied career as the major labels' leading representative.

With major copyright litigation and multiple updates of copyright legislation behind him, Sherman's biggest regret is that radio still does not pay broadcast performance royalties — the assignment that first started his career in intellectual property in 1974. "That's the most gaping hole in our rights," he concluded. Sherman will be happy to note the quest to close this loophole will continue in his absence, and his many years of hard work toward a fair payment system for performers will not be in vain.

GRAMMY Advocacy In Action: The Music Modernization Act & Beyond

Manu Manzo singing)
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GRAMMY Advocacy In Action: The Music Modernization Act & Beyond

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As this year's GRAMMY nominations are revealed, we're reminded of the invaluable year-round efforts of the music community to advance and protect creator's rights
Phillip Merrill
Advocacy
Dec 7, 2018 - 2:17 pm

"I feel the arts are very necessary for any student or any young person to grow up and be able to have a voice" —Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist Manu Manzo, Conversations in Advocacy #46

Keeping the future of the music industry healthy and fair takes work. Throughout the year, the Recording Academy advocates tirelessly on behalf of music creators, and guess what—it works. Case in point: just two month ago the President signed the Music Modernization Act into law, marking a historic moment in music legislation. The landmark bill made comprehensive copyright reform a reality, closing loopholes in our digital royalty laws to ensure songwriters, artists and producers are compensated fairly when their work is used by digital and satellite music services.

But change of this magnitude doesn't happen alone, and it doesn't happen overnight. Pushing the MMA through Congress took bipartisan support and a groundswell of rallying in the music world from thousands of performers, songwriters and studio professionals. Recording Academy members raise their voices together during GRAMMYs On The Hill each spring and District Advocate in the fall, meeting with their lawmakers to speak with them about the issues affecting their livelihoods.

One shining example, On Oct. 24 members of the Recording Academy's Florida Chapter rallied on District Advocate Day, joining more than 1,500 of their fellow members in raising their voices on music policy issues. The passion of everyone present was evident at the Florida Chapter rally, and the importance of creating and preserving a fair system to foster the future was front-and-center.

Florida Chapter Members Rally For Arts Funding

Today, this year's crop of GRAMMY nominees were revealed with the official announcement of the 61st GRAMMY Awards nominations. This joyous moment for many of today's finest music creators serves as a celebratory reminder of how much music means to our culture and how crucial our efforts as a music community are to have our voices heard.

Celebrating District Advocate Day Engagement & Looking Ahead

"Conversations in Advocacy" is your weekend digital tip sheet on music advocacy and the policies that affect music makers and their craft. New installments post every Friday.

Slash Advocacy

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), Slash of Guns N' Roses, Producer Mike Clink and Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage for the Recording Academy

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Giving Thanks To Music's Biggest Advocates Waving Goodbye To Washington

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As Thanksgiving approaches, the music community has much to be grateful for from these retiring Congressional champions of creators' rights
Nate Hertweck
Advocacy
Nov 14, 2018 - 3:44 pm

This year has marked a watershed in the overlapped world of music and politics. The enactment of the Hatch-Goodlatte Music Modernization Act represented the culminations of years of tireless work toward comprehensive music licensing and copyright reform. Last week's Midterm Elections changed the landscape in Congress, with the Democratic Party taking over the majority in the House of Representatives and the Republican Party expanding its majority in the Senate.

But through all this political activity of 2018, we are reminded that the achievements and progress would not have been possible without the dedication and integrity of many supportive elected leaders. As new incoming lawmakers make their way to Washington, and hard-working music creators refuel their drive toward the next frontier of creators' rights, some of the most impactful Congressional champions are preparing to leave Washington after years of service

Congressman Goodlatte For The Music Modernization Act

Let's take a look at a few of our strongest retiring allies in Congress who are leaving a legacy of fairness and progress for music creators. Their willingness to listen to the professional music community and navigate our needs through the political process in order to build a better system is truly the stuff of champions.

A man so integral to the MMA his name was attached to it, Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-Va) was a patient force behind a multi-year effort to enact lasting copyright reform that produced the Hatch-Goodlatte Music Modernization Act. Goodlatte earned a reputation as an honest broker who seeks to solve complex issues through consensus. He also served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and was honored at the 2015 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards for his support for copyright and his understanding of music creator's unique role in American life.

Representative Joe Crowley (D-NY) will be ending his term this year. As the lead Democratic sponsor of the Allocations For Music Producers (AMP) Act, which was included in the MMA, Crowley's support went a long way toward the ultimate passage of the MMA. Crowley most recently served as Democratic Caucus Chair. The lead Republican sponsor of the AMP Act, Representative Tom Rooney (R-Fla) is also retiring this year. Rooney and Crowley were both honored alongside Zac Brown Band at the 2016 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards for their years of support for music creators. These two co-sponsors of AMP actually went into the recording studio together back in 2011 as part of the first-ever recording session of the GRAMMY Congressional Band with Crowley on vocals/guitars and Rooney on drums.

Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced the CLASSICS Act in July 2017, which set out to close the loophole for digital radio to finally compensate pre-1972 recordings like their newer peers. As the lead Republican sponsor of the Act, Issa helped see its tenets ultimately incorporated into the MMA and his efforts now stand to benefit countless legacy artists. Issa was also a consistent, strong voice for establishing a performance right for artists on AM/FM radio. He was honored for his Advocacy efforts at the 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards.

"Rep. Issa has been a great champion of fair compensation for artists," said Daryl Freidman, Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer for the Recording Academy earlier this year when Issa announced his retirement. "We will miss his friendship, leadership and humor. But before he retires, we look forward to finishing together the work we started to support music and to ensure that the current and next generation of creators are respected and compensated fairly for their work."

Finally, the other namesake of the Hatch-Goodlatte Music Modernization Act, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) will retire next month as well. Hatch officially introduced the landmark bill in the Senate, playing a key role in shepherding the comprehensive music reform package in the Senate, and ensuring it won support of more than 80 of his colleagues as co-sponsors. The MMA is just the capstone on Sen. Hatch’s long history of fighting for songwriters, artists, and all creators in Congress. A professional songwriter and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hatch understands the plight of the music community and has shown the gumption it takes to enact change on Capitol Hill. For his leadership, Sen. Hatch was honored with the very first GRAMMYs on the Hill Award in 2001.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we'd like to thank all of these true champions of creators' rights for their service to our craft, our industry and our country.

Welcoming Music Champions Returning To Congress In 2019