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GRAMMYs
News
Does Advocacy Work? does-advocacy-work

Does Advocacy Work?

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Daryl Friedman
Advocacy
Jun 21, 2017 - 8:14 am

What a difference a month makes.

One month ago, during GRAMMYs on the Hill, 100 GRAMMY winners, nominees and music professionals from all over the country and all walks of life, came to Washington with one goal: to be advocates for the next generation of music creators. Their meetings with legislators were echoed around the country as thousands more turned to social media and other platforms to advocate Congress.  Now, four short weeks later, their work has already begun to pay off with two significant accomplishments.

First, Congress started the process to modernize our nation’s outdated and broken copyright laws when the House of Representatives listened to our pleas and overwhelmingly passed the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (H.R. 1695).

The bill had become unnecessarily controversial after some misinformation spread, and our advocates in D.C. and nationwide worked both sides of the aisle to educate Congress on the need for this bill and note its importance to the music community.

20 days later, the bill passed the House by a very uncontroversial vote of 378 to 48.

The bill elevates the Register of Copyright to a presidential appointee confirmed by the senate—giving the office more autonomy to implement the reforms the music community has clamored for. Following its passage, bipartisan Senate leaders introduced a companion bill with the goal to deliver it to the President to be signed into law.

Second, despite a White House threat to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the House and the Senate agreed to a bipartisan spending package that increases funding for the NEA. Congress listened to our advocates, and those from dozens of other like-minded advocacy groups, and increased the agency’s budget by $2 million—a clear sign that music and the arts still have champions in Washington.

H.R. 1695 and NEA funding were two of GRAMMYs on the Hill’s five legislative priorities; and while work still must continue to fully modernize copyright laws and ensure funding for the NEA beyond 2017, our accomplishments after one month bode well for continued progress and success.

None of this could happen without intense advocacy efforts: both grassroots and in the Capitol.  So we congratulate our music creators who became Citizen-Advocates for the cause. 

Advocacy works.  Or more accurately, Recording Academy Advocates work. They work hard.  They work effectively.  And the entire music community benefits from their efforts.

GRAMMYs

Honoree Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) (center) at the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards on April 15, 2015

Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage.com

News
Jerrold Nadler Wins House Judiciary Committee Vote rep-jerrold-nadler-wins-house-judiciary-committee-vote

Rep. Jerrold Nadler Wins House Judiciary Committee Vote

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Longtime supporter of music creators' rights wins top Democratic seat
Renée Fabian
Advocacy
Dec 21, 2017 - 12:15 pm

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has earned the top Democratic seat on the House Judiciary Committee, replacing Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.). Nadler, who stepped into the role in an acting capacity on Nov. 29, defeated Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) by a vote of 118 to 72.

While The Hill acknowledged that Nadler, a 13-term Congress member, and Lofgren, a 12-term Congress member, have similar political viewpoints, they cited the former's constitutional knowledge as giving him an edge over Lofgren with other members of the committee, along with his seniority.

"This is a critical time in our nation's history, and the work of the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee is more important than ever," Nadler said in a statement. "We must fight to protect the rule of law, strengthen our safety and security from enemies foreign and domestic, shield Americans' rights and liberties from encroachment, and guarantee that all people, no matter their age, race, gender, religion, ability, finances, nationality, or sexual orientation, are treated fairly and equally."

Nadler's victory could signal positive news for music creators, as he has been an active supporter of legislation critical to the industry. Nadlerhas introduced the Fair Play Fair Pay Act and, along with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the CLASSICS Act, two bills that would allow musicians to be fairly compensated for their recordings, including those created before 1972.

Alongside Alicia Keys and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Nadler was honored at the 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards for his support and understanding of music creators' unique role in enriching our lives and culture.

"The Recording Academy and its membership of music creators congratulate Jerrold Nadler on his election to Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee," said Daryl P. Friedman, Recording Academy Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer. "Not only is Congressman Nadler an expert on intellectual property and a supporter of creators’ rights, he is an honest broker who hears all sides and considers all perspectives. 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."

House Judiciary Ranking Member: The Most Important Congressional Race?

The Capitol

The U.S. Capitol Building

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

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NEA Funding: How You Can Make A Difference fight-arts-congress-crucial-year-end-funding-decision

The Fight For The Arts: Congress' Crucial Year-End Funding Decision

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With Congress on the brink of a crucial decision on arts funding, find out how you can take action in support of the music creators
Nate Hertweck
Advocacy
Dec 20, 2017 - 11:03 am

As the close of 2017 nears, Congress is pressed to wrap a handful of "must-do" items before breaking for the holidays. One such item of major significance is passing a spending bill to keep the government funded and running into 2018.

Urban, arts supporters honored on Capitol Hill

For music creators, one specific facet of this spending bill looms large: funding for the 2018 National Endowment for the Arts, an area of great interest to the Recording Academy's advocacy efforts.

The NEA survived President Donald Trump administration's proposal to slash funding for 2017. In the face of adversity, advocates for the creative community sprang into action, utilizing the Academy's online tool to send thousands of messages to Congress and lobbying in support of NEA funding during GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day. The surge of support for the NEA was successful, and Congress ultimately increased funding from $148 million to $150 million for 2017.

Now, as we stand on 2018's doorstep, the White House has proposed eliminating the NEA completely. Fortunately for the arts community, Congress has plainly rejected this proposal, with the House approving $145 million earlier this summer and more recently, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved fully funding the NEA at $150 million.

While there is optimism in the House's committee report, which claimed the NEA has "broad bipartisan support," the final spending level for 2018 is still in flux. Furthermore, Congress remains in the midst of complicated negotiations surrounding tax reform, health care, immigration, and other hot-button issues potentially affecting the fate of the spending bill.

Advocates of the arts have helped protect the NEA thus far and Congress will likely pass a temporary spending bill, delaying the final determination on NEA funding until January. But now is the time to contact your representatives with a loud, clear message of support for the NEA.

Visit our Advocacy Action page to learn how you can make a difference in the fight to maintain crucial funding for the arts.

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

Conversations in Advocacy #3

Photo: IStock/Getty Images

News
Judiciary Committee Democrat: Nadler Vs. Lofgren house-judiciary-ranking-member-most-important-congressional-race

House Judiciary Ranking Member: The Most Important Congressional Race?

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In this latest installment of "Conversations in Advocacy," explore both sides of the race for top Democrat of the House Judiciary Committee
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Dec 15, 2017 - 11:21 am

"The Congressional race nobody is talking about is maybe the most important for music creators. Who will be the top Democrat on Judiciary?" — Conversations in Advocacy #3

On Nov. 29 Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) stepped into the role of Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee in an acting capacity, but Democrats will soon make a final choice on who will be the permanent Ranking Member. Also in consideration is Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who has been uniquely aligned with the policy interests of the big technology companies that dominate her Silicon Valley congressional district.

Writers at The Intercept recently took a dim view of what they considered Lofgren's unfailing allegiance to tech giants like Google, even in the face of recent controversies. As far as matters affecting creators and copyright law, Nadler has taken a much more pragmatic view, as evidenced by his sponsoring legislation such as the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2017.

Both lawmakers say they believe in protections for artists, but Lofgren's tech-centric point-of-view may not always align with the interests of music creators. For example, The Intercept noted that in 2009 she sanctioned Google's plan to digitize millions of books from libraries without approval from the actual copyright holders.

It is an especially crucial time for the House Judiciary Committee given the prospect of major copyright reform legislation in 2018. Modernization is overdue and it is in crafting the details of such a long-awaited update that Nadler could potentially best demonstrate his bill-making abilities.

It all adds up to why the music community should keep a close eye on who will ultimately be chosen to lead the effort to update copyright law as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

"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.

 

GRAMMYs
News
Statement Re: The Local Radio Freedom Act recording-academy-statement-re-local-radio-freedom-act

Recording Academy Statement Re: The Local Radio Freedom Act

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Daryl Friedman
Advocacy
Dec 13, 2017 - 12:12 pm

“Today, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) claimed victory for a non-binding resolution that in reality is another nail in radio's coffin.  The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA), otherwise known as the Loss of Radio’s Future Act, shows that the NAB would rather fight with artists than fight for its survival.  It’s no secret that radio struggles to remain relevant to younger audiences. The NAB has an opportunity to work with creators to ensure radio’s future by establishing a fair framework that includes a performance right for terrestrial radio while allowing for radio’s growth. The window is closing to move broadcasting into the 21st century.”

 

Daryl Friedman
Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer
Recording Academy

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy 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.