District Advocate Day

District Advocate Day

Photo: Recording Academy

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More Than 1,500 Music Creators Raise Their Voices On District Advocate Day

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This year, thanks to lawmakers are in order but there is more ahead on the horizon
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Oct 24, 2018 - 2:54 pm

Oct. 24 is District Advocate day across the nation, and Recording Academy members from coast-to-coast united to meet with their local elected officials and candidates. This year marked a special opportunity for music creators to offer lawmakers thanks for their leadership passing the most comprehensive reform of copyright in decades — the Music Modernization Act, signed into law on Oct. 11. District Advocate day, the largest grassroots advocacy event in music, shares in the credit for getting it done.

"This year, a record number of creators found their voices as advocates. The result of that engagement was passage of the landmark MMA," said the Recording Academy's Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer Daryl P. Friedman. "Now, as we prepare for a new Congress with a large number of open seats, creators will remind incumbents — and candidates for seats from both parties — that their work has value in every district in the country, and their voices must continue to be heard."

District Advocate day also presented an opportunity to start outlining other issues affecting music creators on Capitol Hill. For example, ongoing efforts to negotiate and establish a terrestrial radio performance right for performers and artists. Also, to finalize efforts to modernize the U.S. Copyright Office for the 21st century. Additionally, advocates pushed for increased protection for music creators in international trade deals, and the creation of a small claims process to more efficiently enforce the copyright protections of independent creators. Lastly, Academy members championed funding for the National Endowment of the Arts and music education programs.

This year's participating District Advocates include saxophonist and National Advocacy Committee co-chair Mindi Abair; producer Peter Asher; singer/songwriter and producer Mondo Cozmo; songwriter Sue Ennis; singer/songwriter and producer Emily Estefan; producer, engineer, and mixer Frank Filipetti; Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum; saxophonist Dave Koz; singer/songwriter and producer Linda Perry; country artist Maggie Rose; rapper Paul Wall and more than a thousand other music professionals.

Like District Advocate day 2017, this year's action event marks a day to remember what matters most for music policy ahead. We thank all our participants and supporters for making this year another success.

Join The Chorus To Keep Momentum Alive for Creators' Rights

Harvey Mason Jr., co-chair, National Advocacy Committee

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Mindi Abair, Harvey Mason Jr. Co-Chair National Advocacy Committee

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New leadership of the Recording Academy's National Advocacy Committee focuses on passage of the MMA in the Senate and District Advocate day on Oct. 24
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Aug 16, 2018 - 10:17 am

On Aug. 16 the Recording Academy announced saxophonist Mindi Abair and producer Harvey Mason Jr. as the GRAMMY nominated co-chairs of its National Advocacy Committee, leading the music community's mobilization as we unite to push the Music Modernization Act across the finish line in the United States Senate.

The National Advocacy Committee is made up entirely of music creators, from performers and songwriters to producers and sound engineers. Previous co-chair, songwriter Sue Ennis remains as a regular committee member alongside GRAMMY winning legends Booker T. Jones and Nile Rodgers. They are joined by five-time GRAMMY winner, R&B singer Lalah Hathaway, altogether comprising an array of diverse talents that represent the scope of the music industry itself.

Continuing ex-officio members, supporting the Committee's work, are John Poppo, producer and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Recording Academy; Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy; and Daryl P. Friedman, the Academy's Chief Industry, Government & Member Relations Officer.

"Music creators have witnessed the transformation of the music industry and they deserve a seat at the table," said Portnow. "They want their voices to be heard when decisions are being made that impact their careers and livelihood, and they know that 2018 is proving to be a landmark legislative year for them. The knowledge these leading creators bring ensures the Committee will continue to be an effective advocate for the next generation, while working to improve everyday lives of today's music creators."

This extraordinary year for the Academy's advocacy efforts has already featured highlights including a special New York field hearing of the House Judiciary Committee during GRAMMY Week, where Jones testified beside Portnow in support of the Music Modernization Act at. Shortly after GRAMMYs on the Hill 2018 in April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously, 415-0. The Senate version of the MMA is now pending a floor vote, having already passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously on June 28 and now counts a majority of the Senate as co-sponsors. Because music industry stakeholders united behind an achievable vision for copyright reform, this summer finds music makers close to a once-in-a-generation change for the better.

The National Advocacy Committee will lead and coordinate the Academy's unified action toward seeing these hopes for change realized by U.S. Senate passage of the Music Modernization Act. This includes District Advocate day, set for Oct. 24, when Recording Academy membership meets face-to-face  with their legislators to personally convey the impact current legislation has on their livelihoods.

As Portnow explained at the New York field hearing, the different roles active recording industry professionals play should be regulated with a unified fairness, not chopped up into fragmented categories regulated by multiple out-of-date regimes — and should include protections for music producers, who have never been mentioned in U.S. copyright law.

The National Advocacy Committee is a conduit connecting the Academy’s creative membership to lawmakers through advocacy and action. And as fairness for music creators remains the primary objective, passage of the MMA will finally be the platform that allows us to achieve those goals in a digital world.

Tell the Senate to support the Music Modernization Act!

Conversations In Advocacy #43

An Academy member meets with Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) in his district office.
Photo: Moses R.

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Welcoming Music Champions Returning To Congress In 2019

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It's no coincidence that music's bipartisan friends in Congress are all returning for another session of service
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Nov 9, 2018 - 2:51 pm

"If we ever get to the point in our society where we take away the creative spark, we have failed the soul and heartbeat of music, of books, of our creative output as Americans."— Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Conversations In Advocacy #43

The 115th Congress is still in session for a few more weeks but with the midterm elections behind us, we look forward to the start of the 116th Congress in January. While the make-up of the next Congress will be decidedly different looking, it will bring back many familiar faces who supported music and its makers this past Congress, and proved instrumental in last month’s historic signing of the Music Modernization Act.

Notably, every member of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus who appeared on Tuesday’s ballot won re-election to the House of Representatives and will have the opportunity to continue to support music creators in Washington. In addition, many music champions will move into elevated roles come January. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), author of this week's quote while being honored at the 2018 GRAMMYs on the Hill earlier this year, is in line to become Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, where past GRAMMYs on the Hill honoree Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) is expected to assume the duties of chairman as the Democrats gained the majority.

While the Judiciary Committee is expected to take on a number of high profile agenda items, Nadler and Collins have proven time and time that they will prioritize copyright and creators’ rights. Their work side by side this year on the MMA bodes well for the Committee’s ability to continue working in a bipartisan fashion to protect our society's "creative spark" when the next Congressional session begins.

And even with the enactment of the Music Modernization Act, work will continue within the Judiciary Committee to advance creators’ rights. On Oct. 24, at our 2018 District Advocate Day, the Recording Academy’s members pushed forward a legislative agenda inclusive of a number of issues that could cross the committee’s purview. More than 1,500 Recording Academy members met with both lawmakers and candidates to discuss Judiciary issues like terrestrial radio royalty payments, copyright office modernization and the establishment of a copyright small claims system.

Beyond the Judiciary Committee, other prominent music champions will also be in position to affect change for music makers.  Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), co-chairs of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus, have both declared their intentions to run for their respective party's leader races. Other allies like Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) are in consideration for Speaker of the House, Majority Whip and Democratic Caucus Chair, respectively. While it's too soon to be sure who will occupy leadership roles in the 116th Congress, once again music stands out as an area where leaders can work together as colleagues on issues of shared concern.

And that’s important because the fight will continue to protect funding for the National Endowment of the Arts and music education programs in the federal budget, and negotiations on trade deals will merit increased attention. All of these issues were discussed last month during District Advocate Day, and will be at the forefront of the Recording Academy’s agenda entering into the 116th Congress.

Congratulations are in order for lawmakers returning and new as the 116th Congress continues to take shape.

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.

Composer Anne Kathrin-Dern

Composer Anne Kathrin-Dern performs in Los Angeles during the ASCAP 2016 Film Scoring Workshop
Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images

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What The New Soundtrack State-Incentives Program Means For Tennessee

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Art and commerce combine for a sweet mix as TEC and the Recording Academy's new financial incentives seek to attract soundtrack productions to Tennessee
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Nov 21, 2018 - 10:28 am

A new day is dawning in the world of film and videogame scoring, and Hollywood isn't the only place the sun is rising. On Nov. 20 the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC) and the Recording Academy announced the creation of a new Scoring Incentives Program, providing financial incentives for productions to create soundtracks with music professionals and facilities across the state in order to entice film projects to score their movies in the Volunteer State.

TEC Executive Director Bob Raines told the Tennessean earlier this month that, "If I were to say, 'What would be a great goal?' it would be wonderful to put an additional $8 million of economic impact into the community on income and small business." Because there is more than just money at stake, it is important to keep costs competitive, and that includes preventing Tennessee from being at a disadvantage relative to other states' incentive programs.

But with nearly 1,100 businesses and more than 6,725 music professionals hard at work in Tennessee's music business, the program stands to make an impact by providing a 25 percent rebate for productions that meet its qualification requirements. Leaders from the Recording Academy's Memphis Chapter and Nashville Chapter advocated to ensure those requirements were tailored just right to enhance in-state music livelihoods while attracting out-of-state productions—a prime example of the power of local advocacy.

Of course when people think of Memphis and Nashville, blues, soul, country music and great live venues come to mind, but it’s the jobs behind the scenes that also have great economic effects across the state, spurring new development and industries like videogames.

Earlier this year Recording Academy Nashville Chapter board member and TEC commission member Steve Schnur with Electronic Arts vouched for the tale of how Quavo grew up fantasizing that he was inside EA's Madden football videogames, and then succeeded in having his song "They Can't Win" included in Madden 19. Jobs and music placements in soundtracks bring dreams to life in less conspicuous ways too, boosting the local infrastructure for professional creativity for years to come.

Videogame soundtracks are just one of the many categories of music business scoring in Tennessee and EA has been bringing more of its soundtrack production to Nashville, but it's not all about pop hits. While classical music fans bemoan the genre's falling off in popularity for some listeners, classical music soundtracks are right at home in many videogames. At the 53rd GRAMMY Awards, composer Christopher Tin won the first GRAMMY for a piece of music created for a videogame. His "Baba Yetu," which won Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), was originally created for the game Civilization IV. Tennessee has increasingly become a magnet for orchestral scoring in videogames, and its new incentives and 25 percent rebate should help this trend continue to grow.

The incentive program is applicable to productions throughout Tennessee; productions with $25,000 in relevant expenditures can qualify if located outside of Nashville, while in Nashville that minimum is set at $50,000.

Soundtrack music is pervasive across all of these forms of media, and many believe that nothing enhances emotional engagement more than the right musical accompaniment. The Tennessee Entertainment Commission and the Recording Academy are proud to have worked together to craft the state's new enhancement to its own power of attraction, carefully calibrating parameters like those above to ensure a win-win-win, for Tennessee's music talent and businesses, for productions bringing their business to the state, and ultimately for audiences around the world who appreciate the results.

"As Tennessee attracts more scoring projects through TEC's new program, it will allow our creative class and content creators to showcase their superb quality to audiences across the globe," said Bob Raines. It is a sweet mix of art and commerce, promising great things ahead.

Recording Academy Helps Bring New Tax Incentives For Music Scoring To Tennessee

Conversations In Advocacy #44

Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images

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Music Advocates Among Republican Leadership Team For The Incoming Congress

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Republican leadership choices for the incoming Congress express stability, unity and hope for continued progress of creators' rights
Philip Merrill
Advocacy
Nov 16, 2018 - 3:37 pm

“There will be a lot of changes in Congress next year, but I’m glad one thing hasn’t changed: House Republicans will still be led by strong champions for music creators.” -Conversations In Advocacy #44

On Nov. 14, Republicans who have been elected to the incoming Congress selected their leadership teams for the Senate and House of Representatives. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will be returning as Senate Majority Leader. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — co-chair of the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus— was chosen House Minority Leader.

McCarthy was a unity pick as House Republicans adjust to being in the minority. Other Republican leaders in the House include Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) as incoming minority whip and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who will chair the House Republican Conference. Reps. McCarthy and Scalise were both co-sponsors of the Music Modernization Act and helped ensure its unanimous passage on the House floor earlier this year.

Other Republican leaders in the Senate include Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) as majority whip and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) as Senate Republican Conference chair. The Senate Republican Conference also has its first woman in leadership since 2010 as Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) rises to the vice chairwoman post.

There's more to come for the GOP, as the week after Thanksgiving the Republican Steering Committee is announcing committee assignments. Representative Doug Collins (R-Ga.) is running for Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. Collins, who washonored at the 2018 GRAMMYs on the Hill earlier this year and was one of the lead architects of the Music Modernization Act, and stands to continue the fight for creators' rights in the new role.

Congratulations to the new team tasked with leadership of their fellow Republicans in D.C. as the work ahead continues to take shape. House Democrats are expected to select their leadership team for the new House majority the week of November 26.

Welcoming Music Champions Returning To Congress In 2019

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.