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.

Dec 2, 2014 – 10:58 pm

Mindi Abair - Importance Of The Recording Academy Membership

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.

Dec 2, 2014 – 10:58 pm

Lalah Hathaway - Importance Of Academy Membership

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!

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.

Dec 7, 2018 – 2:17 pm

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.

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.