
District Advocate Day
Photo: Lisa Lake/ Getty Images
More Than 1,500 Music Creators Raise Their Voices On District Advocate Day
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.