Key Music Leaders Support Licensing Reform Legislation

Neil Portnow (Debby Wong/Shutterstock)

Prominent music organizations representing U.S. music publishers, record labels, songwriters, composers, artists and performance rights organizations (PROs) today formally announced their united support for key pieces of pending music legislation.  

The organizations also strongly support successfully resolving the lack of a terrestrial performance right to provide fair compensation for sound recordings.  Music community leaders say it is essential to work together and support related reforms, especially now that Congress is expected to consider and advance legislation in 2018. 

-- THE MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT would be the most significant update to music copyright law in over a generation and represents unprecedented compromise across all aspects of the music industry. The bill reforms SECTION 115 of the U.S. COPYRIGHT ACT to create a single licensing entity that administers the mechanical reproduction rights for all digital uses of musical compositions – like those used in interactive streaming models. It also repeals Section 114(i) and, consistent with most federal litigation, utilizes random assignment of judges to decide ASCAP and BMI rate-setting cases – two provisions that will enable fairer outcomes for songwriters and composers.

-- THE CLASSICS ACT (COMPENSATING LEGACY ARTISTS FOR THEIR SONGS, SERVICE & IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY ACT) would benefit artists and music creators who recorded music before 1972 by establishing royalty payments whenever their music is played on digital radio. SOUND EXCHANGE would distribute royalties for pre-’72 recordings played by Internet, cable and satellite radio services just as it does for post-’72 recordings.  Currently only sound recordings made after 1972 receive payments from digital radio services under federal law.

-- THE AMP ACT (ALLOCATION FOR MUSIC PRODUCERS ACT), for the first time, adds producers and engineers, who play an indispensable role in the creation of sound recordings, to U.S. copyright law. The bill codifies into law the producer’s right to collect digital royalties and provides a consistent, permanent process for studio professionals to receive royalties for their contributions to the creation of music.

Said NMPA President/CEO DAVID ISRAELITE: “Today is truly a new day for songwriters and artists. We are all coming together to support each other’s efforts to modernize and bring fairness to how music creators are paid. Music has value – and that value is not reflected in the way songwriters and artists are treated under century-old laws that have not kept pace with technology.  Right now, there is unprecedented momentum behind efforts to fix outdated laws that prevent music creators from earning what they deserve, and I am thrilled to say that publishers, songwriters, composers, labels, artists and PROs stand together to fix them.”   

RIAA President MITCH GLAZIER: “2018 is the year for CONGRESS to enact many long-studied proposals that will make our country’s music licensing system fairer for artists, songwriters and their label and publisher partners.  A unified music community is essential if we are to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity.  We encourage the JUDICIARY COMMITTEES to begin advancing these common-sense provisions that modernize the music licensing system, and provide fair, market-based compensation to all music creators for their property and work.”

RECORDING ACADEMY CEO NEIL PORTNOW: “For years, our creator membership has sought a holistic approach to update music licensing.  Artists, songwriters, producers and engineers have each advocated for their fellow creators because we’re all in this together.  Today, our industry unites in the same manner to support a comprehensive slate of legislative issues that will improve the environment for music makers, music services, and music fans.  As we prepare to celebrate music at the GRAMMYs, we can celebrate this important milestone as well.”

A2IM CEO RICHARD JAMES BURGWESS: “The recorded music industry speaks with one voice in support of the MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT and to further rationalize copyright law. This legislation brings us one step closer to our goal of creators and copyright owners being compensated fairly for all uses of their work. We applaud Mr. COLLINS and Mr. JEFFRIES for introducing this bill, Mr. ISSA and Mr. NADLER for THE CLASSICS ACT, and Mr. ROONEY and Mr. CROWLEY for THE AMP ACT. We urge CONGRESS to move forward on these important reforms, to seek market rates for all music streaming, and to demand that AMERICAN artists be paid for terrestrial radio performances.”

ASCAP CEO ELIZABETH MATTHEWS: "Music is the essential ingredient in the success of companies that deliver music to listeners. The songwriters, composers and artists who make that music deserve to be treated fairly under our copyright laws.  THE MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT, the CLASSICS ACT and THE AMP ACT are all reasonable and sensible reforms that bring our nation's outdated laws into the modern world. We stand together as a community to advocate for the music creators and artists who enrich our lives everyday with their incredible talent and hard work."

BMI President/CEO MICHAEL O’NEILL, “BMI supports strengthening Copyright protections for all AMERICAN music creators.  We are proud to be a part of this unique coalition of music creators, music advocates, and music users, in support of this legislation which brings 21st-century protections to all.”

SoundExchange President/CEO MICHAEL HUPPE: “SOUNDEXCHANGE is pleased to join other industry voices banding together on behalf of all music creators to advocate for meaningful change to the laws driving how music is valued.   All creators of music deserve to be fairly paid for the use of their work, regardless of the platform or their place in the creative process.   Working together, across the industry and across the aisle, on a shared agenda of legislative solutions is the best way forward to fix our system.” 

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