On Wednesday, Oct. 26, more than 2,000 music makers will visit their local legislator’s office as part of The Recording Academy’s annual GRAMMYs in My District event — music’s largest grassroots movement.
This advocacy initiative allows Recording Academy members to address important creators’ rights issues directly with their respective members of Congress, from copyright review to the impact of digital services on music makers.
“The overwhelming response to GRAMMYs in My District shows that music creators from every corner of the country understand that the incoming Congress will shape their future,” said Daryl Friedman, Chief Industry, Government and Member Relations Officer for The Recording Academy.
“American music makers are not only the backbone of the global music industry, but the innovators who help shape our culture here at home. Despite their contributions, too many of them are struggling. It’s critical that we act now to ensure that music and its makers are valued today and in the future, both culturally and economically.”
Meetings for this year’s GRAMMYs in My District will take place in more than 315 congressional districts with participants from various sectors of the music industry, including songwriters, producers, engineers, and performers.
Participating artists include Terence Blanchard, Paula Cole, Brandon Heath, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Cyndi Lauper, Eddie Money, Paul Wall, and thousands of working music professionals representing every aspect of music.
The key issues that will be discussed during GRAMMYs in My District include:
◦ Fairness for Performers: All radio platforms should compensate performers under a fair-market royalty standard, which means closing the loophole for terrestrial radio. And artists should be able to sell tickets to fans without the threat of online scalpers hijacking tickets and inflating prices.
◦ Fairness for Songwriters: Songwriters and composers should receive fair-market value whenever their songs are licensed. In addition, the decades-old consent decrees with the Department of Justice, which prevent songwriters from receiving fair pay for their work, must be reformed.
◦ Fairness for Studio Professionals: Producers and engineers are an integral part of the creative process for a sound recording, yet despite their indispensable role they have never been mentioned in any part of copyright law. They need protection within the law to codify royalty payments to music producers and formalize SoundExchange’s current voluntary policy.
These reforms are expected to provide fair compensation across the music industry, improve the fan experience, and bring music laws into the modern age, addressing compensation from digital and streaming platforms as well as terrestrial radio. For more information about GRAMMYs in My District and the pending legislation, please visit www.grammy.com/action.