Matthew Bango is the administrative assistant in the Recording Academy’s Advocacy & Public Policy office. He held numerous internships prior to joining the Academy’s team in Washington, D.C., including a tenure on Capitol Hill. An Ohio native, Matthew is a current graduate student at Ohio University and holds a BS in public policy analysis from the Ohio State University.
On March 27, 2020, after significant input and backing by the Recording Academy and other organizations, Congress intervened to bolster a cratering economy by passing the bipartisan and bicameral Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. A $2 trillion stimulus package, the CARES Act was designed to temporarily stabilize the economy and safeguard ties between workers and their employers, including…
UPDATE: This article, originally posted on April 8, 2021, has been updated with new information for music makers. The portal, which was set to open on April 8, experienced tremendous technical issues upon the initial launch and the Small Business Administration (SBA) was forced to stop operations until the problems were remedied. Once that occurred, the SBA re-launched the portal…
Today, the bipartisan and bicameral Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act was reintroduced in Washington. The Senate version of the bill is again introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and the companion bill in the House of Representatives is sponsored by Reps. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif) and Ron Estes (R-Kan.). The House bill is also supported by Reps. Judy…
Daryl Friedman, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Recording Academy, spoke with Billboard about the important role Academy members played in pushing Congress to include creator-friendly provisions in the recent COVID-19 stimulus package. "Much to the chagrin of our in-house lobbyists, I always say our best lobbyists are our members because they really can tell the story in a compelling way," noted Friedman. This…
UPDATE: This article, originally posted on Feb. 24, 2021, has been updated with new information for music makers and music small businesses based on the recent passage of the American Rescue Plan, and new regulatory updates by the Small Business Administration. Importantly, effective March 3, self-employed individuals (including independent contractors, gig workers, and sole proprietors) will be eligible for an…
Mary Wilson, a GRAMMY-nominated singer and beloved Recording Academy member, passed away Monday at age 76. As co-founder of the Supremes, Wilson spent her life sharing her gift with the world, while earning twelve number-one singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart along the way. Beyond being a talented songstress, Wilson’s storied legacy will include her time serving as an advocate…
On January 3rd, the 117th Congress officially started with the swearing-in of lawmakers. While COVID-19 relief package passed at the end of last year was a step in the right direction, the new Congress must continue to pass creator-friendly legislation in the immediate future, including additional financial relief for struggling creators and the HITS Act. To help music advocates understand the recent…
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted the livelihoods of many Recording Academy members. Since March, the creative community has been left without access to traditional income and tasked with searching for alternative sources of support, including engaging their fan bases differently, temporarily changing professions, and applying for grants from nonprofits, such as the Academy’s MusiCares. In addition to these options, federal,…
With today's historic inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris, the Recording Academy looks forward to working collaboratively with their Administration on important priorities that impact America's music creators. As the only organization that represents the interests of all music creators—songwriters, performers, and studio professionals—the Recording Academy stands ready to assist in building back better the American creative economy…
When drafting the latest COVID-19 relief package, Congress had music creators in mind when designing the new Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program. Signed into law by the President on December 27, 2020, the MEUC program provides "mixed earners," those with both traditional and freelance income, an additional $100 per week benefit if the worker received W2 wages and at…
The Mechanical Licensing Collective has officially started to collect mechanical royalties! Established as part of the landmark Music Modernization Act (MMA) of 2018, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) was designed with songwriters, composers, publishers, and lyricists in mind, many of whom previously faced issues collecting their entitled mechanical royalty payments from digital streaming services. On January 1, 2021, the MLC…
This unprecedented year has been extremely painful for the music ecosystem, but it is not without hope. Before we look forward to the return of live music, sold-out tours, and in-studio recording sessions poised to take place in 2021, let's take a moment to reflect on the highlights of what the advocacy of Recording Academy members and music lovers helped…
The Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property spent the past year analyzing how the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) fits into the modern internet ecosystem. Facilitated by Subcommittee Chairman Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Chris Coons (D-Del.), the subcommittee hosted numerous hearings and convened regular stakeholder discussions to learn how to best reform the aging legislation to…
Congress is set to adjourn the 116th Congress before the end of the calendar year. But before legislators return to their home districts, the House of Representatives and Senate still have a fair amount of unfinished work to complete, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and funding the government. It is also imperative that Congress prioritizes the completion of…
Today, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act in the Senate. A small tax incentive to help get independent artists back in the studio, the HITS Act allows these artists to deduct 100% of their production expenses in the United States, up to $150,000, in the year expenses are incurred. The…
The CARES Act proved to serve as a bridge over troubled waters for creators during the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Serving as a lifeline to many music makers, several of the important pro-creator provisions included in the legislation have already expired or are set to expire at the conclusion of this year, including the expansion of unemployment insurance…
During this holiday season, music creators are not looking for a gift, they are in need of an economic lifeline. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the music community swiftly and has continued to limit creators’ access to traditional sources of revenue. While this is a holiday season unlike every before, there is much to be grateful for but also much work…
The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic quickly altered the landscape of the music ecosystem. From canceled festivals to delayed tours, music-makers were left without access to their primary traditional income streams. Congress provided creators with some temporary lifelines at the start of the pandemic by passing the CARES Act. But as the pandemic continues, and with many CARES Act provisions…
