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April 8, 2016
It's Time To Upgrade "Notice And Takedown"
by Daryl P. Friedman
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act's notice and takedown process needs a takedown of its own. At least until it can undergo an upgrade.
March 16, 2016
The Penny Paradox
by Neil Portnow
“Isn’t a song worth more than a penny?” |This is the question I posed to the nearly 27 million viewers of the 58th Annual GRAMMYs on Feb. 15 as I spoke about the rate at which music creators are compensated by streaming services and other digital distribution platforms.
February 2, 2016
The GRAMMY Fund For Music Creators: The Newest Tool In The Academy’s Advocacy Arsenal
by Daryl P. Friedman
These days, advocacy work is nearly as central to The Recording Academy’s membership as the creation and promotion of music.
January. 14, 2016
Consent Decree Changes Could Stifle Collaboration
by Evan Bogart
Imagine two songwriters sitting down to craft what they hope will be their next hit. There's a knock at the door: "Hi, I’m from the Department of Justice Anti-Trust division. Do you mind if I sit in?"
November 17, 2015
Chris Stapleton And The Myth Of Radio Breaking Country Stars
by Daryl P. Friedman
It's now well documented that radio touting its "promotional benefit" is a stale argument to avoid paying artist royalties. Internet radio, satellite radio, TV appearances , commercials, and concerts all provide some level of promotion, but still compensate artists.
October 29, 2015
Fair Use Ruling Isn't Fair
by Todd Dupler
Recently, The Recording Academy joined with a cross-section of organizations representing the music community to submit comments to the office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. These comments will help shape the IPEC's next long-term strategic plan to protect the work and livelihood of American creators. One area of emphasis in our comments was the notice and takedown process of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
September 18, 2015
Celebrating Music Education
by Todd Dupler
If any part of your elementary, middle or high school years were spent practicing scales on an actual musical instrument in a classroom or warbling in a chorus or stage musical with fellow students, consider yourself lucky.
August 18, 2015
For Music Creators, It;s Apocalypse Now
by Daryl P. Friedman
Ah, Sundays. A chance to unwind, relax and read the Sunday paper with a nice cup of coffee. But last Sunday, when I opened The New York Times Sunday Magazine, I practically did a spit take.
July 8, 2015
Copyright Office Music Licensing Report Offers Familiar Beat We Can Dance To
by Todd Dupler
On June 26 The Recording Academy Nashville Chapter hosted a special guest as U.S. Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante continued her "creators tour." Through a roundtable discussion with music creators representing the diverse range of music made in Music City, Pallante heard directly from Martina McBride, Better Than Ezra's Kevin Griffin, Brandon Heath, Matt Maher, and Band Of Horses' Bill Reynolds, as well as producer/engineer John McBride, Academy Trustee Jeff Balding and Nashville Chapter President Shannon Sanders
May 29, 2015
Letting the Air Out of New Coalitions
by Todd Dupler
Last month, this blog recounted how hundreds of music creators and Recording Academy members descended on the nation’s capital for GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day. Hundreds more reached out to Members of Congress in their homes districts last year for the inaugural GRAMMYs in My District. And so far this year, thousands of music creators and music fans have sent emails to Congress and flooded social media through the Academy’s online tools and through our partners at the musicFIRST Coalition.
May 8, 2015
Two Weeks’ Notice: GRAMMYs on the Hill 2015 Has Great Timing
.by Daryl P. Friedman
What a difference two weeks make. In that time span, GRAMMYs on the Hill demonstrated the impact that music creators can have when they unite together to make a difference.
April 20, 2015
Advocacy News
2015 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards, April 15, 2015
April 13, 2015
Leveling The Playing Field With The Fair Play Fair Pay Act
by Daryl P. Friedman
Today representatives of The Recording Academy are standing by in New York City as Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), a longtime supporter of fair compensation for music creators and the ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduces the aptly named Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015.
March 26, 2015
Advocacy News
You Lobbied, They Listened: New Travel Regulations Take Flight for Musical Instruments
March 19, 2015
The AMP Act Turns Up The Volume On Fair Pay For Studio Pros
by Daryl P. Friedman
In the ongoing push to achieve fair pay for all music creators, the discussion tends to fall mainly on performers and songwriters. But no longer.
Producers and engineers have an indispensable role in the creation of recorded music and therefore a stake in the discussion of fair pay for music creators.
March 11, 2015
Advocacy News
GRAMMY Creators Alliance Announced On 57th Annual GRAMMY Telecast
March 9, 2015
Advocacy News
GRAMMY® Creators Alliance Announces Members Of Managers Think Tank
by Daryl P. Friedman
On the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards, President/CEO of The Recording Academy Neil Portnow—along with GRAMMY winners Jennifer Hudson and Ryan Tedder—announced a new initiative: the GRAMMY Creators Alliance.
March 5, 2015
Songwriters Need Bold Reform in 2015
by Todd Dupler
Last year, one of The Recording Academy’s key legislative priorities was the “Songwriter Equity Act” (SEA). When Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) introduced the new legislation on February 24, 2014, standing right by his side was Daryl P. Friedman, the Academy’s Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations Officer.
February 3, 2015
The Band Perry Opens New Doors for Advocacy
by Daryl P. Friedman
The cloakroom of the House of Representatives is generally considered one of the hallowed, exclusive spaces in Congress. It's a special room, just off the floor of the House chamber, where Members of Congress huddle for private conversations, plan legislative strategy, or simply take short breaks during a busy day. So imagine the surprise of many Members of Congress when they finished casting their votes on the House floor, exited into the cloakroom, and found GRAMMY-nominated artists The Band Perry there waiting for them and visiting with their congressional colleagues.
January 13. 2015
Advocacy News
GRAMMYs On The Hill 2015 Welcome Back To Congress Celebration
OLDER BLOGS
October 2, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Fairness For All Creators Is Still In A Galaxy Far, Far Away
September 15, 2014
Advocacy News
Advocacy Spotlight: Maria Schneider
August 14, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Recording Academy And Leading Songwriters Ask DOJ To Improve PRO Licensing
June 18, 2014
Advocacy Blog
MusicBus Gaining Speed As Members Of Congress Climb On
June 2, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Do You Know The Way To Get Fair Pay?
May 16, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Suits Need Not Apply
April 28, 2014
Advocacy Blog
NAB Broadcasting Mixed Signals Over Aereo
April 22, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Advocacy Blog: MusicBus Departing Soon. Drivers Wanted.
February 11, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Drag Queens, "Kinky Boots" And Members Of Congress (It's Not What You Think)
January 20, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Best Music Tour Of The Year — No Roadies Required
December 10, 2014
Advocacy Blog
Betting On A Washington Underdog
November 26, 2013
Advocacy Blog
Music Creation Is Innovation
November 11, 2013
Advocacy Blog
You Haven’t Seen “Nashville” ’Til You’ve Seen It In 3-D
November 4, 2013
Advocacy Blog
Back On The Chain Gang
March 5, 2012
Advocacy Blog
They Tried to Make Me Check My Tuba, I Said No, No, No
January 27, 2012
Advocacy Blog
Where Is Alanis Morissette When You Need Her?
