by Regina Kelland

On Oct. 14, The Recording Academy held its second annual GRAMMYs in My District, a one-of-a-kind grassroots advocacy campaign that saw Academy members from across the country meeting with their congressional representatives in their home districts to discuss updates to current music law. In this commentary, which originally appears in The Tampa Bay Times, Florida Chapter Governor Regina Kelland expresses the need to achieve fairness for all creators.

Last week I met with Rep. Richard Nugent's office [R-Fla.] to encourage him to support the songwriters, performers and producers in our community. Specifically, I requested he co-sponsor the bipartisan Fair Play Fair Pay Act (HR 1733), which ensures that music creators receive fair compensation from those who earn billions of dollars selling our music.

While satellite radio and new digital music platforms like YouTube, Spotify and Pandora have increased access to music and allowed for the discovery of new artists, their business models undervalue music. Additionally, there's no performance right on radio. Radio stations pay nothing to creators for the product they put on the air, making it the only industry nationwide that doesn't pay to use copyrighted material for its own gain. Nearly worldwide, creators are paid when their music airs on the radio. In fact, the only countries besides the United States without a radio performance right are China, Iran and North Korea.

I've worked with music creators for 32 years to promote, market and package their recordings and themselves, and have seen the various ways we've been impacted. Changes in our industry have made making a living in music more challenging with every passing year. Those who are creating content and enriching the culture of millions of people are often struggling with how to protect their livelihood.

The Fair Play Fair Pay Act would level the playing field for all creators and allow us to be compensated fairly for the products we create — and that millions of Americans enjoy every day. I thank Rep. Nugent, R-Spring Hill, for his support and urge the Florida delegation to follow suit.