On October 1, 2024, over 2,100 Recording Academy members from 47 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico will meet with their congressional representatives to advocate for key issues in the music industry. This annual grassroots day of action brings critical concerns directly to lawmakers, pushing for legislative changes that can significantly impact the livelihoods of artists and creators.

Music Advocacy Day 2024 is especially critical as it precedes the return of Congress following the 2024 Election. When lawmakers reconvene for the "Lame Duck" session, historically a period marked by a significant number of bills being signed into law, there will be an opportunity for vital music-related legislation to be passed before the end of the 118th Congress.

In past Lame Duck sessions, Recording Academy members have helped secure major wins for the music industry. In 2022, the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act was passed into law following grassroots efforts. Similarly, the 2020 Lame Duck session saw the passage of the CASE Act and the Save Our Stages Act, along with additional COVID-19 relief that proved essential to supporting the music community during the pandemic.

This year, the Recording Academy is laser-focused on addressing the challenges posed by generative AI. Members participating in Music Advocacy Day will urge their Congressional representatives and Senators to support the NO FAKES Act, legislation that aims to protect artists from the unauthorized creation of digital replicas through artificial intelligence. Introduced earlier this month in the House and over the summer in the Senate, the NO FAKES Act sets a national standard for protecting creators' likenesses from AI exploitation.

Read more: NO FAKES Act Introduced In The Senate: Protecting Artists' Rights In The Age Of AI

Music Advocacy Day participants have already begun their efforts by sending emails to Congress, urging lawmakers to co-sponsor the NO FAKES Act. With continued pressure, the bill could be primed for consideration during the Lame Duck session. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation has garnered support across industries, including endorsements from the Motion Picture Association, SAG-AFTRA, the National Association of Broadcasters, IBM, and OpenAI, as well as widespread backing from the music industry.

While AI protections top the agenda, Recording Academy advocates will also push for other important reforms, including the American Music Tourism Act. This bipartisan bill, designed to boost music tourism across the United States, has already cleared the Senate Commerce Committee and could see a vote when Congress returns.

Additionally, advocates will address live event ticketing reforms by supporting the Fans First Act. This bipartisan Senate bill offers the strongest set of reforms to the ticketing industry ever considered by Congress. The legislation builds on earlier progress made by the House of Representatives, which passed ticketing reform through the TICKET Act earlier this year.

Rounding out the legislative docket are two more bipartisan bills: the American Music Fairness Act and the HITS Act. Both are designed to improve the livelihoods of music creators, ensuring fair compensation and tax benefits for those working in the industry.

As Music Advocacy Day approaches, the Recording Academy continues to rally support for these vital reforms, with hopes of turning legislative opportunities into lasting victories for the music community.