Registration for this year's District Advocate day closes Friday, Sept. 6. Last year, the Music Modernization Act passed due in part to the relationships music creators forged with lawmakers during past District Advocate days.. But did you know there's so much more work that needs to be done? And that Congress is considering policies and laws that will affect you?
Last week we laid out five great reasons to register – now let's explore some of the key issues that might come up for discussion with your local lawmakers as part of the largest grassroots music advocacy event of the year, District Advocate day.
Performance Rights
Can you believe artists and producers don't get paid when their songs are played on terrestrial radio? Urge your representatives to stop big radio from using any recording they'd like on AM/FM without paying the performer. With your help, they can understand that if royalties were paid for music played on terrestrial radio, it would not only benefit the featured artist on your favorite track, but also the studio musicians and backing vocalists who performed on the track too. That’s because a portion of the royalties would flow through the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund. It's a long-overdue win for music creators, but it's the right thing to do.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Take a look at how <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/music?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#music</a> unions and the musicians who belong to them would benefit from finally getting the AM/FM performance right they deserve.<a href="https://t.co/XC73SInAd2">https://t.co/XC73SInAd2</a></p>— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) <a href="https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1167852299772973056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Consent Decrees
If you're a songwriter, you may or may not be aware that for nearly 75 years, the same consent decrees have governed the process by which performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI license rights to publicly perform the music you make. But with the Department Of Justice reviewing these consent decrees, Congress could also take action that would impact the modern songwriter. This is the perfect time to brush up on the Recording Academy's stance and groundwork on updating consent decrees and dig into what songwriters need to know about the DOJ's consent decree review.
CASE Act: Small Claims Solutions
For songwriters to protect their work in an infringement case is often cost prohibitive. The Copyright Alternative Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) establishes a small claims tribunal making legal protection available for all creators, not just big-time labels and publishers who can afford big-time lawyers. Support for the bill is mounting, with over 80 Congressional co-sponsors and a long list of creative organizations and unions behind it. But now is the time to turn the tide and push toward the finish line, as the CASE Act could soon head for a vote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CASEAct?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CASEAct</a> addresses copyright enforcement for small and independent creators who can't afford big budget legal fees associated with Federal court action.<a href="https://t.co/cfdrrHg0JB">https://t.co/cfdrrHg0JB</a></p>— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) <a href="https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1166856237486673927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Meet The Incoming Class
This year, there are a whopping 98 Freshmen in the new Congress, and District Advocate day is their first chance to meet with music creators in their district—spoiler alert, most probably did not run for office on the back of music policy yet are still eager to learn about how their voice in Congress affects you, their constituent. Register to make sure the first voices they hear are from the music makers affected most by the laws they support.
Not a member? You can still sign up to amplify your voice for District Advocate 2019
Rep Your Local Music Community
District Advocate Day is a great opportunity to show Congress that music makers live, work and create in every congressional district, especially yours! Being face-to-face with your local lawmakers will connect them to the community you work so hard to cultivate and champion every day. With their help, we can build better music policy for everyone – District Advocate day is the place to start.
Are you a music creator who still hasn't registered? This is your chance to create real and lasting change. Register now!
Recording Academy members: click here to register for District Advocate 2019
