Today in Washington, the topic of the hour turns to unclaimed royalties at the U.S. Copyright Office's Unclaimed Royalties Study Kickoff Symposium. Two key Recording Academy representatives, Trustee Ivan Barias and the Advocacy office's Todd Dupler, are on-the-ground and in-the-mix to speak up on behalf of music creators.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">During today's <a href="https://twitter.com/CopyrightOffice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CopyrightOffice</a> Unclaimed Royalties Symposium, <a href="https://twitter.com/RecordingAcad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RecordingAcad</a> member Ivan Barias (<a href="https://twitter.com/doxortho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@doxortho</a>) spoke about claiming royalties and reducing the occurrence of unclaimed royalties. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/sE7w6WoYpi">https://t.co/sE7w6WoYpi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MusicModernizationAct?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MusicModernizationAct</a> <a href="https://t.co/PDd3DW0UiB">pic.twitter.com/PDd3DW0UiB</a></p>— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) <a href="https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1203032057040949249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The study itself is a byproduct of the historic Music Modernization Act (MMA), which passed last year and representing the biggest update to music legislation in 40 years, and is aimed at determining the best practices for identifying and matching unclaimed songwriter and publisher royalties that will be administered by the new Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).
Read More: MLC & Digital Services Reach Funding Deal - Music Modernization Act In Action
What does this mean? Well, while songwriters signed to major publishing deals won't likely miss out on unclaimed royalties, those signed to smaller publishers or controlling their own publishing will have to be vigilant and understand how the MLC works. This day of discussion is the jumping-off point for fulfilling the MMA's promise to optimize and streamline the way those unclaimed royalties are distributed.
Barias, a GRAMMY-nominated producer, National Trustee of the Recording Academy, and member of the Producers & Engineers Wing Steering Committee, participated in the Artist Focus session alongside GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Roseanne Cash, GRAMMY nominated producer Alex Delicata and music industry veteran Erin McAnally.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Singer/songwriter, <a href="https://twitter.com/rosannecash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rosannecash</a>, talking about the fight for creators’ rights at today’s U.S. <a href="https://twitter.com/CopyrightOffice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CopyrightOffice</a> Symposium: <a href="https://t.co/sE7w6WoYpi">https://t.co/sE7w6WoYpi</a> <a href="https://t.co/RErQQ6sIf1">pic.twitter.com/RErQQ6sIf1</a></p>— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) <a href="https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1203034890268102656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In this section of the symposium, the creatives provided their perspectives on the significance of the MMA, the importance of being accurately credited so they can get paid for their work. They discussed the critical roles songwriters, artists and producers can play in this effort. Barias was able to contextualize his experiences from behind the board in the studio to pursue the most effective process for producers and songwriters like him to get fairly paid, while also emphasizing the importance of creators to get as involved in the process as possible. He relayed his experiences at GRAMMYs on the Hill and District Advocate day as effective means for creators to be educated on, and have more ownership over, their rights.
Dupler, who serves as Managing Director of Advocacy & Public Policy for the Recording Academy, spoke on the panel titled "Messaging to Creators," where the discussion turned to how to connect with a broad array of creators to get ahead of the issue by collecting more accurate metadata on the front end. The panel covered the role digital engagement plays in reaching creators with a clear, concise game plan for making the MLC's work on the backend as efficient as possible. Dupler was able to accurately and passionately represent the interests of Recording Academy members by focusing on how all songwriters need to be—and can be—fairly represented by the MLC.
The type of discussion at Unclaimed Royalties Study Kickoff Symposium shows there are several interconnected roles and steps in the creative and legislative process that are important in implementing the MMA to its fullest.
As the U.S. Copyright continues to make good on the MMA, hearing from voices in the music community will continue to be a priority. For Barias and Dupler to participate in that discussion at this early stage is a good sign of what's to come in the fight for all music creators to receive fair and accurate pay for their work.
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