Are you a Recording Academy member looking for new ways to engage with your community, put your experience in music to work and support the best interests of all creators? Registering as a District Advocate is the best way to make a huge difference this summer.
Recording Academy Members: Register Now To Become A District Advocate
So why should you register to be a District Advocate? On Aug. 12, the Recording Academy will host its seventh annual District Advocate, the largest grassroots music advocacy movement of the year. Registering by the July 24 deadline provides you this unique opportunity to connect with your lawmaker to discuss the urgent issues and policies affecting music creators.
In addition to sharing your perspective, stories and talents with local lawmakers, as a District Advocate, you'll have the chance to call on your Members of Congress to tackle these five key areas:
1. COVID-19 Relief For All Creators Now
In a year wrought with financial uncertainty, it's time for lawmakers to ensure that COVID-19 aid is distributed equitably and reaches all workers and businesses in need. As a District Advocate, your voice can help ensure that underserved Black communities can fully participate in critical relief programs. The convergence of the crippling economic impact of the pandemic and the fight to end systemic racism call for all advocates to acknowledge the need for fair distribution of relief – this is your chance.
2. Extend COVID-19 relief programs
While many music makers have turned to initial relief programs to weather the pandemic, it is clear that Congress must now extend these programs beyond the current expiration date and expand their resources to assist the creative professionals who need it most. As a District Advocate, you'll have the opportunity to tell your representatives first-hand how the pandemic continues to affect the music community and why this relief is so crucial.
3. Small Business & Unemployment Status
"Music is the original gig economy," as Recording Academy Chairman and Interim CEO Harvey Mason jr. put it. District Advocates will underscore the importance of fixing small business and unemployment programs to better reflect the needs of freelance music creators, many of whom operate as small businesses and/or have found themselves unemployed in the wake of the pandemic.
4. Emergency Arts Funding
As so many income streams across the music industry continue to run dry, Congress needs to hear from the music community just how important it is they expand emergency arts funding. Vital organizations and individuals are at risk of not being able to recover from the severe economic impact caused by COVID-19, and this is your chance to let them know why emergency arts funding is a must.
5. Tax Relief & Fair Royalties
Finally, as a District Advocate representing the music community, you’ll champion ways to increase revenues for music makers through targeted tax relief and fairer royalties for music makers.
Best of all, you won't have to wait until Aug. 12 to get started. This year, the Recording Academy will be holding the "Summer of Advocacy," an ongoing initiative aimed to help provide pandemic relief for music creators and music businesses and to promote positive social change through legislation. After registering, you can start your advocacy immediately by taking action here.
Right now, more than ever, we need to come together as the music community in order to create change and push creator-friendly policies forward. Register today and no later than July 24 to play your part in 2020's largest grassroots music advocacy movement. Your fellow music makers for generations to come will thank you!
Recording Academy Members: Register Today To Become A District Advocate
