The Recording Academy has announced the appointment of Torae Carr and Dani Deahl as Co-Chairs of its National Advocacy Committee. The group is committed to championing the rights of music creators through advocacy at the state and federal levels composed of leading performers, producers, songwriters, and engineers.
Torae Carr, a rapper, past President of the Recording Academy’s New York Chapter, and current National Trustee, has a long history of supporting artists' rights. Earlier this year, he traveled to Albany to advocate for the passage of A. 127, a bill to protect artistic expression in New York. Carr was also a panelist at the Recording Academy’s inaugural virtual GRAMMY Advocacy Conference in 2023, where he discussed the importance of protecting artistic freedom alongside Atlanta Chapter Governor Shay M. Lawson and Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.).
Read more: Torae Talks Fighting For Change & Overhauling The Music Industry's Business Model
Dani Deahl, a DJ/producer, past Chicago Chapter President, and current National Trustee, has also been a strong voice for music creators. In March, she testified before the Illinois House and Senate in favor of HB 4875, which sought to modernize the state’s right of publicity law to protect creators from the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI). The bill was signed into law on August 9 by Governor J.B. Pritzker. Deahl also participated in the inaugural GRAMMYs on the Hill Future Forum earlier this year, where she joined GRAMMY-nominated artist Kokayi and Todd Dupler, the Recording Academy’s Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer, in discussing the positive implications of AI for music and creativity.
As Co-Chairs of the National Advocacy Committee, Carr and Deahl will help guide and support a range of key policy issues affecting the music community, including:
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The NO FAKES Act: This legislation aims to protect artists from unauthorized digital replicas created through artificial intelligence.
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The American Music Tourism Act: This bill directs the Department of Commerce to create a national strategy to expand music tourism across the U.S.
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Fans First Act: This law mandates transparency in ticket pricing and bans the sale of speculative tickets.
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The American Music Fairness Act: This bill seeks to establish a performance right for recordings broadcast by terrestrial radio.
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The HITS Act: A tax incentive that allows independent artists and songwriters to fully expense the costs of new studio recordings, up to $150,000, within the year of production.
The National Advocacy Committee, working closely with the Recording Academy’s Advocacy team, plays a critical role in shaping the Academy’s legislative priorities. Also joining Carr and Deahl as a new member of the committee is GRAMMY-nominated singer Wayna. Other members include GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Evan Bogart, four-time GRAMMY winner Angélique Kidjo, Recording Academy National Chair Tammy Hurt, and National Vice Chair Dr. Chelsey Green. Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. and Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer Todd Dupler serve as ex-officio members.
With Torae Carr and Dani Deahl at the helm, the committee is set to drive significant progress on legislative efforts that will shape the future of the music industry and protect the rights of music creators nationwide.
