For those outside of the beltway, there has been legislation mulling around Capitol Hill that will affect music creators and how they are paid.  The Music Modernization Act was introduced last year in August, and is billed as the “most important music copyright bill in a generation.”  Here’s a short list of music business executives looking to be heard by Congress: Michael Beckerman (President/CEO, Internet Association), Richard James Burgess (CEO, A2IM), Rick Carnes (President, Songwriters Guild of America), Ray Hair (International president, American Federation of Musicians International), Chris Harrison (CEO, Digital Media Association), Bert Herbison (Executive director, Nashville Songwriters Association International), Michael Huppe (President/CEO, SoundExchange), David Israelite (President/CEO, National Music Publishers’ Association), Michelle Lewis (Executive director, Songwriters of North America), Elizabeth Matthews (CEO, ASCAP), James Meyer (CEO, SiriusXM Satellite Radio), Michael O’Neill (President/CEO, BMI) and Neil Portnow (President/CEO, The Recording Academy), to name a few.

As always with new legislation, the devil is in the details…  Notably absent from the list is any say from high powered musicians and/or writers (the true creators and copyright owners).  While there are some increases in the amount of royalty payments alluded to, it seems that it’s the associations themselves and/or corporate entities that look to gain the most out of any expanded monetary streams and additional legislation.  It seems that the legislation paves the way for easier copyright infringement, via “safe harbor” from copyright lawsuits regarding statutory damages from 2018 forward.  It also allows for more publisher control over copyright revenue distribution, which again is not necessarily in favor of the artist/creator.

If you are an interested party, the best thing to do is to make your voice heard.  There are plenty of working phone numbers in the (202) area code that should be rung to vocalize the views of the regular average Joe songwriter like you and me.  We are already fighting an uphill battle with regard to royalty collection, so your opinions are extremely important.  Remember, there are a lot more of us in the fight than you might think, and we are the ones who actually create this stuff.  Stay engaged!