Grammy’s on the Hill & Advocacy Day in Washington DC - Net Netrality
2011:
January 26, 2011: GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins came to Washington, D.C., for a GRAMMYs on the Hill Musical Briefing. The briefing, the first music event in the new Congress, helped introduce The Recording Academy’s Advocacy program to new legislators and their staff, welcomed back old friends, and relaunched the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus.
Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), and Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) were on hand to help discuss the importance of pro-music legislative policy and to thank The Recording Academy for its work advancing creators’ rights.
Addressing the standing-room-only crowd, Loggins spoke about the role of music in his life and the importance of music education, and performed several of his hits. Media reporting on Capitol Hill widely covered the event. It was a great start to the new Congress and important for The Academy’s message to be first “on the ground” in Washington.
April 4, 2011: The first-ever recording session of the GRAMMY Congressional Band took place at Sirius XM Radio’s studios in Washington, D.C., featuring Reps. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.), vocals/guitar; Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), keyboards; Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), drums; and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), backing vocals/percussion. The band was joined by top producers and Academy Trustees Darrell Brown, Mike Clink and James McKinney. The final produced track was premiered at GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards to help demonstrate the role of the producer.
April 13, 2011: Eight-time GRAMMY-winning artist Don Henley is presented with the inaugural Recording Artists’ Coalition Award at the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards.
June 27, 2011: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law that banned sales of violent video games to minors.
The video game law was first passed by the California State Legislature in 2005. It would have imposed a $1,000 fine on those who sold or rented a violent video game to someone under 18. Because the standard was vague, and the video game industry has a highly effective rating system in place, the law was overturned in 2007 on appeal. In November 2010 the Supreme Court heard arguments on the case, and last month agreed, 7–2, that the law should be overturned.
Because of mentions of “textual violence,” The Recording Academy has been active on this issue given potential implications to song lyrics and joined the filing of an amicus brief with other First Amendment groups.
July 26, 2011: The first-ever advocacy day for record producers results in meetings with leading legislators and a standing-room-only panel discussion by the hit makers. The day is the culmination of a yearlong initiative to raise the Capitol Hill profile of record producers that included a GRAMMY Industry Roundtable in Los Angeles and a recording session in Washington, D.C., with leading producers and performances provided by musically talented members of Congress.
The 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill was to support and cosponsor the Performance Rights Act, HR 848 in the House and S. 379 in the Senate. If your Representative or Senator(s) are already in support of this important and vital legislation then ask them to urge for its passage. GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards on April 14 (2011) in Washington DC, began with the cocktail buffet, followed by the awards ceremony and performance (Garth Brooks) at the Liaison Hotel at 415 New Jersey Ave, NW. For the April 15 Advocacy Day, agenda included remarks by The Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a comprehensive issues briefing he Capitol Visitors Center to prepare for our lobbying visits and remarks by a special guest representing the Obama administration. Also a “musical briefing” about wireless concert technology featuring Nashville group Jypsi and nearly 75 breakout meetings with congressional offices.
(Outcome: Obama Administration Supports The Performance Rights Act
Cameron Kerry, the general counsel of the Department of Commerce, sent a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-La.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressing the department’s support for the bill. The letter noted the department had urged lawmakers several times since the 1970s to create a public performance right for sound recordings. In addition, Kerry wrote that extending the performance right for sound recordings “would provide a level playing field for all broadcasters to compete in the current environment of rapid technological change, including the Internet, satellite and terrestrial broadcasters.”
April 1, 2010)
The 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill events marked the largest-ever music advocacy presence in Washington, D.C., with nearly 400 people attending the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards ceremony honoring Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and GRAMMY-winning musician Garth Brooks. The following day, another record number of music people attended the GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day. Nearly 250 Academy members gathered on Capitol Hill to hear remarks by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Kalpen Modi, associate director of the White House office of Public Engagement, and to lobby members of Congress and staff.
2010:
April 14, 2010: Longtime supporter of artists’ rights Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) signs on as co-sponsor of the Performance Rights Act hours before accepting his GRAMMYs on the Hill Award. Senate Majority Whip Durbin is the number two leader in the U.S. Senate.
April 15, 2010: While delivering her remarks at the 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed her support for the Performance Right Act for the first time in a public statement. Pelosi said, “In coming to Congress today, you are sending a message too often lost outside the recording studio, in the political debate, or on the airwaves — that ideas, music and imagination are as valuable as any material invention. And artists deserve to be compensated for their work and rewarded for their contributions to our economy and our culture.”
June 24, 2010: The Recording Academy, in partnership with the American Association of Independent Music, coordinated Indie Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on June 24. The lobby day, a follow-up to a GRAMMY Industry Roundtable in Los Angeles in January during GRAMMY Week, organized a delegation of 10 independent music leaders for a full day of introductory and fact-finding meetings. During meetings with Congress, the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the group explored ways U.S. independent labels and artists can increase exports without the international footprint enjoyed by the majors.
September 17, 2010: The Recording Academy, along with other groups opposed to government censorship, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, et al., Petitioners v. Entertainment Merchants Association, et al. on Sept. 17. The Academy joined a broad group of organizations, including the Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Freedom to Read Foundation, and other music organizations, including the National Association of Recording Merchandisers.
September 23, 2010: Following three years of advocacy, Academy members secured a victory on Sept. 23 when the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to protect wireless microphones in its reallocation of the “white spaces” of wireless spectrum. The order creates two dedicated channels in every market for the microphone uses and a national database that will allow wireless microphone users to register should they need more frequency. The Producers & Engineers Wing and Recording Academy’s Advocacy & Government Relations office have been active on this issue since July 2007. Since then, the Wing and Advocacy office have lobbied Congress on the issue and filed documents with the FCC at crucial decision points. The campaign reached a peak in April when 250 Academy members from across the country came to Washington to lobby on the issue during GRAMMYs on the Hill.
October 25, 2010: After nearly a year of negotiations and congressional outreach, broadcast leadership for the first time in history voted in favor of a proposal that that would have radio pay artists for using their work. The National Association of Broadcasters’ board of directors approved a term sheet that includes the royalty payment on Oct. 25. The musicFIRST Coalition, co-founded by The Recording Academy, officially rejected the terms, noting that it was a unilateral rewrite of the deal both parties struck after seven months of negotiations. However, the coalition recognized the significance of the vote, as did the radio trades with headlines including, “NAB Ready To Pay The Piper,” “Radio Board Agrees To Pay Performers For Music,” and “Broadcasters Prepared To Show Music Biz The Money.”
Advocacy
- GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day gives music professionals the opportunity to meet with national leaders in Washington. The GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards, held the preceding evening, honor a senator, representative and music creator
- Partnership with the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus, which provides The Academy and caucus members with discussions, demonstrations and other events allowing opportunities for creators and legislators to learn from each other and jointly address the needs of the music community
Education
- Capitol Tracks, a regular publication for members of Congress, cultural stakeholders and Academy members
- The GRAMMY Town Hall, providing high-level panels that serve as an open forum for music professionals to address, hear from and question national political leaders
Dialogue
- The GRAMMY Industry Roundtable
- Music Leaders Retreat, co-hosted by Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, giving the leaders of every major music association an opportunity to jointly address community issues in a closed-door working session
Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the 2007 GRAMMYs on the Hill event
Photo: Douglas A. Sonders/WireImage.com
As advocacy continues to be a priority of The Recording Academy, music professionals are invited to be part of the fight for creat
Advocacy Documents
In 1998 The Recording Academy established an office in the nation’s capital, seeking to amplify the voice of music creators in national policy matters. Today, called the “supersized musicians lobby” by Congressional Quarterly, The Academy’s Advocacy & Government Relations office in Washington, D.C., is the leading representative of the collective world of recording professionals — artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers — through its GRAMMYs on the Hill Initiative.
Letter to Congressional Supercommittee
Academy Files Amicus Brief Opposing Video Game Censorship
The Recording Academy, along with other groups opposed to government censorship, filed an amicus brief in Supreme Court case of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, et al., Petitioners v. Entertainment Merchants Association, et al. The court heard arguments on Nov. 2 about a California law, which was overturned on appeal in 2007, that would allow the state to restrict the sales of video games on a vague basis that the games harm the ethical or moral development of minors.
Sept. 17, 2010
Obama Administration Supports The Performance Rights Act
Cameron Kerry, the general counsel of the Department of Commerce, sent a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-La.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressing the department’s support for the bill. The letter noted the department had urged lawmakers several times since the 1970s to create a public performance right for sound recordings. In addition, Kerry wrote that extending the performance right for sound recordings “would provide a level playing field for all broadcasters to compete in the current environment of rapid technological change, including the Internet, satellite and terrestrial broadcasters.”
April 1, 2010
The Recording Academy’s Letter To The FCC
The Recording Academy submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission in response to its “Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking” report addressing the use of wireless microphones.
March 1, 2010
musicFIRST Coalition Advertisement
The musicFIRST Coalition ran a print advertisement in several Washington, D.C., publications.
Feb. 23, 1010
musicFIRST Coalition Letter To Congress
The musicFIRST Coalition sent a letter regarding the Performance Rights Act to Congress urging them to pass the bill.
Feb. 18, 2010
AFL-CIO/NAACP Letter In Roll Call
A letter supporting the Performance Rights Act appeared in Roll Call, signed by leading African-American and Latino civil rights groups as well as the AFL-CIO, AFM and AFTRA.
Dec. 7, 2009
Rep. Conyers And Sen. Leahy Call For Performance Rights Act Negotiations
Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) sent a letter to the National Association of Broadcasters calling for negotiations on the Performance Rights Act.
Oct. 30, 2009
Pol Position
editorial by Shelia E. and Alice Peacock regarding the Performance Rights Act
Billboard — Sept. 5, 2009
Sheila E.’s Senate Judiciary Hearing Testimony
Aug. 4, 2009
A Fair Reward For Radio Artists
letter from Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow and AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts-Hedgepeth
The Washington Post — June 26, 2009
Amicus Brief In ASCAP Case
The Recording Academy and other groups representing songwriters filed this document in support of performance royalties for audio-visual downloads
June 17, 2009
Interview With The Recording Academy’s Daryl Friedman
Electronic Musician — Aug. 2007
MGM v. Grokster
Brief
June 27, 2005
Advocacy Milestones
1999:
The Recording Academy opens an office in Washington, DC.
2000:
Academy President testifies before Congress on “Work for Hire” issue, asking for repeal of anti-artist legislation. Bill repealed later that year.
2003:
Recording Academy part of coalition that transitioned SoundExchange into an independent non-profit collective for artists and labels. Arrangement calls for direct payment to artists and Recording Academy representation on SoundExchange board.
2004:
Academy’s Advocacy magazine Capitol Tracks launched.
First GRAMMY Industry Roundtable held to discuss industry issues. Academy President Neil Portnow, GRAMMY winner Dave Matthews, GRAMMY winner Jimmy Jam, musician Brian McKnight, and leading business executives attend discussion. This event begins ongoing collaborative dialogue between industry creators and executives.
2005:
Academy works with U.S. House of Representatives to form Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus. The Caucus seeks to advance the rights of musicians, songwriters, singers, producers and other recording professionals by raising awareness of creators’ rights in the U.S. Congress.
First GRAMMY Town Hall held. Nashville event includes Reps. Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and GRAMMY winner Clint Black. Gives Academy members opportunity to learn from and interact with leading artists and Members of Congress.
Advocacy Action @ GRAMMY.com launched. Website site allows Academy members to contact Congress about important music issues.
Academy launches annual Recording Arts Day on Capitol Hill. First-ever industry-wide advocacy day in Washington attended by every sector of music industry and its creators.
Neil Portnow hosts first Music Leaders Retreat to bring top officers of different sectors of music community together to address issues facing the industry.
Academy leads artists amicus brief filed before U.S. Supreme Court in advance of criticalMGM vs Grokster decision victory.
2006:
GRAMMY Industry Roundtable on education helps yield record $105 million dollar increase for arts in California schools.
Academy sets up recording studio on Capitol Hill. Kelly Clarkson demonstrates recording process for Congressional audience, and educates them about the roles of each creator in making a record.
Recording Academy presents GRAMMY Award to Senator Barack Obama on Capitol Hill. Senator Obama won the GRAMMY for Best Spoken Word Album for his 2005 recording of Dreams From My Father.
After letter-writing campaign by Academy members, Congress removed the “artist fine” provision in the Broadcast Decency Legislation. Legislation had originally raised fines to artists to $500,000 for lyrics or other free expression that may have been deemed “indecent.” Final version of the bill raised fines for broadcasters (not artists) only.
2007:
On the day of the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards, The Academy holds a GRAMMY Industry Roundtable in Los Angeles with leading legislators, Congressional staff, and music community leaders to discuss a campaign for the creation of a performance royalty for sound recordings played on terrestrial radio. From this discussion, the strategy for the musicFIRST Coalition evolves.
Academy calls for “truce” in Music/Technology “war” and convenes high level Music/Technology Summit at Skywalker Ranch in California.
Launch of the musicFIRST Coalition on performance right issue on behalf of the thousands of recording artists that have been shut out of fair royalties when their music is played on over-the-air radio. Recording Academy secures Judy Collins, Sam Moore, Lyle Lovett and Recording Academy Chicago Chapter Board President Alice Peacock to testify before Congress about the issue.
Congress passes “GRAMMY Bill” House Concurrent Resolution 273. The bi-partisan resolution with more than 60 co-sponsors passed the House and Senate unanimously. The resolution recognized the achievements of The Recording Academy on its 50th anniversary.
2008:
GRAMMYs on the Hill Gospel Brunch is held on Capitol Hill to highlight the contributions of gospel music and urge passage of Gospel Music Heritage Month (which passed a week later).
GRAMMYs Rock the Conventions brings the message of music to the Democratic National Convention (Denver) and Republican National Convention (St. Paul). Daughtry, Everclear, and The Flobots headline the Denver event, while songwriters Alice Peacock, Joe Nichols, Brett James, and Jennifer Hanson performed in St. Paul.
Performance Rights Bill, championed by The Academy, passes out of House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property.
Recording Academy launches “Advocacy Amplified,” a grassroots initiative to create meetings with Academy members and their legislators in the lawmakers’ home offices.
2009:
Recording Academy and Recording Artists’ Coalition announce historic alliance to join forces in the advancement of music creators’ rights.
February 7, 2009: GRAMMY Town Hall in Los Angeles. The event was attended by Reps. Marsha Blackbun (R-TN), John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) as well as more than 300 members of the Recording Academy and music community.
March 3, 2009: MusicFirst Advocacy Day was held, as more than 40 Recording Academy members came to Washington for a day of grassroots advocacy. Academy members were divided into groups and spent the day visiting key members of Congress and legislative staff.
May 13, 2009: HR 848, the Performance Rights Act passes out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 21-9.
June 2009: Recording Academy and SoundExchange conclude discussions for streamlining digital broadcast performance royalties to producers. The discussions resulted in new procedures for ensuring efficient and accurate payment of royalties owed to producers through their contracts with artists.
August 2009: Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Governor and GRAMMY-nominated musician Sheila E. testified in favor of terrestrial radio royalties for artists at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Aug. 4. In addition to Sheila E., those who spoke on behalf of the musicFIRST Coalition included Bob Kimball, executive vice president, RealNetworks; Marian Leighton-Levy, co-founder, Rounder Records; Steve Newberry, joint board chairman, National Association of Broadcasters and president and CEO, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation; Ralph Oman, adjunct professor, the George Washington University Law School; and James L. Winston, executive director and general counsel, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.
October 2009: The Performance Rights Act passes out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
2010:
April 14, 2010: Longtime supporter of artists’ rights Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) signs on as co-sponsor of the Performance Rights Act hours before accepting his GRAMMYs on the Hill Award. Senate Majority Whip Durbin is the number two leader in the U.S. Senate.
April 15, 2010: While delivering her remarks at the 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed her support for the Performance Right Act for the first time in a public statement. Pelosi said, “In coming to Congress today, you are sending a message too often lost outside the recording studio, in the political debate, or on the airwaves — that ideas, music and imagination are as valuable as any material invention. And artists deserve to be compensated for their work and rewarded for their contributions to our economy and our culture.”
June 24, 2010: The Recording Academy, in partnership with the American Association of Independent Music, coordinated Indie Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on June 24. The lobby day, a follow-up to a GRAMMY Industry Roundtable in Los Angeles in January during GRAMMY Week, organized a delegation of 10 independent music leaders for a full day of introductory and fact-finding meetings. During meetings with Congress, the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the U.S. Small Business Administration, the group explored ways U.S. independent labels and artists can increase exports without the international footprint enjoyed by the majors.
September 17, 2010: The Recording Academy, along with other groups opposed to government censorship, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, et al., Petitioners v. Entertainment Merchants Association, et al. on Sept. 17. The Academy joined a broad group of organizations, including the Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Freedom to Read Foundation, and other music organizations, including the National Association of Recording Merchandisers.
September 23, 2010: Following three years of advocacy, Academy members secured a victory on Sept. 23 when the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to protect wireless microphones in its reallocation of the “white spaces” of wireless spectrum. The order creates two dedicated channels in every market for the microphone uses and a national database that will allow wireless microphone users to register should they need more frequency. The Producers & Engineers Wing and Recording Academy’s Advocacy & Government Relations office have been active on this issue since July 2007. Since then, the Wing and Advocacy office have lobbied Congress on the issue and filed documents with the FCC at crucial decision points. The campaign reached a peak in April when 250 Academy members from across the country came to Washington to lobby on the issue during GRAMMYs on the Hill.
October 25, 2010: After nearly a year of negotiations and congressional outreach, broadcast leadership for the first time in history voted in favor of a proposal that that would have radio pay artists for using their work. The National Association of Broadcasters’ board of directors approved a term sheet that includes the royalty payment on Oct. 25. The musicFIRST Coalition, co-founded by The Recording Academy, officially rejected the terms, noting that it was a unilateral rewrite of the deal both parties struck after seven months of negotiations. However, the coalition recognized the significance of the vote, as did the radio trades with headlines including, “NAB Ready To Pay The Piper,” “Radio Board Agrees To Pay Performers For Music,” and “Broadcasters Prepared To Show Music Biz The Money.”
2011:
January 26, 2011: GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins came to Washington, D.C., for a GRAMMYs on the Hill Musical Briefing. The briefing, the first music event in the new Congress, helped introduce The Recording Academy’s Advocacy program to new legislators and their staff, welcomed back old friends, and relaunched the Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus.
Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), and Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) were on hand to help discuss the importance of pro-music legislative policy and to thank The Recording Academy for its work advancing creators’ rights.
Addressing the standing-room-only crowd, Loggins spoke about the role of music in his life and the importance of music education, and performed several of his hits. Media reporting on Capitol Hill widely covered the event. It was a great start to the new Congress and important for The Academy’s message to be first “on the ground” in Washington.
April 4, 2011: The first-ever recording session of the GRAMMY Congressional Band took place at Sirius XM Radio’s studios in Washington, D.C., featuring Reps. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.), vocals/guitar; Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), keyboards; Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), drums; and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), backing vocals/percussion. The band was joined by top producers and Academy Trustees Darrell Brown, Mike Clink and James McKinney. The final produced track was premiered at GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards to help demonstrate the role of the producer.
April 13, 2011: Eight-time GRAMMY-winning artist Don Henley is presented with the inaugural Recording Artists’ Coalition Award at the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards.
June 27, 2011: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California law that banned sales of violent video games to minors.
The video game law was first passed by the California State Legislature in 2005. It would have imposed a $1,000 fine on those who sold or rented a violent video game to someone under 18. Because the standard was vague, and the video game industry has a highly effective rating system in place, the law was overturned in 2007 on appeal. In November 2010 the Supreme Court heard arguments on the case, and last month agreed, 7–2, that the law should be overturned.
Because of mentions of “textual violence,” The Recording Academy has been active on this issue given potential implications to song lyrics and joined the filing of an amicus brief with other First Amendment groups.
July 26, 2011: The first-ever advocacy day for record producers results in meetings with leading legislators and a standing-room-only panel discussion by the hit makers. The day is the culmination of a yearlong initiative to raise the Capitol Hill profile of record producers that included a GRAMMY Industry Roundtable in Los Angeles and a recording session in Washington, D.C., with leading producers and performances provided by musically talented members of Congress.
2012:
January 2012: The Recording Academy adds another in-house lobbyist to expand its reach on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across the country.
