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It's all part of ASCAP's plan to help push through The Songwriter Equity Act which will be introduced in the Senate. ASCAP artists and composers have been up on Capitol Hill using their star power to lobby lawmakers to approve new legislation. This bill, which might impact what you pay to play music online, is aimed at digital rebroadcasts of music and sponsors of the bill say it will "amend two outdated portions of the U.S. Copyright Act and level the playing field for songwriters, composers and publishers seeking fair compensation for their work.
On Monday, at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe today, Senators Lamar Alexander (TN ? R), Bob Corker (TN ? R) and Orrin Hatch (UT ? R) were entertained by ASCAP songwriter Rivers Rutherford. Rutherford said, "The irony of the digital age is it?s getting harder and harder to make a living as a songwriter, even though our music is being heard by more people in more places than ever before. Songwriters today aren?t being fairly compensated for our work, but this bill would help level the playing field at a time when we really need it."
The legislation (READ IT HERE) asks for a "rate court" to consider other royalty rates as evidence when establishing digital performance rates for songwriters and composers, and it would adapt a "fair rate standard for reproduction (mechanical licenses)." The House version of the Songwriter Equity Act, H.R. 4079, was introduced by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) in February.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams said, "American music is the most popular music in the world. The men and women who create it deserve to earn fair payment for their craft. The time has come to modernize the music licensing system in a way that allows them to thrive alongside the businesses that revolve around their music. Senators Alexander, Corker and Hatch should be commended for introducing the Songwriter Equity Act. In joining Representative Doug Collins in this effort, they have proven themselves to be true champions of music creators.?
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