News

Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, today introduced the “Songwriter Equity Act.”

We welcome Congress’ review of the laws governing music licensing, and whether those laws written long ago still work in the context of today’s dynamic music marketplace. It has become increasingly clear that music copyright law has fabricated inappropriate distinctions in the rights enjoyed by creators, resulting in anomalies and inequities. The bill introduced deals with some of the interconnected pieces of music licensing reform, and other issues are also important, such as ensuring that all creators are paid fair market value for their music, regardless of platform; payment for pre-72 works; performance rights for airplay; and improvements in the system for mechanical licensing. We look forward to working with Congress, our music community colleagues and our distribution partners toward meaningful reform that benefits consumers and creators alike.

Jonathan Lamy
Executive Vice President, Communications and Strategic Data Analysis
RIAA