Tag Archives: federal arts

Legislative Update

Performers Hit Capitol Hill in Support of Performance Rights

The introduction in US Congress of H.R. 1733, the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015, by Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Marsha Blackburn established a new benchmark in the protection of rights for creators whose sound recordings are performed on AM/FM terrestrial radio without a performance right. As a member of the musicFIRST Coalition, the AFM worked tirelessly with nationally recognized performance rights organizations to help ensure the introduction and passage of this legislation. 

Thousands of artists, including AFM featured artists and backup musicians, will reap the benefit of this legislation, as will performers on pre-1972 recordings that were not protected under copyright. Thus far, the Fair Play Fair Pay Act has the support of such luminaries as Elton John of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA), REM of Local 148-462 (Atlanta, GA), Chuck D., Annie Lennox, Imogen Heap, tUnE-yArDs and Sheila E. of Local 47, as well as thousands of artists and fans around the world.

On behalf of the AFM, International Executive Board member and Local 257 (Nashville, TN) President Dave Pomeroy addresses a press conference hosted by Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Marsha Blackburn in support of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act.

On behalf of the AFM, International Executive Board member and Local 257 (Nashville, TN) President Dave Pomeroy addresses a press conference hosted by Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Marsha Blackburn in support of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act.

On May 11, social media was ablaze from outreach by musicFIRST and the AFM to the creative community. More than 40 artists flew in to the nation’s capital to advocate their support of this vital piece of legislation before members of Congress. The group broke into teams visiting almost 50 congressional offices. Some of the industry’s leading featured and session musicians came, including T Bone Burnett of Local 47, AFM International Executive Board member and
Local 257 (Nashville, TN) President Dave Pomeroy, Rosanne Cash and Tom Malone of Local 802 (New York City), Patrick Lamb of Local 99 (Portland, OR), Bruce Bouton and Rodney Crowell of Local 257, and Nona Hendryx. Each brought their own unique perspective representing more than 300 years of combined experience in the music industry. 

Representatives Nadler and Blackburn hosted a press event and led the press conference. We were fortunate to also have House Judiciary Ranking Member Representative John Conyers, the “Dean” of the House of Representatives, along with Representative Darrell Issa on hand to support the event. Issa is the chair of the House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. As chair, his support will go a long way toward passage of the bill when Congress takes up copyright reform next year. 

After a full day of lobbying, musicFIRST presented the Americana Music Association’s annual awards nominees announcement ceremony at “The Mansion” on O Street, honoring rising recording artists from across the country.

Support of this bill is critical to our members who create new music and look forward to their product supporting their careers. We are extremely happy to have this legislation in place to help AFM members. We encourage each of our members to write their members of Congress and voice their support for this legislation and to thank those AFM members and leaders who have worked to have resolutions introduced in their local jurisdictions. As AFM President Ray Hair continues to note: “Together we are stronger.”

Legislative Update

AFM Solidifies Federal Arts Relationships

On August 25, AFM International President Ray Hair traveled to Washington, DC, to strengthen our ties with federal arts leaders. This full day of activity ended with solid gains in our relationships with two of our nation’s most historic and highly valued arts agencies.

National Endowment for the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Dr. Jane Chu graciously hosted a meeting with AFM President Ray Hair and myself

to discuss how the AFM and the NEA can work together moving the endowment’s agenda. Chu, who is an accomplished pianist, studied music growing up. She eventually received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance and music education from Ouachita Baptist University, as well as master’s degrees in music and piano pedagogy from Southern Methodist University. Chu also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Rockhurst University and a

L to R) NEA Chair Jane Chu, AFM President Ray Hair, AFM Legislative Director Alfonso Pollard, and NEA Music & Opera Director Ann Meier Baker at NEA headquarters in Washington, DC.

L to R) NEA Chair Jane Chu, AFM President Ray Hair, AFM Legislative Director Alfonso Pollard, and NEA Music & Opera Director Ann Meier Baker at NEA headquarters in Washington, DC.

PhD in philanthropic studies from Indiana University.

Our meeting was also attended by National Endowment for the Arts Music & Opera Director Ann Meier, who is an accomplished vocalist, with a long list of outstanding vocal and administrative credits. After some discussion between Hair and Chu about their undergraduate and graduate studies in the North Texas area, the conversation shifted to NEA programs and how these programs support a broad range of community arts and professional organizations that help support the careers of AFM musicians. Chu also gave a quick overview of her newest initiative “Creativity Connects,” which will examine how the arts are central to the nation’s “creativity ecosystem” and investigate how support systems for the arts have changed. The project also will explore how the arts connect with other industries.

In addition, the NEA celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year and Chu extended a personal invitation to Hair to encourage AFM members to participate in the agency’s “Tell Us Your Story” project. The goal is to gather stories about how the arts have influenced your life. The link to the project is http://arts.gov/tell-us-your-story. Hair strongly encourages all AFM members to visit the site and leave powerful stories about themselves and their artistic lives. We feel that AFM members have some of the most compelling stories in the industry. Take a moment to reveal yourselves.

Smithsonian Museum

(L to R) Curator of American Music John Edward Hasse with AFM President Ray Hair and AFM Legislative Director Alfonso Pollard at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

(L to R) Curator of American Music John Edward Hasse with AFM President Ray Hair and AFM Legislative Director Alfonso Pollard at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Later in the day, Hair followed up on a special invitation from Dr. John Edward Hasse, curator of American music at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. For decades, Hasse has interacted with the AFM and with AFM musicians, especially in the Washington, DC, area. His unique invitation included a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum with an eye toward partnering with the AFM to possibly acquire historic union documentation that outlines professional work by some of America’s greatest artists and prominent AFM members.

Aside from sharing background about some of the museum’s most precious musical artifacts, we visited locations within the museum that are being developed as new performance sites. However, one of the most important aspects of the visit included a discussion about how the Smithsonian can partner with the AFM to acquire relevant performance artifacts of the most renowned AFM members, past and present.

This is an exciting project and Hair has promised to work with Hasse on possibilities. AFM members with ideas must first contact Hair or myself. Of course, these artifacts will involve only materials of the highest value and quality and there is no guarantee of acceptance of every idea. However, your thoughts are always welcome. Feel free to reach out to our office.