The Foundation of Advocacy Is Relationship Building

October 1, 2024

Ben Kessler  -  Ben Kessler, AFM Director of Government Affairs

It is my pleasure writing this column on my first official day as AFM director of government affairs. I am thrilled to serve under the leadership of AFM President Tino Gagliardi. I believe that lobbying is, at its best, good storytelling. While advocating for the AFM’s interests before lawmakers and government officials, I will be telling the stories of your work and why it is essential.

Most recently, I was director of congressional affairs at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). One of NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson’s guiding principles is the idea of artful lives. It is the concept that for a democratic society to truly flourish, all people should have the opportunity to participate in the arts—to make, teach, and engage with the arts. Only then, are we able to reach our full potential. In short, your work allows us to thrive. I promise that I will keep that in mind every day on the job.

I use “your” and “us” purposefully. I have no musical talent of my own. From the days of my brown Fisher-Price cassette player, I have been an appreciator. Raised on movie musicals and Motown on the radio, I set out on a path that has led me to a dream job at the AFM.

When I travel, I get to know my host city or town by visiting its record stores. Before becoming a dad, I would typically see more than 300 concerts a year. The 9:30 Club, here in DC, once had me flagged as a potential scalper based on the volume of tickets I was purchasing. Getting to be your voice on Capitol Hill and throughout the federal government is the job for which I have been waiting.

My professional background is in public service and federal government advocacy. Eventually, it hit me. What if I could combine my love for music and my professional expertise in government?

I sought out conversations with people who were working at the intersection of policy and music. Those talks led me to law school with a specific focus on copyright. I learned from those who fundamentally disagreed with everything I thought about intellectual property. And I can’t imagine a better education to prepare me for this moment.

And the moment has nothing to do with my starting at the AFM. It is about your work. You have seen the countless legislative proposals. From artificial intelligence and copyright to tax and ticketing, Congress and the Biden administration are working on policies affecting our industry. You deserve to have your voices heard. And I am honored to work to ensure that you do.

I know there is a tremendous amount we will accomplish together. Support for artists and federal arts funding is a bipartisan issue garnering support with members of Congress from across the country. Among our strengths is our geographic diversity.

Policymakers will want to know the issues. But first and foremost, they will want to know what is happening back home. In other words, why these issues matter to their constituents. That means I will not be able to do my job without hearing from you on what matters most.

My approach to advocacy is about relationship building. And at the foundation of all good professional relationships is trust. If I am doing my job well, no congressional staffer will work on music policy without checking in with us along the way. They will want to hear what the AFM has to say because they will trust that we are speaking honestly on behalf of our more than 70,000 members. And at the same time, you, the AFM members, will trust me with your stories and to be a resource when you have questions on what’s happening in Washington.

Together, I know we can make a real difference for musicians. Our work will benefit artists, arts workers, and all communities. By the time this is published, there will be a lot more to report and, I hope, progress to share. But for now, I am very much looking forward to working with and—most importantly—learning from all of you.

---