Rep. Collins Expects Unanimous Support for House Music Copyright Bill
Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., author of music copyright legislation that passed the Senate Tuesday (see 1809180057), anticipates the bill will get unanimous support in the House, his aide told us Wednesday. “We expect the House to greet the amended bill with the same support that has already seen it through both chambers with unanimous votes.”
After the bill passed Tuesday, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., an original co-sponsor, said senators were in “close touch” with House lawmakers throughout the approval process, and he hopes the Senate version will pass the House next week. Collins said in a statement Tuesday he's hopeful for House passage “before the next recess.”
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the Senate version’s author, called it a “very important bill,” and people will realize how important once the law is in effect because it will allow musicians to be treated “properly.” Alexander called it the most important piece of legislation in a generation for allowing songwriters and musicians to be paid fairly. He introduced an amendment renaming the bill the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act.
Public Knowledge, which sided with Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in opposing the Classics portion, welcomed passage of the bill, which included a major amendment from Wyden and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. Bringing pre-1972 sound recordings under federal law provides “legal clarity and certainty to users, delivery services, rights holders and artists alike,” PK Policy Counsel Meredith Rose said.
The final Senate version also included an agreement among SiriusXM, Azoff Music Management, RIAA and the National Music Publishers Association. SiriusXM was one of the last groups opposing the bill. According to the groups’ announcement, the deal codifies “that artists will receive 50 [percent] of performance royalties from SiriusXM for pre-1972 sound recordings” and affirms an “existing sound recording royalty rate for satellite radio will remain in place unchanged until 2027, an additional five year period.” SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer said the company was “delighted” to reach agreement and help pass the bill.
Nashville Songwriters Association International Executive Director Bart Herbison told us it wouldn’t be characteristic of the Music Modernization Act if there aren’t additional hurdles in the House, but he’s optimistic about passage. “This was a long and complex process but ultimately the music industry has come out stronger and more united than ever,” NMPA CEO David Israelite said. Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid said the bill brings the music licensing system “into the digital age, ensuring that music creators across the industry will get paid more equitably for their hard work and creativity.”
“We urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass the Senate bill, so the President can sign it into law and music creators can begin to see the benefits of this critical reform,” ASCAP board Chairman Paul Williams said. NAB CEO Gordon Smith drew attention to a Senate provision “ensuring enhanced congressional review of any DOJ changes to ASCAP and BMI consent decrees” (see 1807060023). “These decrees are essential to a functioning music marketplace, and any action to terminate them will now be preceded by appropriate Congressional oversight to protect the interests of songwriters, licensees, and consumers of music,” he said.