Skip to main content
 
  • Recording Academy
  • GRAMMYs
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
Advocacy
  • Advocacy
  • Awards
  • Membership
  • GRAMMYs
  • News
  • Governance
  • Jobs
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Login
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
  • More
    • Governance
    • Jobs
    • Press Room
    • Events
    • MusiCares
    • GRAMMY Museum
    • Latin GRAMMYs

The GRAMMYs

  • Awards
  • News
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • Awards
    • News
    • Recording Academy

Latin GRAMMYs

MusiCares

Advocacy

  • About
  • News
  • Issues & Policy
  • Act
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Issues & Policy
    • Act
    • Recording Academy

Membership

  • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
  • SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS WING
  • GRAMMY U
  • More
    • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
    • SONGWRITERS & COMPOSERS WING
    • GRAMMY U
Log In Join
  • SUBSCRIBE

See All Results
Modal Open
Subscribe Now

Subscribe to Newsletters

Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events. Privacy Policy
GRAMMY Museum
Membership

Join us on Social

  • Recording Academy
    • The Recording Academy: Facebook
    • The Recording Academy: Twitter
    • The Recording Academy: Instagram
    • The Recording Academy: YouTube
  • GRAMMYs
    • GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • Latin GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • GRAMMY Museum: Facebook
    • GRAMMY Museum: Twitter
    • GRAMMY Museum: Instagram
    • GRAMMY Museum: YouTube
  • MusiCares
    • MusiCares: Facebook
    • MusiCares: Twitter
    • MusiCares: Instagram
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy: Facebook
    • Advocacy: Twitter
  • Membership
    • Membership: Facebook
    • Membership: Twitter
    • Membership: Instagram
    • Membership: Youtube
U.S. Capitol Building

U.S. Capitol Building

Photo: Hisham Ibrahim via Getty Images

News
Four Questions For Summer Legislative Season fight-music-makers-rights-continues-summer-four-key-questions-busy-legislative-season

The Fight For Music Maker's Rights Continues This Summer: Four Key Questions For A Busy Legislative Season

Facebook Twitter Email
As another active summer of legislation looms, here are four questions the Recording Academy's Advocacy team would like to pose for those engaged in the fight for music maker's rights.
Morgan Enos
Advocacy
Jun 2, 2022 - 2:36 pm

This year's GRAMMYs On The Hill may be in the rearview, but does that mean the fight for music maker's rights is over for 2022? Absolutely not: it's only the beginning. So many bills, initiatives and legislative forces are in play, and the Recording Academy's Advocacy team is here to spell them out for you.

With a busy legislative summer on the horizon, here are four questions to pose for the fight ahead.

Could The PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act Pass?

The PEACE Act — or Promoting Peace, Education, And Cultural Exchange Through Music Diplomacy Act — authorizes music-related exchange programs facilitated by the Department of State.

Sponsored by 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill honorees Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), the bill would use music, and music-related global exchange programs, as a tool to build cross-cultural understanding and advance peace abroad.

Or, as worded in the bill text, "The bill authorizes the inclusion of coordination and consultation with the private sector in the participation by groups and individuals from other countries in nonprofit activities in the United States similar to certain artistic and sports activities when such participation is in the national interest."

Aligned with April's GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day, Reps. McCaul and Deutch wrote a "Dear Colleague" letter to their fellow members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act so that it may become law. In this letter, the bipartisan lawmakers outlined how important music is to international relations.

As they wrote, "music is a powerful tool that can be used to bridge divides and promote peace around the world," calling the medium "the universal language." Reps. McCaul and Deutch also stated that the bill would allow the Secretary of State to recognize musicians who have been effective in advancing peace abroad and highlighting the Recording Academy's support of the bill.

After GRAMMYs On The Hill, Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Tillis (R-NC) introduced a companion version of the bill in the Senate giving it the potential momentum it needs to become law. Click here for more information on how the Recording Academy advocates for the PEACE Act.

What's Next In The Fight For Fairness For All Music Makers?

Following the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the American Music Fairness Act last February, there is strong bipartisan support building in the House of Representatives. 

As the House Judiciary Democrats put it, "For decades big corporations that own thousands of radio stations in the U.S. have refused to pay performers when their music plays on AM/FM radio. It's time for American performers to receive compensation for their work, just like everyone else."

And as Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) expressed, "Music has the power to bring people together. Now, more than ever, as we continue to seek means of staying connected amid a global pandemic, people are turning to music to enjoy and to participate in a sense of social belonging."

For more supportive reactions to the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the American Music Fairness Act, click here.

Additionally, following GRAMMYs On The Hill and overall Academy efforts there's Senate interest building on the horizon for a companion bill to be introduced. Senate introduction would mark a big step in the fight for fairness and could prompt further action on the American Music Fairness Act this Congress.

Since its introduction last summer, 33 cosponsors have materialized for the American Music Fairness Act — the majority of which signed on shortly after meeting with Academy advocates during Behind the Record Advocacy day last fall.

Will California Voters Support Arts & Music Education?

A major theatre for the fight for the next generation of music creators is the Golden State. With the Academy's endorsement, the #VoteArtsAndMusic ballot campaign secured more than one million signatures and will appear on the November ballot. If approved by California's voters, hundreds of millions of dollars will be allocated toward PreK-12 arts and music education in schools across the state.

What it'll need is a state-wide push, which would come in the form of awareness and "get out the vote" efforts throughout the summer. Academy advocates will be on the front-lines building support.

Click here for more information on #VoteArtsAndMusic, here for insight on why the Recording Academy supports this campaign, and here for an L.A. Times article on how this initiative — if passed — would increase arts spending in California schools.

Will Policymakers In D.C. Continue To Show Support For All Creators?

From passing the HITS (Help Independent Tracks Succeed) Act in Congress to new CRB (Copyright Royalty Board)-set songwriter rates, to the opening of the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) on June 16, policymakers in D.C. have a golden opportunity to stand up for all creators this summer.

https://twitter.com/CopyrightOffice/status/1532347178831732742

Today, the Copyright Office announced that the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) will begin accepting claims on Thursday, June 16, 2022. https://t.co/Xoh7QRWAi4 #CASEAct pic.twitter.com/HFwS5pmMZV

— US Copyright Office (@CopyrightOffice) June 2, 2022

Click here for a recap of the Recording Academy's Songwriters & Composers (S&C) Wing Town Hall, an in-depth discussion of the state of songwriter royalties and changes on the horizon regarding how songwriters are compensated. And check back on RecordingAcademy.com/Advocacy for latest developments on the new CCB launch this month, and future movement for the HITS Act this summer.

With all of this in mind, let us gird ourselves for what will undoubtedly be an exciting and fruitful year — as the Academy continues its fight for all music people, all over the world.

How The 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards Brought Joy, Healing & Reverence For Music People

(L-R) Sen. Leahy, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam, Harvey Mason jr.

(L-R) Sen. Leahy, Harvey Mason jr., Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam

Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images

News
Why GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022 Was A Winner 20th-annual-grammys-on-the-hill-harvey-mason-jr-jimmy-jam-terry-lewis

The 20th Annual GRAMMYs On The Hill Is Already Proving Successful — And The PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act Is Proof

Facebook Twitter Email
The PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act directs the State Department to leverage partnerships with the private sector when designing and implementing its music-related exchange programs.
Montana Miller
Advocacy
May 26, 2022 - 1:21 pm

Earlier this year, H.R. 6498, the PEACE (Promoting Peace Education, and Cultural Exchange) Through Music Diplomacy Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by the 2022 GRAMMYs on the Hill Honorees, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), the bill would use music, and music-related global exchange programs, as a tool to build cross-cultural understanding, and advance peace abroad.

Specifically, the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act directs the State Department to leverage partnerships with the private sector when designing and implementing its music-related exchange programs. The bill also authorizes music-related exchanges that advance peace abroad.

Aligned with last month's GRAMMYs on the Hill advocacy day, Reps. McCaul and Deutch wrote a "Dear Colleague" letter to their fellow members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act so that it may become law. In this letter, the bipartisan lawmakers outlined how important music is to international relations.

As they wrote, "music is a powerful tool that can be used to bridge divides and promote peace around the world," calling the medium "the universal language." Reps. McCaul and Deutch continued, stating the bill would allow the Secretary of State to recognize musicians who have been effective in advancing peace abroad and highlighting the Recording Academy's support of the bill. 

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1525246885925036032

We're grateful to @SenatorLeahy and @SenThomTillis for introducing the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in the Senate.

Just two weeks ago at #GRAMMYsOnTheHill, we witnessed the ability of music to bring people together and build bridges. #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/82alOK4mRz

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) May 13, 2022

Their message was further amplified by music advocates who came to Washington D.C. to help advance the bill. Five-time GRAMMY winner Jimmy Jam, who, along with his collaborator Terry Lewis, was the artist honoree at GRAMMYs on the Hill, made a powerful statement.

"Music is bipartisan. I always look at it as a quilt: different colors, different ages, Democrats, Republicans, people that maybe don't even speak the same language around the world, but music is the universal language," he said. "As soon as you put a song on, you watch people's heads nod at the same time. … Music is the thing that brings us together."

The messaging and advocacy during GRAMMYs on the Hill for the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act have already begun to pay dividends. Less than two weeks after meeting with Recording Academy advocates, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a version of the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in the Senate (S.4195).

In a joint statement, Senators Leahy and Tillis recognized the Recording Academy's support of this bill and made statements on the importance of its passage. Tillis stated, "America's creative industries spread our values — freedom, liberty, justice, and hope — throughout the world. I'm proud to partner with my friend Senator Leahy to promote America's music industries and all the values we share and treasure with the people of the world. I look forward to working with our colleagues in the House to get this commonsense measure passed into law."

https://twitter.com/RepTedDeutch/status/1519843991671484417

As a musician and lover of the arts, I am proud to protect the rights of creators.⁰⁰After last night's celebration & today's meeting with @RecordingAcad, I'm even more determined to get the American Music Fairness Act and PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act passed. pic.twitter.com/PdY7kuFBsh

— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) April 29, 2022

 

Upon introduction in the Senate, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. issued a statement applauding the bipartisan efforts.

"The Recording Academy is grateful to Senators Leahy and Tillis for introducing the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act in the Senate. Just two weeks ago at GRAMMYs on the Hill, we witnessed the ability of music to bring people together and build bridges," he said. "This important legislation will ensure that music and music creators continue to play a key role in promoting peace and fostering connection around the world by strengthening cultural exchange programs at the State Department.  We look forward to working with the Senators and with our House sponsors to see the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act passed into law."

The Recording Academy will work to further advance the bipartisan and bicameral bill this summer with the ultimate goal of bringing it to President Biden's desk to become law.

How The 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards Brought Joy, Healing & Reverence For Music People

GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022 Group Photo

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

News
What Went Down At GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022 grammys-on-the-hill-washington-dc-2022-what-went-down-recap

What Went Down At GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022 In Washington, D.C.: Recap

Facebook Twitter Email
This month, GRAMMY winners and nominees took to Capitol Hill to defend creator’s rights. Here’s a look at who they met with and what they advocated for.
Montana Miller
Advocacy
May 6, 2022 - 8:52 am

On Thurs. April 28, the Recording Academy held its annual GRAMMYs On The Hill Advocacy Day, where GRAMMY Winners and Nominees went to our nation's capital to meet with nearly 40 members of Congress and staff to advocate for the rights of music creators.

The group consisted of more than 50 advocates including Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., actress and singer Sofia Carson, five-time GRAMMY winning duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and other major names in music such as Sean Paul, Cordae, Yolanda Adams, Jon Secada, Gramps Morgan, Nneena Freelon, Emily Bear, and gospel group Take 6.

While meeting with these lawmakers, the artists got a unique opportunity to share their stories and discuss how legislation can have a big impact on the music community with the people in charge of passing said legislation.

At the top of the agenda for GRAMMYs On The Hill was passing the Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act, building support for the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), advancing the PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act, and improving royalty rates for songwriters and composers.

Autumn Rowe, a recent GRAMMY Winner for Album of the Year for her work on Jon Batiste’s album We Are, kicked off the day by discussing these policies, and more, with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA). Rowe, a songwriter from the South Bronx, New York, talked about the difficulties of pursuing a career in music in the 21st century. She stated that most people can’t continue to try and make it in this industry because of the financial and mental demands, as well as the lack of opportunities for women, especially women of color.

Furthermore, she stressed the need to pass the aforementioned legislation that would help artists, songwriters, and producers achieve their goals within the music community.

The advocates went on to spread a similar message in dozens of meetings with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle such as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT),  Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-OH), Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Ken Buck (R-CO), and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), among others.

Advocates also got the chance to meet with, and further celebrate, the 2022 GRAMMYs on the Hill Honorees Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Rep. Michael McCaul (T-TX).

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1519739701099261958

Thanks to @SenStabenow and @RepMcCaul for meeting with us and supporting music creators! #GRAMMYsOnTheHill
📲 https://t.co/EEqzx4udGL #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/FKUBVoTWFz

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/OMMASDOTCOM/status/1520178771256647682

Thank you to the Honorable @RepLindaSanchez for giving @AutumnRoweMusic @QsTweetLife & myself your precious time, wisdom & support on behalf of @GRAMMYAdvocacy and the @RecordingAcad #GRAMMYsOnTheHill

📸: our very own @laura_messi pic.twitter.com/x3LJV4RJiW

— Om'Mas Keith (@OMMASDOTCOM) April 29, 2022

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1519742831853596672

We’re proud to meet with Rep. Jim Clyburn at #GRAMMYsOnTheHill Advocacy Day!
Join our efforts: https://t.co/EEqzx4udGL #SupportMusic @YolandaAdams @JamAndLewis @valeisha @ToddDupler pic.twitter.com/sqG0QMPfE0

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/SofiaCarson/status/1519909969184759808

Today, we joined the @RecordingAcad at Congress to protect and lift up the voices behind music. The music that is the soundtrack of our lives. So that all music creators, performers, and song writers have a voice and are heard (loudly) in DC. @GRAMMYAdvocacy #GrammysOnTheHill pic.twitter.com/S06SbLWJW2

— Sofia Carson (@SofiaCarson) April 29, 2022

https://twitter.com/RepJudyChu/status/1520222781601992708

What a joy to join #GrammysOntheHill this week at their annual advocacy day. I heard stories from incredible artists like @AutumnRoweMusic that made me even more determined for fight for creators everyday in Congress. #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/TdcT5lRMdI

— Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) April 30, 2022

https://twitter.com/OfficialNnenna/status/1521211272737570817

More moments from last week's GRAMMYs On The Hill! Discussing with Senator Cory Booker...#GRAMMYsOnTheHill #AdvocacyDay #nnennafreelon #peacethroughmusic #CoryBooker #TimeTraveler #jimmyjamandterrylewis #music #vocals #jazz #Grammys pic.twitter.com/dZ6f8JVj70

— Nnenna Freelon (@OfficialNnenna) May 2, 2022

https://twitter.com/JoeyKibble/status/1519683311614177280

Currently on the Hill using my voice to speak for artists, songwriters and studio professionals! #Grammysonthehill #PassHITS #musicFairness #standwithsongwriters #AMFA #supportmusic pic.twitter.com/vGzKsWereM

— Joel Kibble (@JoeyKibble) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/grampsmorgan/status/1519833900029288452

Washington DC AND The Us Senate Thank you for hearing us Out @GRAMMYAdvocacy @RecordingAcad #GRAMMYsOnTheHill pic.twitter.com/lgEjHmlqhN

— GrampsMorgan.eth (@grampsmorgan) April 29, 2022

https://twitter.com/NeilDCrilly/status/1519725440147017736

Thank you Rep. Estes for meeting us in support of music makers today! #GRAMMYsOnTheHill #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/ylbMEB2Fmj

— Neil Crilly (@NeilDCrilly) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1519746522761424896

It’s been a busy morning for our CEO Harvey Mason jr. and @JamAndLewis advocating for the rights of music creators! Thank you for your support @Jim_Jordan! #GRAMMYsOnTheHill
📲 https://t.co/EEqzx4udGL #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/RqjMvhF7kl

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1519747102095511552

We met with @SenatorLeahy who’s lending his support for music creators’ rights! #GRAMMYsOnTheHill
Join us: https://t.co/EEqzx4udGL #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/2D5h8N7i3E

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1519741597109293056

We thank all the lawmakers who met with us today on #GRAMMYsOnTheHill Advocacy Day to discuss issues that affect music creators—we appreciate your support!

📲 https://t.co/EEqzx4udGL #SupportMusic pic.twitter.com/JkR8xrlvvA

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) April 28, 2022

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1520925385927495680

🎶 When music takes the Hill!

➡️ We’re looking forward to working with Congress to keep unresolved music legislation at the forefront: https://t.co/vjDHbEZTAn #GRAMMYsOnTheHill #SupportMusic #AMFA #HITSAct pic.twitter.com/0ix7HOdrsQ

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) May 2, 2022

How The 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards Brought Joy, Healing & Reverence For Music People

Jimmy Jam & Co 775775104

(L-R) Jimmy Jam, Rep. Ted Deutch, Sofia Carson, Rep. Michael McCaul, and Terry Lewis

Photo: Paul Morigi / Getty Images

News
2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards: Recap grammys-on-the-hill-awards-2022-jimmy-jam-terry-lewis-sofia-carson-yolanda-adams-amy-klobuchar-recap

How The 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards Brought Joy, Healing & Reverence For Music People

Facebook Twitter Email
Featuring key congresspeople and leading lights in the music community, the 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards was in equal parts celebratory and impactful toward the fight for creators' rights for all music people.
Morgan Enos
Advocacy
Apr 28, 2022 - 12:21 pm

Just before a performance where Jimmy Jam played an enormous keytar and Sen. Amy Klobuchar playfully shook a maraca, Jam laid down his stone-cold genuine feelings about his chosen artform. "Music is the divine art," he told the crowd at the packed GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 27, as they munched on dinner and dessert and enjoyed an open bar. And he meant it.

"Imagine a life without music," the five-time GRAMMY-winning producer continued. "It would be like breathing without oxygen. It would be like thirst without water. It would be life without the aural sustenance in our souls." Fellow five-time GRAMMY winner Terry Lewis, his decades-long partner who together form the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who were this year's artist honorees at the GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards, concurred: "This is the thing that God gave us to pull us together."

This balance between tireless work and divine play — a bunch of musicians jamming out a few blocks away from the hub of U.S. democracy — epitomized the vision of the GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards, Washington, D.C.'s premier annual celebration of music and advocacy. On the surface, it seemed to simply be musicians having a ball with lawmakers, connecting the spheres of music and politics. But there was nothing at all frivolous or superficial about the intent, as encapsulated in Ledisi's passionate question in her performance: "What can be higher than this?"

Much like MusiCares, the Advocacy division of the Recording Academy is predicated on helping music people in need — in this case, creators and artists who aren't fairly compensated for their labor. This happens to songwriters and music creators, who are regularly financially neglected, too often.

At this year's GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, this urgent issue was front and center. 

Watch: Inside GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. is one of music's most vocal advocates for fair compensation for creators. A GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and producer by trade, he knows the inner workings of the music business.

"You have to remember, I'm a songwriter," Mason jr. said in an interview on the red carpet at the 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards. In his experience, he's been paid for his songwriting work. But the landscape is increasingly tilting toward exploitation of his peers. "To get paid $7,000 or $10,000 is not acceptable," he continued. "So that's something I'm very passionate about — in my experience, but also knowing what it takes to be successful."

Other songwriters at the event also echoed this sentiment: Whitney Phillips, Lupita Infante, Emily Warren, Nnenna Freelon, Gramps Morgan, Autumn Rowe, and Emily Bear, the latter three of whom have won GRAMMYs. Although they spoke individually, they came together for a collective higher purpose: a path toward fair treatment and fair compensation for music people, especially after a detrimental pandemic, that can no longer wait. (Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, rappers Bun B and Cordae, gospel group Take 6, and singer/actress Sofia Carson also performed at and/or attended the event.)

"They asked for me to come out here and speak and advocate, and it was a no-brainer for me," Phillips said. "I think what's most frustrating about the songwriter experience is that nobody has known what to do, what to say, who to talk to — what's going to be the most effective way to get this message across that we need to be fairly compensated."

DJs Amira and Kayla performing at GRAMMYs On The Hill

DJs Amira and Kayla performing at the 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards. Photo: Paul Morigi / Getty Images

Infante, the granddaughter of Mexican ranchera legend Pedro Infante, agrees — and this reality compelled her to become a brand-new Advocacy participant. "I think my music genre is a little bit incoming; I do Mexican music, and there's a big community out there," she says. "I think it's important to have that music protected."

Warren, who co-wrote Dua Lipa's GRAMMY-nominated hit "Don't Start Now," initially tried to highlight advocacy for music people via online posts, but she hit a wall. "I think people don't understand what the [pay] rate is for [music] streaming — why it is that way, what the history of that is, and why it's so hard to change," she says. "I think just making it simple and educating people so they know what to ask for and what they deserve [is important]."

Jazz luminary Nnenna Freelon, who was most recently nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 2022 GRAMMYs, boils it down to eternal family lessons. "What did grandma say? 'Actions speak louder than words,'" she says. "Often, people don't think of the material value of the creation as anything that should be compensated," she added, speaking of the often-invisible role of the songwriter.

Reggae master Gramps Morgan articulates the problem less in terms of dollar signs than of sheer visibility. "If you're not acknowledged, it makes you feel bad," he says. And when he does discuss financial compensation, it's more in terms of the overall system than of applying Band-Aids: "The last time these laws were changed was in the '40s. Now it's time to, as the music has changed and moved forward."

Sofia Carson performing at GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022

Sofia Carson performing at the 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards. Photo: Paul Morigi / Getty Images

As singer/songwriter, DJ and activist Rowe puts it, "I got involved with Advocacy, because how can I not? If not, I'm just sitting at home complaining about why things are the way they are." She connects this to our era of no-skin-in-the-game online activism: "You can post all day, you can tweet all day, but you've got to really get out there and get with the people that can actually change your life."

Bear, a pianist straddling the spheres of classical and jazz, says she feels like she regularly gets "the short end of the stick" when it comes to compensation. "I've seen and felt firsthand in the streaming industry era how we can't make a living right now." What of her talented friends? "They have to go back and move in with their parents," Bear laments, "because all of a sudden, touring was gone."

How did these sentiments bear out at the actual GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards ceremony? Through passionate performances and gripping speeches. The 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards celebrated artist honorees Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for their decades of creating iconic songs from artists like Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and Boyz II Men, as well as Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) for their leadership in supporting the rights of music creators. Despite political party lines, a fierce devotion to music binded them all as friends and colleagues last night.

Rep. Deutch, who spoke first, is the lead Democratic sponsor for the American Music Fairness Act, which, if passed, would pay royalties to artists and producers when their music is played on the radio. (If you didn't know this is a problem, read about it — you'll never listen to the radio the same way again.)

Harvey Mason jr. speaking at GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. speaking at the 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards. Photo: Leigh Vogel / Getty Images for The Recording Academy

"Our nation must nourish the songwriters struggling to make a living and support the producer and artist working in studios with the next potential hit," Deutch said in his riveting acceptance speech. And we do this, he declared, by making sure technology operates equitably to properly compensate creators. Proving his passion is on the line, he proclaimed his decades-long love for Bruce Springsteen, Faith Hill, and the greats of Motown, among other artists.

McCaul has co-sponsored key legislation like the Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act (HITS Act), which updates the federal tax code to bring in line music production with other industries and create parity. He noted that his big-band-loving parents were confused by his love of AC/DC and the Who — and he now feels the same about his kids' obsession with hip-hop. But it's all music, Rep. McCaul said in his acceptance speech — and it adds up to an intergenerational mode of expression.

The night also featured speeches from Todd Dupler, Acting Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer at the Recording Academy, as well as Recording Academy Board Of Trustees Chair Tammy Hurt, GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Jon Secada, and others.

But what ultimately bridged the music and congressional universes at the GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards? The music, of course: an opening performance of the national anthem with mind-bending harmonies by Take 6 and spectacular performances by Ledisi and Co-Chair of the Recording Academy's National Advocacy Committee and four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams. And to boot, the house band for the night was composed of Recording Academy members from various Chapters across the country.

By the time everyone in the house got on their feet and the stage erupted into a dance party while Adams performed "Open My Heart," the message of the 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards was abundantly clear: material change beats big talk any day. It's exactly what GRAMMYs on the Hill has advocated and accomplished: Over the past 20 years, the annual event has led to several major legislative wins for the music industry, most notably the Music Modernization Act in 2018.

And as long as that change is charged with a genuine love of music and music people, nothing can stop that righteous tide.

An Inside Look At The Recording Academy's Congressional Briefings During GRAMMY Week

(L-R) Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., and Recording Academy Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones attend the GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards 2022 at The Hamilton on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

(L-R) Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., and Recording Academy Co-President Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

News
Advocacy Day 2022: Music Creators Take To Capitol grammys-hill-advocacy-day-2022-capitol-hill-music-creators-washington-dc

Music Creators Take To Capitol Hill At The Recording Academy's GRAMMYs On The Hill Advocacy Day 2022

Facebook Twitter Email
Following the 20th anniversary of the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards, GRAMMY winners and nominees meet today with representatives to protect music creators
Advocacy
Apr 28, 2022 - 6:06 am

Today, music creators and GRAMMY winners and nominees from across the country will meet with representatives on Capitol Hill in support of legislation to protect and ensure fair treatment as the music community continues to recover from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This effort comes on the morning after the 20th anniversary of the GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards, Washington, D.C.'s premier annual celebration of music and advocacy, bringing together congressional leaders and music makers to recognize those who have led the fight for creators' rights.

"Over the past two decades of GRAMMYs on the Hill, we've honored legendary creators and congressional leaders moving our industry forward and standing up for working musicians across the country," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "Last night was no exception, though there is still work to be done. As we meet with legislators today, we urge them to join us in support of more equitable solutions that protect the creative community, ensure fair treatment for creators, and harness the power of music to reach across cultures in pursuit of peace."

Benefitting the GRAMMY Museum and sponsored by City National Bank, the Recording Academy's 2022 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards returned to the nation's capital on Wednesday, April 27, recognizing five-time GRAMMY-winning, renowned songwriters and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who have been instrumental in defining the sound of pop music for decades. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) were also honored for their leadership in supporting the rights of music creators.

Watch: Inside GRAMMYs On The Hill 2022

Throughout Advocacy Day meetings, creators will urge support for several efforts, including those introduced by this year's congressional honorees. Deutch is the lead Democratic sponsor for the American Music Fairness Act, which, if passed, would pay royalties to artists and producers when their music is played on the radio. McCaul has co-sponsored key legislation like the Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act (HITS Act), which updates the federal tax code to bring in line music production with other industries and create parity.

Together, Deutch and McCaul also introduced the Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) through Music Diplomacy Act, an effort crystalized into importance by recent events and showcased in action during the 64th GRAMMY Awards by a powerful performance from three Ukrainian artists, Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newton and Lyuba Yakimchuck, together with GRAMMY winner John Legend.

Another key issue that will be addressed on behalf of songwriters and composers is the fight for fair pay. Later this year, the Copyright Royalty Board will set the royalty rates that streaming services pay to songwriters, and tech companies are once again pushing to cut songwriter pay.

Over the last 20 years, GRAMMYs on the Hill has hosted award-winning artists and applauded congressional leaders alike, including four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, then Vice President Joe Biden, two-time GRAMMY winner Garth Brooks, former United States Secretary of State and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), former Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), 28-time GRAMMY winner Quincy Jones, seven-time GRAMMY winner John Mayer, former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), four-time GRAMMY winner Missy Elliott, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and more. The annual advocacy event has also led to several major legislative wins for the music industry, most notably the Music Modernization Act in 2018.

How The 2022 GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards Brought Joy, Healing & Reverence For Music People

Top
Logo
  • Recording Academy
    • About
    • DEI
    • Governance
    • Press Room
    • Jobs
  • GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Store
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Cultural Foundation
    • Members
    • Press
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • COLLECTION:live
    • Museum Tickets
    • Exhibits
    • Education
    • Support
    • Programs
    • Donate
  • MusiCares
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Support
    • News
    • Events
  • Advocacy
    • About
    • News
    • Issues & Policy
    • Act
  • Membership
    • Chapters
    • Producers & Engineers Wing
    • Songwriters & Composers Wing
    • GRAMMY U
    • Events
    • Join
Logo

© 2022 - Recording Academy. All rights reserved.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • Contact Us

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates.