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Songwriters at the Capitol: Kevin Kadish, Harvey Mason jr., Robert Bell, Daryl Friedman, Kendra Foster, Evan Bogart, Jonathan Azu, Jim Lauderdale, and Anna Nalick.

U.S. Capitol

Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage for the Recording Academy

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S&C Wing: Celebrating Decades of Advocacy songwriters-composers-wing-celebrating-decades-advocacy

Songwriters & Composers Wing: Celebrating Decades of Advocacy

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In honor of the launch of the Academy’s Songwriters & Composers Wing, let’s reflect on the decades of advocacy by these creators.
Advocacy
Mar 14, 2021 - 5:45 am

Congratulations to songwriters and composers on the establishment of the Recording Academy’s Songwriters & Composers Wing!

For decades, these creatives have proven to be an instrumental part of the Academy’s advocacy work. Together, we have fought for fair market rate standards, the modernization of the mechanical royalty collection process, and, most recently, financial relief to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.  

At a town hall in Los Angeles in 2017, the Academy partnered with MoZella, Om’Mas Keith, and Rodney Jerkins to educate songwriters and composers on the importance of advocacy. Topics included the importance of using your voice to create change, fighting for fair compensation, and pushing elected officials to enact positive legislative reform, among others. These conversations resulted in the upcoming District Advocate day, where creators from all corners of the country held meetings with members of Congress to stress the importance of these issues. Read more about this event in Billboard’s article, “Recording Academy Urges Songwriter Activism to Ensure Music Industry’s Future.”

Songwriters and composers utilized the skills honed during past outreach to policymakers by advocating for the landmark Music Modernization Act (MMA). Once the legislation passed in 2018, songwriters and composers began to see their hard work materialize, which helped many creatives properly receive the funds they earned and established a new mechanical licensing collective. While the MMA made great progress, songwriters and composers continued to advocate for equitable implementation of the bill.

When proposed wording in the U.S. Copyright Office’s (USCO) MMA update had the potential to negatively impact the songwriters it was striving to help, the Academy, representing its songwriter and composer constituency, sent an ex parte letter asking for the USCO to amend any language that could be “construed in any way that changes, diminishes, or alters termination rights, or in any way that makes a substantive determination about the nature of those rights.” The letter’s goal was to ensure that the USCO did not create an additional burden on songwriters attempting to rightfully reclaim their work. 

The Recording Academy also assisted the USCO in designating the entity tasked with administering blanket mechanical licenses for digital streaming services, a key provision of the MMA. The Mechanical Licensing Collective, which started collecting and distributing royalties earlier this year, recently received $424 million in unmatched royalties from streaming services, which will then be distributed to songwriters for free. The Recording Academy hosted a webinar with MLC CEO Kris Ahrend and songwriter Tayla Parx last year to help explain the tremendous benefit of the collective for songwriters and composers.

From meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to actually writing songs with them, let’s take a look back at our years spent together fighting for the rights of songwriters and composers:

Josh Kear and Congressman McCaul Entertain Crowd
Advocacy: Songwriters & Composers Photo Gallery

Above, the Honorable Doug Collins (Ga.) and songwriters Victoria Shaw and Gary Burr collaborate on a new anthem honoring the recently introduced Songwriter Equity Act, and performed the song at GRAMMYs On The Hill in 2014. Credit: Video by Recording Academy/Featured in Washington Post.

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Uixi Amargós

Uixi Amargós recording during the pandemic

Photo: Xavi Torrent/Getty Images

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HITS Act Reintroduced help-independent-tracks-succeed-hits-act-reintroduced-house-and-senate

Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act Reintroduced in the House and Senate

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The bipartisan and bicameral HITS Act has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives and Senate, delivering much-needed relief to music creators if passed
Matthew Bango
Advocacy
Mar 16, 2021 - 4:14 pm

Today, the bipartisan and bicameral Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act was reintroduced in Washington. The Senate version of the bill is again introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and the companion bill in the House of Representatives is sponsored by Reps. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif) and Ron Estes (R-Kan.). The House bill is also supported by Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.).

The HITS Act, which was first introduced last Congress, is designed to allow artists and record producers to deduct 100 percent of sound recording production expenses in the year they are incurred, rather than amortized over the life of the recording, typically 3-4 years. The bill eases the financial burden placed on independent artists by removing the multi-year amortization requirement and allowing an individual to fully expense the cost of new studio recordings on their taxes, up to $150,000.

The HITS Act also aligns the tax code for music production with similar provisions for other creative industries. Currently, qualified film, live theatrical, and television production companies enjoy the ability to deduct 100 percent of their production expenses in the year such expenses are incurred.

The HITS Act would also incentivize the production of new sound recordings at a time when music creators still need help overcoming the financial fallout resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. With tours canceled and gigs indefinitely delayed, many creatives are left without access to their traditional revenue streams. Congress continues to address the unequal impact felt by the creative workforce through enhanced unemployment insurance, extending Small Business Administration loan programs, and creating targeted relief programs for independent venues. 

While these relief programs are a welcomed resource for the music ecosystem, Congress must continue to provide targeted assistance for the most vulnerable creators – independent artists. That is why the Recording Academy collaborated with policymakers on finding a solution that encourages and incentivizes the creative workforce to safely return to the studio.

Music producers & creators were among the first out of work as tours were canceled, venues shuttered, & studio sessions were postponed.

The HITS Act will make things just a little easier for the small, independent creators who make the music we love!

▶️ https://t.co/lZnvgzUNvd pic.twitter.com/wWwEelPe6W

— Rep. Linda Sánchez (@RepLindaSanchez) March 16, 2021

The Academy applauds the reintroduction of the HITS Act. “A year after the pandemic brought social distancing and shutdowns, independent music creators have been hit hard, which is why the Recording Academy is pleased to support the reintroduction of the HITS Act,” said Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “This bipartisan bill will change the tax code – putting music creators on a level playing field with other creative industries – helping thousands of independent creators get back on track by incentivizing music production, creating new opportunities and revitalizing the music economy.  We thank Senators Feinstein and Blackburn and Representatives Sanchez, Estes, Chu, McCaul, DelBene, and Napolitano.”

“Like families and workers across the country, music producers and creators in each of our communities have been hit hard by this pandemic. In fact, they were among the first out of work as tours and festivals were canceled, venues shuttered, and studio sessions were postponed,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Today, I'm proud to re-introduce the HITS Act. This bill will make things just a little easier for the small, independent creators that make the music we often turn to during hard times like this."

“The pandemic has made it harder for many people to make ends meet, including musicians and music producers who have been among the hardest hit because of bans on large gatherings,” said Senator Feinstein. “Our bill would allow independent musicians, technicians and producers to deduct their production expenses in the same year they occur, rather than forcing them to spread those deductions out over several years. This change would help keep music creators afloat until we can again gather and listen to them in person.”

The pandemic has made it difficult for independent musicians, technicians and producers to make ends meet without being able to play live. We just introduced bipartisan legislation to help them recover. More information here:https://t.co/fzPc1iJGtx

— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) March 16, 2021

“The music from Nashville strikes a chord with folks across the nation,” said Senator Blackburn. “However, the unique burdens faced by the arts community forced many to stop writing, performing, and producing altogether. The HITS act will provide targeted tax deductions to support our musicians and allow them to get back to work.”

“As for so many Americans, shutdowns and social distancing brought havoc for small recording artists over the past year,” said Congressman Estes. “The bipartisan HITS Act will help thousands of independent music creators around the country by providing common sense tax savings on certain expenses – giving this industry the targeted relief it needs as our nation recovers.”

Championed by the Recording Academy, the legislation is supported by many members of the music ecosystem, including the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), SAG-AFTRA, Music Artists Coalition, Artists Rights Alliance, Recording Industry Association of America, National Music Publishers Association, SoundExchange, Global Music Rights, SESAC, National Independent Venue Association, National Independent Talent Organization, Future of Music Coalition, Digital Media Association, Nashville Songwriters Association International, ASCAP, BMI, Gospel Music Association, Christian Music Trade Association and Songwriters of North America.

As the only organization representing all music creators, the Academy thanks these members of Congress for standing with struggling creators by reintroducing the HITS Act, and looks forward to the passage of this landmark relief bill. 

Take Action: Ask Congress to Pass the HITS Act

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John Legend & Hakeem Jeffries

L-R: Hakeem Jeffries, John Legend

Photo: Recording Academy

News
GRAMMY Nominees Who Advocated For Creators' Rights 2021-celebrating-grammy-nominees-who-advocated-creators-rights

Celebrating GRAMMY Nominees Who Advocated For Creators' Rights

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Ahead of Sunday’s 63rd GRAMMY Awards, we want to acknowledge those nominees who have helped advance the agenda of music creators during this trying year
Matthew Bango
Advocacy
Mar 10, 2021 - 4:01 pm

Daryl Friedman, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Recording Academy, spoke with Billboard about the important role Academy members played in pushing Congress to include creator-friendly provisions in the recent COVID-19 stimulus package. "Much to the chagrin of our in-house lobbyists, I always say our best lobbyists are our members because they really can tell the story in a compelling way," noted Friedman.

This year, the Academy has repeatedly called on our members to ask their elected officials to support many provisions that would yield positive results for the struggling music ecosystem, including passage of the HITS Act and support for solutions to mitigate the pandemics’ enduring impact. Ahead of Sunday’s 63rd GRAMMY Awards, we want to acknowledge those nominees who answered the call and helped advance the agenda of music creators during this trying year:

Brandi Carlile

A 5-time GRAMMY Award winner, Brandi Carlile is no stranger to using her voice to create change. Carlile spoke with a crowd of music advocates during last year’s GRAMMY Week in support of the GRAMMY Fund for Music Creators. This year, Carlile is nominated for Best Country Song and Best Song Written For Visual Media.

Brandi Carlile | 2021 | Advocacy

Brandi Carlile speaks to a crowd of advocates during GRAMMY Week in 2020.

Brandy Clark

Brandy Clark is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Album. Clark has a long track record as a music advocate, including representing the Nashville Chapter as chair of their Advocacy Committee and serving as a District Advocate leader for last year’s meeting with Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.).

Dave Haywood

While balancing a busy tour and recording schedule as a member of the band Lady A, Dave Haywood, a seven-time GRAMMY winner, has found time to call on legislators to support and enact meaningful reform to better the entire music ecosystem. Along with the rest of Lady A, Haywood was honored at the GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards in 2014 and is a regular participant in District Advocate. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Academy’s Nashville Chapter Board. This year, Lady A’s Ocean is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Rodney Jerkins

Rodney Jerkins, a legendary producer and two-time GRAMMY winner, has become a mainstay at the Academy’s advocacy initiatives. Most recently, Jerkins participated in the GRAMMY Week Congressional Briefing in 2020. Jerkins showcased his work with emerging artist Jac Ross and shared firsthand testimony of the difficulties faced when launching a career in the creative workforce. Jerkins’ Come Together is nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song.

Rodney Jerkins

A group of lawmakers and music makers at the Recording Academy’s Congressional briefing on January 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, CA (L to R) Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Jac Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), Rodney Jerkins, Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), and Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) 

Emily Lazar 

An accomplished mastering engineer, Emily Lazar has three nominations in the Album Of The Year category for her work on Coldplay’s Everyday Life, Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol.3, and HAIM’s Women In Music Pt. III. Between recording sessions, Lazar serves as a member of the Academy’s National Advocacy Committee, which is comprised of prominent music creators and determines the Academy’s legislative priorities.

Ledisi

As a member of the Los Angeles Chapter Board, Ledisi has long supported the Academy’s legislative priorities. In a recent “Profile in Advocacy,” Ledisi discussed the importance of using your voice to create meaningful change, noting that, “The most important work for any creator is not merely to create, but to also be of service beyond one's self, and our collective future depends on that.” This year, Ledisi’s Anything For You is nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance. 

John Legend

An eleven-time GRAMMY winner, John Legend has used his talents to bring joy to the world, and his voice to advocate for change. During District Advocate day in 2020, Legend spoke with Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) about how to best help the music ecosystem overcome the pandemic’s impact. Legend also serves as a Recording Academy National Trustee and as an Honorary Chair of the Black Music Collective, which officially launched last year. Legend is nominated for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Album.

John Legend & Hakeem Jeffries

John Legend meets with Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries during the Academy’s virtual District Advocate day in 2020. (L to R): Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and John Legend (Photo by Recording Academy)

Julia Michaels

Julia Michaels joined the Recording Academy’s Advocacy team for a holiday reception commemorating the opening of the Academy’s new Washington, D.C. office in 2018. Joined by a bipartisan and bicameral group of elected officials, Michaels shared insight into the importance of supporting music priorities and celebrated the recent passage of the Music Modernization Act. Michaels’ and JP Saxe’s If The World Was Ending is nominated for Song Of The Year. 

G ADV Opening

Policymakers and music creators mark the opening of the Advocacy team’s new office with a ribbon cutting ceremony in 2018 (L to R) Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), National Trustee Tracy Hamlin, Julia Michaels, Daryl Friedman, Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.)

PJ Morton

From attending GRAMMYs On The Hill to Zoom-ing with legislators, PJ Morton is a familiar face on Capitol Hill and in the Louisiana State Capitol due to his long history of championing music policies. When describing his virtual District Advocate day meeting, Morton stressed to Billboard the importance of reaching out to policymakers to raise awareness of a legislative solution. “It’s a slow process to change. But I think once you see it work, once you see your voice can matter, you can be a little more invested in it.” A two-time GRAMMY winner, Morton’s Gospel According To PJ is nominated for Best Gospel Album. 

Bobby Rush

From District Advocate to GRAMMYs on the Hill, GRAMMY winner Bobby Rush has joined music advocates over the years on their mission to directly lobby Congress on the importance of fair compensation for creators. Rush’s Rawer Than Raw is nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album. 

We thank all of the nominees who helped enact change during this incredibly difficult year! Without your overwhelming support, the Academy would not have been able to accomplish the tremendous and historic legislative victories in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic  

Be sure to join us for the 63rd GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Read More: Billboard: How The Recording Academy And Its Allies Scored Big Wins In COVID Relief Package

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Photo of Harvey Mason jr.

Harvey Mason jr.

Photo Courtesy of Harvey Mason jr.

 
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Harvey Mason jr.: Music Advocate To President/CEO inside-harvey-mason-jrs-journey-producer-songwriter-advocate-recording-academy

Inside Harvey Mason jr.'s Journey From Producer, Songwriter & Advocate To Recording Academy President/CEO

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As Harvey Mason jr. stated during the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show, he initially joined the Recording Academy so he could vote for himself. But this humble admission belies two decades as an outspoken champion and advocate for all music creators
Morgan Enos
Advocacy
May 21, 2021 - 6:35 am

Whether as the Interim President/CEO or the President/CEO proper, Harvey Mason jr.'s trademark is his humble, unassuming air. 

Upon accepting the full-time role, "While I had not initially expected to be in this position, I remain deeply invested in the success of the organization and am motivated to help us achieve our greatest ambitions," he stated in a press release. And during a segment in the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show, Mason freely admitted he originally joined the Academy to cast a vote for himself.

This charmingly "Who, me?" demeanor is just an exterior, though; Mason has been chosen to lead the Recording Academy for very good reasons. Over the last two decades, he has proven to be an outspoken champion and advocate for all music creators. 

From participating in District Advocate to speaking in front of Congress, let's take a look back at Harvey's accomplishments as a music advocate.

Advocacy Committee

Let's rewind to 2016, before Mason was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Recording Academy. At that point, he co-chaired the Academy's National Advocacy Committee, which is responsible for establishing and executing the organization's advocacy positions and priorities. In this role, Mason ensured that the Academy upheld its commitments to all music creators and pushed policymakers towards developing an equitable music ecosystem.

Congressional Panel

Fighting for the rights of music creators on the airwaves has long been a chief concern of Recording Academy advocates, and in 2020, Mason put this value into action. 

That May, he spoke in front of the Senate Judiciary Intellectual Property Subcommittee on the scope of music rights in sound recordings, the dire need for the United States to establish a performance right for sound recordings on AM/FM radio, and the importance of supporting music creators in the next phase of COVID-19 relief stimulus.

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1265709388850819072

Today, our @RecordingAcad Chair and Interim President/CEO, @HarveyMasonjr, appears virtually before the U.S. @SenJudiciary IP Subcommittee to support performance rights for music creators. He will advocate for the passage of the #AMFMAct (Ask Musicians for Music Act). pic.twitter.com/eTcqeDJxwY

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) May 27, 2020

"Any future relief package should get people back to work, not give industries unfair advantages," Mason stated. "Unfortunately, musicians will not be able to get back to live performances soon, so the next stimulus should ensure they get paid fairly for their music that has been a lifeline for our fellow citizens."

Department Of Justice Letter

In 2014, Mason signed on to a letter encouraging the Department of Justice to review the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees. 

"The music economy is changing rapidly … and the Consent Decrees have hampered the ability of ASCAP and BMI to respond to those changes in a way that provides fair value to their—and The Academy's—members," the letter read in part. Professional songwriters will only be able to make a secure living if they receive fair compensation for the public performance of their works by digital music services."

District Advocate

Each year, thousands of members across the country mobilize to lobby their members of Congress during the Academy's District Advocate activation. Mason become a frequent sight at these activations, including moderating a conversation with Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Los Angeles Chapter Executive Director Qiana Conley in 2019.

Federal Communications Commission

On a note of security and privacy, Mason visited the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to educate Commissioners and staff on the importance of protecting wireless microphones for the music industry.

GRAMMYs On The Hill 

Mason has also participated in the Academy's GRAMMYs On The Hill Awards and Advocacy Day, an annual activation in Washington, D.C. that recognizes artists and legislators who have made significant contributions to the music community. (GRAMMYs On The Hill will return on September 22, 2021.)

Holiday Reception

On a lighter note, in 2013, Mason helped get legislators in the festive mood by joining the Academy team's annual holiday reception in Washington, D.C. Mason was even kind enough to play piano for a captivated audience of members of Congress!

Songwriters & Composers Wing

As a songwriter in his own right, Mason has used his platform to advocate for causes most important to this section of the creative community. Under his leadership, the Academy launched the Songwriters & Composers Wing in March.

While the S&C Wing is new, the tireless work by its members is not. Over the years, they have proven to be an instrumental part of the Academy's advocacy work. Together, they have fought for fair market rate standards, the modernization of the mechanical royalty collection process, and, most recently, financial relief to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1372579994933809152

After 20 years of advocacy for #songwriters, we reach a new milestone this week with the creation of the Songwriters & Composers Wing. Read more about the fight for the rights of songwriters & composers. https://t.co/yE6fJSbj4m

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) March 18, 2021

The Advocacy team and all music advocates thank Harvey Mason jr. for his endless commitment to our causes. Together, we look forward to advancing the legislative agenda of all music creators for years to come!

Read More: Congress: It's Time To Side With Music Creators Over Big Radio 

I enjoy making my own music - stock photo

Photo: PeopleImages

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Music Licensing Collective Releases Royalties 2021-mechanical-licensing-collective-distributes-first-music-royalty-payments

Mechanical Licensing Collective Distributes First Music Royalty Payments & You Can Collect Your Share Today

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The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) collected $40 million in payments to registered songwriters and composers. Register today to claim or match any mechanical royalties owed to you
Morgan Enos
Advocacy
Apr 23, 2021 - 8:25 am

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) has completed its first-ever monthly distribution of mechanical royalties, which is a result of the new blanket license established by the Music Modernization Act of 2018 (MMA). The ball got rolling in February 2021 when digital service providers (DSPs) began reporting their streaming and download usage numbers for the previous month to the Mechanical Licensing Collective.

The organization’s first calculation of royalties, which totaled more than $53 million, includes royalties distributed to MLC creator members and rights holders, funds that have been matched to the appropriate musical work but remained unclaimed, and unmatched money. After accounting for $13 million in matched royalties covered by preexisting voluntary licensing agreements, the MLC collected $40 million in direct payments on behalf of registered songwriters and composers in January 2021, and disbursed $24 million to members. Of the $16.4 million in remaining collected funds, $11 million are unmatched funds, and $4.9 million are matched but unclaimed. The remaining $500,000 are on legal hold.

https://twitter.com/billboard/status/1384326493501800455

The MLC made its first mechanical royalties distribution to rights holders, paying out $24 million out of about $40 million collected from digital services https://t.co/J69IM4jlYC

— billboard (@billboard) April 20, 2021

To ensure that any unclaimed and unmatched mechanical royalties end up where they belong, the Recording Academy encourages all self-administered or self-published songwriters to join The MLC as a member and register their songs, which can be done here. And all songwriters should sign up to use The MLC portal and make sure the data related to their work is accurate.

The MLC has also provided resources for songwriters and publishers to use to help ensure that it has correct data: the Data Quality Initiative (DQI) and the Music Data Organization Form. These tools are intended to help creators “organize and prepare their musical works’ data.” Through the DQI, the MLC provides reports to participants that highlight discrepancies in order to deliver more accurate and quality data in the future.

This is all in an effort to help the owners of musical works “Play Your Part” to receive their funds fairly and expediently. The portal is available to a wide range of creators—from publishers to administrators to foreign collective management organizations, or CMOs.

https://twitter.com/GRAMMYAdvocacy/status/1364724088212750346

📢 Attention Songwriters!

🎶 Did you hear that streaming services just turned over $424M in unmatched royalties?

📲 Here’s where the money comes from and what you should do next. For more information, visit the @MLC_US website: https://t.co/qYMGw1oY9r pic.twitter.com/E1BRHeFMrg

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) February 24, 2021

The Recording Academy has long been engaged in the process of establishing and launching The MLC since the passage of the MMA, and recently hosted an educational webinar with Recording Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr., MLC CEO Kris Ahrend and songwriter Tayla Parx.

More information on when to expect future royalty distributions—and how they may be adjusted in the future—can be found here. Also worth reading is the FAQ page on the MLC website, which breaks down the details of the royalty distribution process, including information on royalty rates and terms.

Read More: Mechanical Licensing Collective Webinar: 5 Things To Know About The MLC

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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.