Since its inception, the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) has pushed for all artists and musicians to receive fair compensation for their work.
With the signage of the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act (S. 2823), this goal has moved one step closer towards becoming a reality.
The world of digital music has been a double-edged sword for those in the music industry – and particularly for independent artists. On one hand, it offers artists exciting new ways to reach listeners, but on the other hand, advances in streaming technology have far outpaced outdated copyright laws. This has impacted independent artists hard as they’ve struggled to receive compensation from streaming companies whenever their music is played. Among other issues, the current system also found songwriters and sound engineers being excluded from receiving royalties.
For years, the independent music community has worked to highlight and address these problems, and the MMA is an important step towards resolving them. A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess applauded its unanimous passage through the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the U.S. Senate.
“The passing of the MMA bill is yet another example of what can be achieved when creators and their representatives stand together for fairer remuneration,” Burgess said. “A2IM is grateful to all the people involved in finally making this a part of our music industry reality. All creators should be compensated fairly and A2IM is a strong advocate to ensure that happens not only for independent artists and labels, but for all music creators and the businesses that support them.”
The MMA has received support from artists such as Paul McCartney, Mick Fleetwood, Carly Simon, and Katy Perry, as well as independent artists, music publishers, distributors, and a slew of trade organizations. With the president’s signature in place, the MMA is the first update to copyright law to occur in the digital age.
Upon the act being signed into law, Burgess released the following statement: “The signing of the Music Modernization Act into law today by the President is the culmination of a gargantuan struggle that was resolved by an unparalleled alliance between all music industry stakeholders and the relevant tech companies. In this digital age, more music is enjoyed by more people than at any time in the history of humankind. The signing of this bill represents a significant step towards better lives for music creators and those that support them. A standing ovation is greatly deserved for all involved in this historic achievement.”
We couldn’t agree more.