a 2 i m

Protect Working Musicians Act (PWMA) of 2023

On September 19, 2023, US Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced an updated version of the Protect Musicians Act in an attempt to change the way independent artists bargain with major streaming platforms.

Created in collaboration with A2IM and The Artists Rights Alliance (ARA), the updated bill aims to “level the playing field” for artists in the digital age and the world of AI-generated music.

As it stands, current laws leave many artists, whether signed to a major label or independently working, unprotected and at the mercy of major streaming platforms 

Independent artists are often forced to accept whenever rates are being offered without being able to collectively negotiate for better terms – with no real protection against having their voice or music manipulated by AI without consent.

If passed, the Protect Working Musicians Act would allow working artists and independent musicians to come together and negotiate with dominant streaming platforms and artificial intelligence developers.

It would also grant working artists and independent musicians the ability to collectively refuse to license their music to online music distribution platforms that refuse to pay fair market value.

Here is the official press release and link to take action to support the PWMA

About A2IM:
A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that exists to support and strengthen the independent recorded music sector. Membership currently includes a broad coalition of more than 700 Independently-owned American music labels. A2IM represents these independently owned small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so, it supports a key segment of America’s creative class that represents America’s diverse musical cultural heritage. Billboard Magazine identified the Independent music label sector as 37.32 percent of the music industry’s U.S. recorded music sales market in 2016 based on copyright ownership, making Independent labels collectively the largest music industry sector.

Learn more about A2IM here.
For information about how to join our community, see here.