Music Modernization Act Clears The House

• The Music Modernization Act has just passed in the House of Representatives following a vote for passage in the Senate last week. This clears the way for the bill to be sent to President Trump’s desk for his oversized signature and with it will come the most sweeping changes to archaic copyright laws. According to Variety, the Senate version differed from the version that passed in the House back in April, but the House has agreed to take up the bill as amended by the Senate, eliminating the need for a conference committee to “reconcile” the two bills.

The three-part legislation would accomplish the following: 1) For Songwriters: Create a new and transparent collection entity to ensure that songwriters always get paid for mechanical licenses when digital services use their work while helping ASCAP and BMI secure fairer rates for their songwriters. Establish fair compensation for songwriters when the government sets rates. 2) For Artists: Closes the “pre-1972 loophole” so that digital services will pay legacy artists the compensation they deserve and establish fair compensation for artists when the government sets rates. 3) For Studio Pros: Gives copyright protection to producers and engineers for the first time in history.

Moments after the bill passed the House, Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy™ issued a statement that read, “The trajectory of the Music Modernization Act has shown the power of music creators to effect real change. From its unanimous approval in the House of Representatives in April, to its passage in the Senate last week, we have seen unprecedented advocacy from the music community. With today’s final passage of the bill in the House, we are one step away from the most sweeping music copyright reform since the 8-track tape era, and we look forward to this being signed into law.”