On Thursday (Sept. 25), more than 2,100 music creators, including YUNGBLUD, Ashley Monroe and Kenyon Dixon, participated in the Recording Academy’s 11th annual Music Advocacy Day. In more than 200 meetings with federal lawmakers across 45 states and Washington, D.C., Recording Academy members met with elected officials to discuss key issues affecting the music industry and the importance of passing pro-music legislation in Congress.
Creators met with lawmakers, including Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD). Conversations focused on protecting creators from having their works exploited by artificial intelligence without compensation, passing legislation such as the Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act to provide reasonable AI safeguards, and preserving federal funding for the arts.
“Music Advocacy Day represents the core of the Academy’s dedication to serving the music community year-round,” Todd Dupler, the Recording Academy’s chief advocacy & public policy officer, said in a statement. “Protecting creators and their art is crucial to ensuring a thriving music ecosystem, and the Academy is proud to gives thousands of our members the opportunity to converse with lawmakers across the nation whose support of pro-music legislation will positively impact the future of our industry.”
As previously reported, R&B star Leon Thomas served as this year’s Music Advocacy Day artist ambassador.
Year-round, the Recording Academy’s Washington, D.C.-based Advocacy team mobilizes Academy members and music professionals from across the country to lobby for music creators’ rights at the local, state and federal levels.