More on the Protect Working Musicians Act

In today’s complicated digital music marketplace, small and independent artists are often forced to accept the music licensing terms offered by online streaming platforms and AI developers, due to the disproportionate amount of power wielded by these dominant players.

U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced an enhanced new version of the Protect Working Musicians Act today, legislation that would allow small and independent artists and music creators to collectively negotiate fairer rates and terms for the use of their music by online streaming services as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) developers. The Protect Working Musicians Act was written by U.S. Representative Ross in partnership with Artist Rights Alliance and The American Association of Independent Music.

Under current laws, small and independent musicians have little ability to bargain for fair royalties for the use of their music by global online platforms that include Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. Instead, these artists have been forced to accept whatever compensation is offered without the ability to collectively negotiate for market value rates. In addition, there currently exists no avenue through which to engage with AI companies who routinely scrape and use music without permission or consent. Artists are unable to work together in the free market to negotiate compensation with venture capital backed AI giants.

The current model threatens the livelihoods of the thousands of independent artists who seek to use online distribution platforms that provide essential pathways to reach current and potential fans, and whose music is being used by AI companies without authorization. While standing alone, independent creators have little power; together, they could collectively negotiate on a level playing field to secure fair licensing rates for their work.

The Protect Working Musicians Act would:

● Allow working artists and independent musicians to band together to negotiate with dominant streaming platforms and artificial intelligence developers.
● Make clear the antitrust laws are no obstacle to these negotiations.
● Grant working artists and independent musicians the ability to collectively refuse to license their music to a dominant online music distribution platform that refuses to pay market value rates.

Click here to reach out to your representatives in support of the Protect Working Musicians Act.
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-the-protect-working-musicians-act

Thanks to David Barber, https://www.possibilitypromotion.com and Rob Roper for alerting us to this effort – https://www.robroper.com