By Jem Aswad, Variety | While it is technically an annual conference for a trade organization, the National Music Publishers’ Association’s membership meeting has become more like a TV network’s upfront presentation: a major show in the music business with performances from top artists, strong visuals, updates on policies and ongoing battles, and fiery speeches primarily from the organization’s president-CEO of 20 years, David Israelite.
This year’s meeting had stellar acoustic performances and moving speeches from honorees Kacey Musgraves and Gracie Abrams as well as Thomas Rhett, a tribute song to Musgraves from Leon Bridges, and lots of data about the ongoing battle for songwriters’ rights – and payment – in the streaming age.
But many people remarked that something missing from this year’s awards was fireworks from Israelite, who often announces NMPA lawsuits against a streaming platform or a hot new tech startup that NMPA feels is not paying proper royalties for the music – lawsuits they usually win.
However, the fireworks were there – just more carefully and tactfully worded.
> > > > > > > >
Go here to read what the “fireworks” were:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/nmpa-chief-calls-out-unique-problem-in-the-music-industry-songwriters-don-t-stick-together/