Performance Rights Act (U.S.)

[LAstudio]

Hi all,

Here's my letter to the President and my representatives urging their support of the Performance Rights Act. A vote on it is imminent. If you support it as well, please write to the President and your representatives... and please share your letter here as well!!!!

==========


Dear President Obama, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and Represetative Berman,

I am writing you to strongly urge your support of the Performance Rights Act.

I am a California-based performing and recording artist, as well as a co-founder of a burgeoning record label focusing on new artist development. Surely you are aware of the very difficult challenges facing recording artists and their record labels. We are at a critical juncture where the very future of music -- particularly from independent artists and labels -- is at stake.

Consider the fact that consumers are increasingly moving towards individual downloads -- whether obtained legally or otherwise -- in lieu of traditional full-length albums of material. Also consider the detereriorating state of brick-and-mortar music retail. Finally, consider the consolidation of radio broadcasters. All of these make for "the perfect storm" in the music industry for performers and rights-holders.

With fewer and fewer opportunities for new (and legacy) artists to sustain their livelihood, and with mounting challenges to the survival of the record labels who support those artists, we have reached a point where it has become almost insurmountably difficult to bring new music into the world. And without new music, from where will the next "soundtrack of our lives" come?

Without enabling new artistic expression to extend its voice into our admittedly uncertain future, from where will the songs that reflect the pains and hopes of this and future generations come -- songs to give us a shoulder to cry upon when days look dark... songs that unite us in hope and solidarity... songs that grace us with a glimpse of what bright day is yet to come?

In this spirit, I urge you to support the Performance Rights Act to give our recording artists and rights-holders a fair share of the fruit of their labor, thus sustaining artists' unique gift of reflecting ourselves to ourselves at a time when we need this perhaps more than ever in our history. Indeed, to "know thyself" is the chariot of that bright day yet to come.

Respectfully,

[Me]

[drBill]

Originally Posted by LAstudio

Hi all,

Here's my letter to the President and my representatives urging their support of the Performance Rights Act. A vote on it is imminent. If you support it as well, please write to the President and your representatives... and please share your letter here as well!!!!

==========


Dear President Obama, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and Represetative Berman,

I am writing you to strongly urge your support of the Performance Rights Act.

I am a California-based performing and recording artist, as well as a co-founder of a burgeoning record label focusing on new artist development. Surely you are aware of the very difficult challenges facing recording artists and their record labels. We are at a critical juncture where the very future of music -- particularly from independent artists and labels -- is at stake.

Consider the fact that consumers are increasingly moving towards individual downloads -- whether obtained legally or otherwise -- in lieu of traditional full-length albums of material. Also consider the detereriorating state of brick-and-mortar music retail. Finally, consider the consolidation of radio broadcasters. All of these make for "the perfect storm" in the music industry for performers and rights-holders.

With fewer and fewer opportunities for new (and legacy) artists to sustain their livelihood, and with mounting challenges to the survival of the record labels who support those artists, we have reached a point where it has become almost insurmountably difficult to bring new music into the world. And without new music, from where will the next "soundtrack of our lives" come?

Without enabling new artistic expression to extend its voice into our admittedly uncertain future, from where will the songs that reflect the pains and hopes of this and future generations come -- songs to give us a shoulder to cry upon when days look dark... songs that unite us in hope and solidarity... songs that grace us with a glimpse of what bright day is yet to come?

In this spirit, I urge you to support the Performance Rights Act to give our recording artists and rights-holders a fair share of the fruit of their labor, thus sustaining artists' unique gift of reflecting ourselves to ourselves at a time when we need this perhaps more than ever in our history. Indeed, to "know thyself" is the chariot of that bright day yet to come.

Respectfully,

[Me]

Well said!!!! thumbsup