Members of Congress are about to take up a bill from Congressman Bob Goodlatte this week that might end up being a revolutionary change to the music business.
When the House of Representatives takes up Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s Music Modernization Act this week, songwriters and producers and streaming services will all be singing from the same hymnal. That’s because all sides acknowledge that the current system is outdated and broken.
Bart Herbison at the Nashville Songwriters Association says songwriters get about $20 for four million times their songs are streamed.
"And that’s because we’re tied to laws from 1909 that were set to regulate player pianos. We’re trying to change that so the compensation can be more fair in the digital streaming era.”
But it’s not just songwriters who say the current system is a mess. Chris Harrison at the Digital Media Association says streaming services will also benefit from Goodlatte’s bill.
"And for the services, it eliminates a lot of the existing legal risk, which has inhibited some from investing as much in the U.S. market.”
The House is set to face the music on Wednesday.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
