Future of Music Coalition

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Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization supporting a musical ecosystem where artists flourish and are compensated fairly and transparently for their work.

FMC works with musicians, composers and industry stakeholders to identify solutions to shared challenges. We promote strategies, policies, technologies and educational initiatives that always put artists first while recognizing the role music fans play in shaping the future. FMC works to ensure that diversity, equality and creativity drives artist engagement with the global music community, and that these values are reflected in laws, licenses, and policies that govern any industry that uses music as raw material for its business.

FMC on Twitter

@BenMorgan47 @JeremieVarengo Expenses explode in part because streaming is only remunerative at scale, so you have… https://t.co/vS00abvhDf

11 hours 59 min ago
@BenMorgan47 @GuyMorrow Assuming the artists wrote their own material, they’d be earning on the mechanicals too so… https://t.co/rNUX9epNDN

21 hours 54 min ago
@BenMorgan47 But certainly they do provide incentives to keep moving that direction

21 hours 57 min ago
@BenMorgan47 Not sure we have evidence these changes are a response to new digital distro services—deals seemed to… https://t.co/N9IbcGGySr

22 hours 30 min ago
@BenMorgan47 Certainly it seems anecdotally to be the case that major label deals are much more varied in their str… https://t.co/onbVAlrOi7

22 hours 33 min ago
@BenMorgan47 Not aware of any public facing data source, although artists’ views on recoupment also vary these days… https://t.co/2xJkJTNvW4

22 hours 34 min ago
It's problematic to set up an expectation that artists with limited resources should be in the position of vetting… https://t.co/aOOCOP1IPM

1 day 17 hours ago
@chopraftc Reviving antimonopoly policy in the US isn't just about the possibility of breaking up tech giants (thou… https://t.co/23ue1BRb0y

1 day 19 hours ago
@chopraftc This is just one small example of how a more robust approach by the FTC, including more aggressive use o… https://t.co/4JD7ZtSLIM

1 day 19 hours ago
@chopraftc Ideally, the FTC would have a rulemaking proceeding where they at least require explicit sponsorship ide… https://t.co/9KWWcqEnzr

1 day 19 hours ago

FutureBlog

Policy Priorities for 2019

Happy New Year!

FMC’s preparing to launch a new, mobile-optimized website with a focus on making it easy for musicians and fans to take action. While we’re working to get that up and running, here’s a quick update on what we expect to be tackling in Washington DC in 2019. read more

What’s going on with healthcare, and what does it mean for musicians?

It’s often challenging for musicians to try and keep track of all the policy issues that can potentially impact their lives and livelihoods. In the unprecedented day-to-day chaos and unpredictability of our current unconventional political environment, it can be even harder.

So here’s a quick update on one of the most important issues facing musicians, some questions answered, and some thoughts about what may lie ahead.

by Kevin Erickson, National Organizing Director

On Friday, March 10, 2017, news broke that a band called Soviet Soviet had been barred from entering the US and forced to fly back home, cancelling a US tour that included Austin’s SXSW festival. In the wake of recent controversy about language in SXSW’s performance agreement, the news created a flurry of outrage and panic, and quite a bit of misunderstanding. Here’s our attempt to answer all your questions:

by Kevin Erickson, National Organizing Director

One week before thousands of music/film/technology fans descend on Austin for the annual SXSW festival, controversy has erupted over provisions in the performance agreement required of all artists. On Thursday afternoon, musician Felix Walworth of the band Told Slant tweeted a screenshot of contractual language and the caption, “After looking through this contract sent to me by sxsw I have decided to cancel Told Slant’s performance at the festival.”

Walworth’s tweet quickly went viral, and since then, media outlets picked up the story, and an array of musicians (including some good friends of FMC) escalated the pressure with an open letter demanding that this language be dropped.

We’re still trying to make sense of this story, but here’s some questions and answers.

One of Donald Trump’s central campaign promises was to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare. Trump memorably pledged to scrap the law “on day one” and replace it with “something terrific,” though details were scarce. Since Trump’s election, many newly insured musicians have found themselves wondering what to do in the face of this uncertainty.

There’s no consensus in Congress about what system might replace Obamacare. Health care advocates like us are watching closely to see what changes might be most likely, and which provisions are likely to stay intact.

Current Features

FMC on Twitter

FutureBlog

Policy Priorities for 2019

What’s going on with healthcare, and what does it mean for musicians?

More immigration confusion as Italian band is denied entry to US

What's The Deal with SXSW's Artist Contract?

Obamacare is in Trouble, but Musicians Should Sign Up Anyway

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