Future of Music Newsletter: Special Policy Summit Edition

September 6, 2005

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Dear FMC newsletter subscribers:

It is with great sadness that we must serve as witness to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed so many people's lives. We urge government to work with trusted charity organizations to deliver needed supplies, to provide services for the thousands who are terrified, hungry, thirsty and injured, to establish an information network that can help the refugees to find a safe place and reunite with family, and to work quickly to re-establish electricity, power and safety to a region so cherished for its rich musical and cultural heritage.

We, like many thousands of Americans, want to help. We want to deliver the water, we want to hug the mother, we want to comfort the elderly who have been through so much. But the best we can do at this time is give...and organize. Please donate to the charity of your choice to ensure that these emergency aid networks have the resources to meet this unprecedented demand. Volunteer with your local Red Cross. And promise not to let the thousands of people now evacuated fade from our collective memory. The rebuilding process has yet to begin. And the war on poverty has never ended. FMC is so proud of the musicians who are dedicating time and resources to rebuilding New Orleans, and reminding us of the joy of music in a period of such deep sadness.

Five Days and Counting to Policy Summit

It's five days and counting to the fifth annual Future of Music Policy Summit, September 11-13, 2005 at GWU's Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Join hundreds of musicians, technologists, industry insiders, academics and attorneys in Washington, DC at what's shaping up to be the most compelling music/technology event of the year. Co-presented by FMC, the Entertainment & Sports Law Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association and MICPEL.

BREAKING NEWS

The Pennsylvania State Bar Association has approved the Summit program for 16.5 continuing legal education (CLE) credits, including 2 ethics credits. We await similar approvals from Virginia and Delaware, with reciprocity expected in other states. More details here

SECURE REGISTRATION ONLINE

RECENTLY CONFIRMED PANELISTS

Co-founder, GarageBand.com and Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison
Legendary funkmaster George Clinton
Consumer Electronics Assn president Gary Shapiro
RIAA CEO Mitch Bainwol and president Cary Sherman
Eliot Spitzer's lead payola investigator Terryl Brown Clemons
Radio promoter Jeff McClusky
Attorney Josh Wattles
Media Access Project's Andy Schwartzman
Snocap General Counsel Chris Castle
ASCAP artist/producer Joe Henry
Songwriter and creator of "The Nashville Nobody Knows" podcast Candace Corrigan
BMI's Samantha Cox and Fred Cannon
Harvard Berkman Fellow Derek Slater
ASCAP artist/avant-garde pianist Matthew Shipp

..and 100 more panelists including:
Music Industry Producer, Founder of Public Enemy, President of Shocklee Entertainment Hank Shocklee
US Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters
Original Napster creator, Snocap co-founder Shawn Fanning
R.E.M. Advisor Bertis Downs and bass player Mike Mills
Meet the Composer's Heather Hitchens
CD Baby's Derek Sivers
Garageband.com's Ali Partovi
Jazz Alliance's Suzan Jenkins
Universal Music and Video Distribution's Jim Urie

...and even more. See entire list of confirmed panelists here.

Sponsored by: ASCAP * Microsoft * Consumer Electronics Association * Garageband.com * Recording Artists' Coalition * AFM * BMI * Online Gigs * CD Baby * Mercora * AFTRA * SESAC * IODA * The Recording Academy * Public Knowledge * EFF * Epiphone Guitars * RoyaltyShare * SoundExchange * KEXP-FM Seattle * Indie-Music.com * Just Plain Folks * Starpolish * Merge Records * Touch and Go Records

TIMELY DISCUSSIONS WITH MAJOR PLAYERS

STATE OF THE UNION: On Monday, September 12, RIAA's Mitch Bainwol, Consumer Electronic Association's Gary Shapiro, original Napster creator Shawn Fanning, US Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters, Microsoft's Andy Moss and songwriter/producer Joe Henry will convene for a panel that takes a look at the music industry from 50,000 feet. What does this week's Kazaa decision in Australia mean? How are copyright holders embracing new technologies?  And most importantly, how are artists and creators impacted by these changes?

INDECENCY and CENSORSHIP: Last week, hip hop musician Kanye West went "off script" during a live telethon in what was clearly an emotional statement about the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. The NBC network removed some of his critique of the Bush administration from the broadcast before it was played on the West Coast, saying it would be "unfortunate" if Kanye's comments overshadowed the general effort. On Tuesday, Sept 13, leading legal and legislative experts Michael Carroll, John Crigler and Erik Huey will join with WFMU's radio station manager Ken Freedman and media advocate Kathryn Montgomery to discuss the difficult balance between free speech, the First Amendment and community standards, as well as musicians' role in the public forum.

SAMPLING: On Monday, Sept 12, Rick Karr sits down with legendary funk musician George Clinton and music industry producer/Public Enemy founder Hank Shocklee for what's sure to be an engaging three-way discussion about creativity, sampling and compensation. Their discussion will lead right into a larger panel that will include author Jeff Chang, attorneys Whitney Broussard and Bob Kohn, and Recording Academy's Shannon Emamali.

GROKSTER: On June 27, the US Supreme Court handed down its decision in MGM v. Grokster. Now, on September 13, some of the major players in this lawsuit including the movie and music industry’s lead counsel Don Verrilli, EFF’s Fred von Lohmann, RIAA president Cary Sherman, Creative Commons' counsel Mia Garlick, ASCAP's Chris Amenita and NYU professor Siva Vaidhyanathan will debate the impact of the Supreme Court decision on musicians and the music industry.

PAYOLA: On July 25, NY State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced a settlement with Sony BMG in his payola investigation. Now, on September 13, Terryl Brown Clemons, Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Division of Public Advocacy and lead investigator, will explain the implications of the settlement as well as what we should expect from Spitzer and the FCC on payola in the near future.

....and so much more! We're also doing panels on podcasting, distribution, and how technology is affecting less commercially visible genres of music. Check out the complete schedule here.

Register online today for the best Future of Music Policy Summit ever.
SECURE ONLINE REGISTRATION

MUSICIANS' SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
CLE CREDIT FOR ATTORNEYS
DISCOUNTED RATES FOR STUDENTS

See you in a week!

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