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September 28, 2005
Hello newsletter subscribers:
For the last few months, FMC has had its collective nose to the grindstone as
we programmed and organized our fifth annual Policy Summit. Below you’ll
find links to an array of post-Summit goodies, including videos, photos, and
podcasts of every panel. If you’re new to these issues, or weren’t
able to join us this year, dig in. We encourage you to peruse the archived
materials, with digestible info about everything from sampling licenses, to new
business models, to low power FM.
Now that we’ve had a few decent nights of sleep was can also get back to
the business of investigating and translating the complex issues at the intersection
of music, law, technology and policy. Capitol Hill has been abuzz since a “staff
draft” of the much-anticipated revised Telecommunications Act made its
way around email inboxes last week. Outside the Beltway, music industry
heads have been publicly complaining about iTunes’ standardized price of
99 cents per track, but critics are quick to point out that the music industry
only wants prices to go one direction from 99 cents: up. But this
is a minor quibble that will pass. Larger on our minds are FMC’s
ongoing projects, including HINT – the Health Insurance Navigation Tool – new
research on media ownership, radio airplay and sampling issues, and our ongoing
work on payola, supporting a performance right for performers and low power FM
radio station expansion.
With so much to talk about, we’ve decided to break the news into three
chunks. This newsletter includes a post-Summit wrap. Next week we’ll
introduce you to a more robust version of HINT. Then we will dedicate an entire
newsletter to giving you a sensible snapshot of the policy issues that matter
to musicians, songwriters and creators.
This newsletter:
1. Policy Summit Roundup
2. FMC at CMJ and Creative Voices symposium
3. In the Newsstream
It’s been two weeks since the end of our fifth annual Policy Summit. Thanks
to the nearly 500 musicians, advocates, attorneys, professors and music fans
who joined us for this monumental event.
This year’s expanded program included eleven engaging panels, fourteen
lively breakout sessions, three keynote speeches from members of Congress, musical
performances, and a once-in-a-lifetime conversation between funkmaster George
Clinton and Public Enemy producer/co-founder Hank Shocklee about the origins
of hip-hop and the complicated nature of sampling. Over the course of three
days we explored new business models, reviewed key music/technology policy issues,
debated the state of the music industry post-Grokster, talked about sampling,
licensing and transformative works. Breakout sessions covered everything
from how to promote and sell your music online to the legal subtleties of suggested
reforms to Section 115 of the Copyright Act.
Over the past two weeks, we’ve been collecting and archiving information
so that folks who weren’t able to make it in person can listen to these
amazing conversations:
Podcasts of every panel and speech
-------------------
FMC intern Chris Rupp diligently audio captured all the action in Lisner Auditorium
and created panel-length MP3 archives of the conversations and speeches. You
can listen to audio streams by clicking the "audio" button on the schedule
here
...or access a podcast version, with all panels and speeches neatly indexed here
Video Archive
-------------------
TV Worldwide videotaped the majority of the panels/speeches in Lisner Auditorium
on Monday and Tuesday, which are available as Windows Media streams here: http://www.tvworldwide.com/events/iwa/050911/
Panels with video footage are also
tagged on the master schedule here
The footage also includes some special interviews with some of the panelists.
We may be able to supplement this with some additional footage that other folks
shot. Check the media.cfm page for updates.
How can we make this event better?
-------------------
We want to make each conference better than the last, so we've built online forms
for collecting feedback about the location, date, programming and general organization.
Tell us who or what we're missing, or how the event could improve. Your participation
in this is anonymous and confidential.
What’s next? FMC has already been plotting our events for 2006, which
may take us out of the Beltway to new destinations. Stay tuned to this
newsletter for developments!
------------------------------------------
2. FMC at CMJ and Creative Voices Event
------------------------------------------
Mere hours after the last Summit panel, FMC Executive Director Jenny Toomey and
FMC health insurance expert Alex Maiolo both made appearances at New York’s
CMJ Music Marathon. Jenny moderated a panel called Politics
of Rock. Panelists
included artist/actor Saigon, Scott Goodstein of Catalyst Campaigns (Punk Voter),
Alexis McGill of Citizen Change, Kevin Collinsworth of Music for America and
MusicMobe, and Hector Luis Rivera, Jr. of Welfare Poets.
Alex was a panelist on Universal
Health Scare: Social Services for Struggling
Musicians. He discussed FMC’s new Health Insurance Navigation Tool initiative
as one place for artists to turn for advice on finding affordable health insurance
plans.
This Wednesday, September 28, FMC’s Kristin Thomson will be on a panel
with some notable filmmakers at a symposium called “What Price Media Consolidation?” in
Philadelphia. Co-sponsored by Creative Voices, the Rudman Institute for Entertainment
Industry Studies and the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, and
NAMAC, the symposium will take place from 2-5 p.m. at Drexel’s Mandell
Theatre, 3141 Chestnut Street. It is open to the general public. Seating is limited
and RSVPs are strongly recommended.
RSVP to rsvp.rudman@drexel.edu
Live webcast here http://www.lebow.drexel.edu/webcasts/
------------------------------------------
3. In the Newsstream
------------------------------------------
Snocap Signs Deals with Indie Labels
Snocap said it reached agreements with V2 Music, Matador Records and the Beggars
Group under which the labels will upload and register their music catalogs with
Snocap's database services, enabling the digital distribution of their content
through commercial peer-to-peer services. Reuters, September 23, 2005
Napster Users ‘Giving Up on CDs’
Music fans are giving up buying CDs in favor of downloading music, according
to download service Napster’s UK arm. BBC News, September 5, 2005
P2P SITES, POST-GROKSTER
Music sites caving to pressure from labels?
Popular file-sharing site WinMX.com ceased operating, and similar operations
are under increasing pressure, in the continuing legal fallout among underworld
peer-to-peer music services Reuters/CNET September 22, 2005
IPod People, This Culture Isn’t Alien
“We designed them to help people get involved, learn about and appreciate
classical music. It gets kids thinking about classical music too, using a medium
that younger people are tuned in to." By Chris Pasles, LA Times, September 18, 2005
Coalition Seeks Digital Radio Copyright Protection
The group asks lawmakers to give the FCC the authority to approve copyright-protection
technology similar to the so-called broadcast-flag protection regime. By Brooks Boliek, The Hollywood Reporter, September 21, 2005
Christian Rockers Risk Wrath of DMCA with DRM Tips
The bassist of Switchfoot is teaching fans how to disable the copy protection
measures in the San Diego rock band’s own CDs, presumably upsetting Sony
and perhaps unwittingly testing the anti-circumvention rules of the DMCA. By Team Register, The Register, September 21, 2005
NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans’ Heart Beats Strongly in New York
Although the city has been devastated, its musicians persevere. The programming
was smart: New Orleans musicians had the first and last words, in the form of
parade music from the Rebirth Brass Band. By Jon Pareles, New York Times, September 21, 2005
Stay tuned next week for more about HINT and policy issues.
FMC Reveals Programming for Fall Events Fall 2008 "What's the Future for Musicians?" seminars in New York and Chicago; Sampling and Fair Use Panel in NYC.
September 9, 2008 Press release | Event Page
FMC Announces Upcoming Events Fall 2008 "What's the Future for Musicians?" seminars in New York and Chicago; Washington, D.C. Policy Day and Policy Summit set for 2009.
August 5, 2008 Press release | Event Page
FMC Commends FCC's Comcast Decision On August 1, the FCC ruled that Comcast violated net neutrality principles; the decision is a positive step in preserving the open internet. August 1, 2008
Public Enemy Frontman, Production Team and Insiders Discuss Landmark Album On July 17, FMC and Pitchfork Music Festival will host a free discussion about Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back at Chicago's Cultural Center, featuring Chuck D, members of PE's production team and music media experts.
July 8, 2008 Press release | Event Page
FMC Files Brief to Protect Creative Expression
FMC and the Center for Creative Voices in Media filed a brief at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the FCC's indecency policy has a chilling effect on creativity and expression and deprives the public of access to protected speech.
July 2, 2008 Press release | Indecency amicus brief (PDF)
Wilco, Bright Eyes, Aimee Mann & more "Rock the Net" on Compilation CD
Thirsty Ear Recordings to release album on July 29 to benefit FMC's "Rock the Net" campaign for net neutrality.
June 2, 2008 Press release | Rock the Net
Musicians Get the Hint About Health Insurance
Two Raleigh concerts in memory of musician Drew Glackin; proceeds go to Glackin's family and Future of Music Coalition's Health Insurance Navigation Tool
April 10, 2008 Press release FMC's HINT program
New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists Forums in Rochester (April 28), Syracuse (April 29) and Albany (April 30) to focus on music, media, technology and policy issues for songwriters, composers and performers from all genres.
March 25, 2008 Event details | RSVP
Pop Rockers OK Go "Tour" Congress in Support of Net Neutrality
Damian Kulash and Andy Ross discuss the importance of open Internet structures to musicians; Kulash testifies before House Judiciary Committee.
March 13, 2008 Press release
Spoken testimony
Written testimony
Rock the Net
New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists Kick-off forum in Buffalo on April 2 to focus on music, media, technology and policy issues for songwriters, composers and performers from all genres. March 7, 2008 | Event details
Philly Bands Rocking for Net Neutrality February 23 Sugar Town show at Tritone in Philadelphia will showcase lady rockers and DJs, as well as musicians' support for net neutrality. February 15, 2008
OK Go and Bonerama Rocked DC for New Orleans Musicians Bands also champion FMC's "Rock the Net" campaign for net neutrality February 2 benefit show at DC's 9:30 Club raised over $8,000 for New Orleans musicians. Bands played cuts off their new benefit EP, You're Not Alone, available on iTunes on February 5. February 4, 2008
Upcoming Washington, DC show and benefit EP from OK Go & Bonerama
On February 2, OK Go and Bonerama will play a benefit at D.C.'s 9:30 Club in support of You're Not Alone - an EP to support Sweet Home New Orleans and Al "Carnival Time" Johnson. January 21, 2008
Successful New Orleans Concerts Aid Big Easy Musicians
Last week, two benefit concerts raised over $6,000 for Sweet Home New Orleans - a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for the city's musicians - and Big Easy music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson.
January 15, 2008 Press release | Event details
Ann Chaitovitz Appointed
FMC's New Executive Director A proven leader in musician and public policy issues, Chaitovitz replaces founding Executive Director Jenny Toomey January 3, 2008
Concerts for New Orleans Musicians Bring Artists Together Two New Orleans shows and upcoming benefit CD from OK Go and Bonerama January 2, 2008
FMC's Jenny Toomey Appointed Program Officer for Ford Foundation
Kristin Thomson to Serve as FMC's Interim Executive Director Michael Bracy to Chair FMC Board of Directors November 26, 2007
