April 10, 2008
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
Press release | Event details
March 25, 2008
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.
Press release for: Rochester | Syracuse | Albany
Event details | RSVP
March 13, 2008
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.
Press release | Spoken testimony | Written testimony | Rock the Net
March 7, 2008
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
Press release | Event details
February 15, 2008
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.
Press release
February 4, 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.
Press release
January 21, 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.
Press release
January 15, 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.
Press release | Event details
January 3, 2008
Ann Chaitovitz Appointed FMC's New Executive Director
A proven leader in musician and public policy issues, Chaitovitz replaces founding Executive Director Jenny Toomey
Press release
January 2, 2008
Concerts for New Orleans Musicians Bring Artists Together
Two New Orleans shows and upcoming benefit CD from OK Go and Bonerama
Press release
November 26, 2007
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
Press Release
October 31, 2007
Seattle "Rocked the Net"
Rep. Jay Inslee advocated network neutrality; joined by rocker Matt Nathanson, Reclaim the Media, FMC and local music business representatives
Press Release | Rock the Net
October 26, 2007
Rock the Net: Campaign for Net Neutrality Rocks Seattle
Teleconference with Rep Jay Inslee on Tuesday, Oct 30. Matt Nathanson performs at Seattle’s Crocodile Café on Tuesday, Oct. 30
Press Release | Rock the Net
September 10, 2007
Future of Music Policy Summit to Tackle Critical Issues at the Intersection of Music, Law, Technology and Policy
Sen. Byron Dorgan and Sen. Ron Wyden to Deliver Keynote Addresses
Mac McCaughan, Bob Mould, Marybeth Peters of the U.S. Copyright Office and More Than 90 Other Panelists Confirmed.
Press Release | Summit home page | Press Credentialing
August 13, 2007
AT&T’s muting of bands points toward a pattern of silencing political speech
Content monitor did not edit out 20 instances of curse words during Pearl Jam webcast, despite AT&T claim it hires monitors to block "excessive profanity".
Press Release
August 13, 2007
Top musicians, lawyers, technologists confirmed for FMC’s 7th annual Policy Summit
Discounted Registration Ends on Aug. 16
More than 30 panelists and speakers including U.S. Copyright Office head Marybeth Peters, Pandora Chief Strategist Tim Westergren, and Microsoft Senior Music Producer Jon Kertzer have confirmed for one of the music industry’s premier conferences: the Future of Music Policy Summit.
Press Release | Summit home page | Press Credentialing
August 9, 2007
FMC Statement on AT&T Silencing Pearl Jam's lyrics during Lollapalooza webcast
AT&T accused of silencing portions of Pearl Jam's lyrics during the webcast of the band's Lollapalooza performance on August 5, 2007.
Statement, including YouTube clips
July 24, 2007
Registration Opens for FMC's Annual Policy Summit
The Policy Summit brings together an unprecedented mix of musicians, lawmakers, and technologists for cutting edge discussions on issues at the intersection of music, law, technology, and policy.
Press Release | Summit home page | Press Credentialing
July 13, 2007
FMC files FCC complaint against Clear Channel
Broadcaster asking musicians to give up valuable royalties
to get airplay is equivalent of payola
The Future of Music Coalition and Media Access Project filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission requesting clarification that Clear Channel’s practice of forcing local and independent recording artists to waive potential royalties as a condition of having a song considered for broadcast airplay is tantamount to payola.
Press Release | Filing
June 29, 2007
FMC Statement on Federal Trade Commission Report on Net Neutrality
While FMC agrees with the FTC's assessment of the lack of broadband competition at the local level, we join with other public interest groups in criticizing the FTC for not fully exploring the deleterious impact of a tiered Internet system.
Press Release
June 27, 2007
FMC: Congress should strike a balance on webcasting rates
A proportionate royalty structure allows both artists and small webcasters to thrive
Ahead of an important congressional hearing on digital performance royalties for non-interactive webcasts, the Future of Music Coalition files testimony that urges Congress to establish a rate system that ensures artists get paid fairly and webcasters can continue to broadcast.
Press Release | Testimony
June 22, 2007
Clear Channel strips local, independent artists of digital performance royalties
Move runs counter to spirit of the payola settlement
FMC has discoved that Clear Channel's online application for local and independent artists to submit their music for airplay on each of its stations requires the artist to approve a licensing agreement that does away with their digital performance right. In other words, Clear Channel is asking the artists to sign away his or her right to get paid a royalty when it digitally broadcasts the artist’s work.
Press Release
June 22, 2007
Low Power Radio Gets New Push in Congress
Congress introduces bills to create hundreds of new low power FM radio stations to cities and suburbs across the country.
Press Release
June 11, 2007
FMC Announces Dates for 7th annual Policy Summit
Top musicians, lawmakers and technologists will gather in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 17 and 18 for the Future of Music Policy Summit, an annual event that brings together an unusual mix of people for cutting edge discussions on issues at the intersection of music, technology and policy. This year’s edition will include more than a dozen panel discussions on some of the most pressing issues facing the music industry such as webcasting rates, copyright reform, international licensing models, the recent radio payola settlement, and network neutrality. The Summit will be held in Betts Theatre at George Washington University.
Press Release
May 23, 2007
FMC Organizes "Musicians Bringing Musicians Home II"
A Benefit Concert on May 27 at New Orleans' Tipitina's for Sweet Home New Orleans featuring: Indigo Girls, Damian Kulash of OK Go, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Matt Nathanson, Pamela Z...and special guests
Press Release | Details
April 25, 2007
Congressman Mike Doyle to address conference on music, law and technology
May 2 event will bring together leading experts from worlds of music, law, technology and policy.
press release
April 17, 2007
A2IM Endorses Rock the Net
American Association of Independent Music urges its label members to join the campaign for network neutrality.
press release and A2IM's statement
April 16, 2007
Music Mashes with Policy at upcoming Technology and IP Policy Day
May 2 event will bring together leading experts from worlds of music, law, technology and policy.
media advisory
April 13, 2007
FMC Applauds FCC's Payola Settlement
Payola agreement by FCC and big broadcast chains represents a major - but tentative - step toward once again opening the nation's airwaves to local music and voices.
press release
March 27, 2007
Rep. Edward Markey, Ted Leo kick off "Rock the Net"
Nearly 150 artists and labels have already signed onto campaign for net neutrality
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and musician Ted Leo helped launch "Rock the Net," a new nationwide campaign that aims to sign up artists, music labels, and fans from coast to coast in support of net neutrality.
Press release from teleconference | MP3 of teleconference
March 23, 2007
Major Artists To Join Launch of Rock the Net Campaign for Net Neutrality
On Tuesday, March 27 at 11:00 AM ET,FMC will host a teleconference for the "Rock the Net" campaign launch. R.E.M., Boots Riley of The Coup, Kronos Quartet, Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Ted Leo, and dozens of other artists are joining a new nationwide campaign in support of net neutrality. "Rock the Net" aims to recruit every musician, independent record label and fan in the nation to affirm the principles of equal access to the Internet.
March 23 Press Release | March 19 Media Advisory
March 19, 2007
FMC Statement on CRB Webcasting Rates
FMC urges small webcasters, commercial webcasters, artists, SoundExchange to strike a balance that recognizes the value of webcasting, but also properly compensates artists, performers and labels for uses of their work. While the proposed method of calculating rates based on gross revenue may work for many of the larger commercial webcasters, it’s unlikely there will ever be a “one size fits all” resolution. Nobody benefits if small webcasting stations, those that are the most likely to represent the richest diversity of music available, are forced offline because of an inability to pay the proposed licensing fees. A structure and process that sets reasonable rates for different but clearly defined categories of webcasters would be the best strategy.
Read Statement
March 5, 2007
FMC Statement on FCC’s Rules of Engagement on Payola
The consent decree released by the FC will be an important step toward opening up commercial radio to music released by independent labels and local bands.
Read Statement
January 16, 2007
FMC Releases Statement on FCC Payola Settlement
FMC's statement on FCC's reported consent decree with the broadcast industry in regards to payola.
Read Statement
December 13, 2006
Radio Station Ownership Consolidation
Shown to Harm Musicians and the Public, Says FMC Study
The rapid consolidation of the commercial radio industry that followed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has led to a loss of localism, less competition, fewer viewpoints and less diversity in radio programming in media markets across the country, according to False Premises, False Promises:A Quantitative History of Ownership Consolidation in the Radio Industry, a report released today by the Future of Music Coalition (FMC).
Press release | Report's details and executive summary
December 8, 2006
Radio Consolidation Hurts Public, New Data Shows
On December 13, FMC will release a new report, False Premises, False Promises:A Quantitative History of Ownership Consolidation in the Radio Industry. Data in the report shows that radio ownership consolidation at the national and local levels has led to fewer choices in radio programming and harmed the listening public and those working in the music and media industries, including DJs, programmers and musicians.
Media Advisory
August 9, 2006
Job Losses Associated with Radio Consolidation Undermine
Localism and Diversity
Future of Music Coalition, Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers
of America and Consumers Union Urge FCC to Take Employment
Effects of Their Policies into Account During Upcoming Review of
Media Ownership Rules
Press Release | Report:
Employment and Wage Effects of Radio Consolidation
June 13, 2006
Indie-rock revolution, fueled by net neutrality
Op-ed by FMC's Jenny Toomey and Michael Bracy
The
Hill, June 13, 2006
May 25, 2006
Pearl Jam Donation Helps Musicians Help Themselves
Proceeds From Washington, DC Appearance to be Donated to Future of
Music Coalition’s Artist Research Council
Press Release | Pearl Jam website
May 15, 2006
Future of Music Coalition Announces Dates for
Sixth Annual Future of Music Policy Summit
October 5-7, 2006
McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, Montreal, Canada
in conjunction with Pop Montreal
Media Advisory | Policy Summit home page
July 26, 2005
5th Annual Future of Music Policy Summit Announced
September 11 – 13, 2005
George Washington University, Washington, DC
Media Advisory | Policy
Summit home page
June 27, 2005
FMC Statement on MGM v Grokster and Brand X
Statement | Links to other organizations' statements
April 8, 2005
Music Mashes with Policy at FMC Policy Day
Congresswoman Watson, FCC's Adelstein, Infinity's Goodman and 20 other
experts at DC event this Tuesday
On Tuesday, April 12, top names in music, technology,
law, academia and policy will convene in Washington, DC to discuss
crucial policy issues facing musicians and the music industry. Panelists
and participants will come together for the Future of Music Coalition’s
DC Policy Day at the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Barbara Jordan
Conference Center to focus on four critical topics emerging in the
Courts, Congress, and at the Copyright Office: digital audio broadcasting
and the future of radio, low power FM and community voices, health
insurance and musicians, and copyright in the courts and Congress.
Press release | Details about event
December 5, 2004
Report Finds Musicians and Artists use Internet to
Advance their Work,
Connect Directly with Audiences
A study by the Pew
Internet & American Life Project provides a current and comprehensive
snapshot of artists' and musicians' opinions about the internet and
copyright in the digital age. The report – "Artists,
Musicians and the Internet" – finds that musicians
and artists have embraced the internet as a tool that helps them
create, promote, and sell their work. However, they are divided about
the impact and importance of free file-sharing and other copyright
issues.
Press release | Details about survey
August 2, 2004
Artist Groups and Unions File Joint Reply Comments on Transition to
Digital Audio Broadcasting at FCC
Groups call on Commission to protect fair compensation
for the creative music professionals who provide the backbone of
the broadcast industry
In
their joint filing, AFTRA, AFM, FMC, The Recording Academy®, and
the Recording Artists’ Coalition (RAC) expressed broad support
for and excitement about the opportunities that digital audio broadcasting
presents to citizens and recording artists. Recording musicians, vocalists
and other music professionals see great potential for increased access
to the airwaves, greater musical diversity and more localism.
Press release | Reply
Comments [PDF]
June 25, 2004
Angel of the Public Interest Not Invisible to Third Circuit
Future of Music Coalition and Musician/Activist Tom Morello Praise
Third Circuit Court’s Decision to Roll Back FCC’s Push
Towards Increased Media Consolidation
The Future of Music Coalition applauds the Third Circuit Court of Appeals
for rejecting FCC Chairman Michael Powell's attempts to eliminate many
of the longstanding media ownership rules that ensure localism, competition
and diversity.
Press release
June 4, 2004
Statement of FMC on the Introduction of S 2505, the Low Power Radio
Act of 2004
LPFM provides a tangible opportunity to do something proactive
about it – to empower citizens to utilize this valuable public
resource out of a sense of community rather than a naked pursuit of
profit. We applaud the efforts of Chairman McCain and Senator Leahy
to reauthorize the FCC to implement LPFM in major population centers,
and look forward to the day where LPFM can truly thrive across the
nation.
Press Release
April 6, 2004
Rockers and Suits at Fourth Annual Policy Summit
Sunday, May 2 – Monday, May 3, 2004
George Washington University,
Washington, DC
Press Release | Policy
Summit home page
March 15, 2004
4th Annual Future of Music Policy Summit Announced
Sunday, May 2 – Monday, May 3, 2004
George Washington University,
Washington, DC
Press Release | Policy
Summit home page
February 23, 2004
Music Summit Focuses on Digitalization, Future of the Industry
File sharing, music contracts will be discussed at Music Law
Summit West
Press Release | Music
Law Summit West home page
October 8, 2003
Broad Coalition of Artist Groups Deliver "Joint Statement on Current
Issues in Radio" to the FCC and Congress
Press Release | Statement
June 2, 2003
FMC Statement on FCC's Media Ownership Rulemaking
Today the Republican majority at the FCC made a cynical and short-sighted
decision to push forward with their campaign to reduce and eliminate
time-honored rules and safeguards which have defended citizen’s
access to diverse, competitive and local media. In doing so they blatantly
ignored the will of public and warnings from industry leaders, congressional
representatives, city councils, consumer advocates, academics, creators
and community groups. These rules were originally enacted to prevent
the growth of media monopolies and ensure a diversity of voices. In
their absence we anticipate a period of unprecedented consolidation
and a swift transformation of our existing media to one that is less
representative, less responsive, less diverse, and less competitive.
The negative impact of these changes on culture, civic participation
and democracy cannot be understated. [...]
Press Release
May 19, 2003
Who Controls What You Hear?
Concert at the 9:30 Club to highlight pending FCC vote on media ownership
rules
The Future of Music Coalition and Common
Cause are teaming up to sponsor a concert on Friday, May 23, 2003
at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC to draw attention to a key vote of
a federal agency that will affect what every American watches on TV,
reads in the newspaper, and hears on the radio.
Press release
May 14, 2003
Citizens Urge FCC to Retain Current Media Ownership Rules
FCC Public Record Shows Overwhelming Opposition to Relaxing Ownership
Caps
The Future of Music Coalition today released a survey of the comments
available for public review in the Broadcast Ownership rulemaking (Docket
02-277). Citizen response to these proposed rule changes is overwhelmingly
negative. As of May 8, 2003, 9065 citizens unaffiliated to a corporation,
organization or association opposed changing existing media ownership
rules that would pave the way for further consolidation, while only
11 unaffiliated citizens supported changing the rules.
Press Release | FCC
Docket FAQ | State
by State tally of public comments
April 30, 2003
Artist Groups Insist Public Voices Be Heard on Proposed Media Ownership
Rule Changes
In a letter sent today, a diverse group of over thirty recording artists
urged FCC Chairman Michael Powell to grant Congress and the public a
full opportunity to review any proposed changes of media ownership rules
before they are enacted.
Press Release | Letter
February 27, 2003
Future of Music Coalition’s Director Toomey Invited to Testify
at Key FCC Hearings
Hearings may be last opportunity for public discourse before FCC
institutes new media ownership and consolidation rules.
Jennifer Toomey, Executive Director of the Future of Music Coalition
(FMC), has been invited to testify at the FCC’s public hearing
on Broadcast Ownership Rules, to be held on Thursday, February 27,2003
at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The rules, which are reviewed
every two years by order of Congress, play a large part in determining
the diversity and localization of entertainment, news, and advertising
content over public airwaves and media outlets.
Press Release | Testimony
| PDF of Testimony
November 18, 2002
Commercial Radio Station Ownership Consolidation Shown to Harm Artists
and the Public, Says FMC Study
The unprecedented consolidation of the commercial radio industry that
followed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has led to a loss of localism,
less competition, fewer viewpoints and less diversity in radio programming
in media markets across the country, according to “Radio Deregulation:
Has It Served Citizens and Musicians?” a study released today by
the Future of Music Coalition. Go here
to read the full report and supporting documents.
Statement of Jenny Toomey, Executive Director
of FMC, regarding the release of the FMC Radio Study
November 15, 2002
FMC Statement Regarding the Release of their Radio Study and the NAB's
"Fact Sheet"
This afternoon the National Association of Broadcasters issued a
premature response to the release of our research report "Radio Deregulation:
Has It Harmed Citizens and Musicians?" You can read the NAB's
response here, and our reply
to the NAB's claims here.
November 14, 2002
Commercial Radio Station Ownership Consolidation Shown to Harm Artists
and the Public: Future of Music Coalition Study Demonstrates Negative
Impact of Radical Consolidation of Radio Industry
On Monday, November 18, 2002 at 11:00 AM at the Willard Intercontinental
Hotel, the Future of Music Coalition (FMC) will release "Radio
Deregulation: Has It Served Citizens and Musicians?", a new report
that examines how radical consolidation of radio station ownership has
damaged the public’s radio airwaves and stifled localism, competition,
innovation and diversity across the country. This comprehensive analysis
is critically important and timely considering the FCC’s third
biennial review of broadcast ownership rules currently underway.
Media Advisory
June 19, 2002
Survey Finds Strong Public Support for Policies to Counteract the Effects
of Consolidation
The Future of Music Coalition today released a portion of the results
of a public opinion survey that it commissioned regarding citizens’
satisfaction with commercial radio. The survey found strong public support
for policies to counteract the effects of radio consolidation. The survey
is part of a larger research study looking at the effects of radio consolidation
on musicians and the public. The study is being conducted in partnership
with Media Access Project and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Press release | Survey
Results
May 24, 2002
Artist Groups Deliver "Joint Statement on Current Issues in Radio"
to FCC and Congress
Today a “Joint Statement
on Current Issues in Radio” was delivered to the Federal Communications
Commission and Congressional leaders by four organizations instrumental
in the development of the statement: the American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists (AFTRA); American Federation of Musicians (AFM); the
Future of Music Coalition (FMC); and Recording Academy (NARAS).
Press release
December 18, 2001
Additional Panelists Added to Future of Music Policy Summit
We are pleased to announce some additions to our list of panelists,
as well as two additional keynote speakers. Joining previously announced
speakers, Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Representative John
Conyers (D-MI), are California State Senator Kevin Murray and Konrad
Hilbers, CEO of Napster.
Press release | Summit
home page
November 15, 2001
Second Annual Future of Music Policy Summit Announced
The Future Of Music Coalition is pleased to announce the Second Annual
Policy Summit ยจ taking place on January 7th and 8th, 2002 at Georgetown
University in Washington, DC. Over 700 musicians, lawyers, artists,
academics, and policymakers will come together to debate the most contentious
issues surrounding digital technology and artists' rights.
Press release | Summit
home page
September 11, 2001
Think Tank for Musicians Brings its Message to Local Students and Citizens
The DC-based Future of Music Coalition Embarks on Nationwide "Behind/Behind
the Music" Tour to Highlight Key Policy Issues at the Intersection of
Music, Technology, Law and Economics
Press release | Tour
home page
August 22, 2001
Future of Music Coalition Calls for Organizational Reform of Sound Exchange
Suggests Framework to Ensure Artists can Benefit from RIAA's Digital
Royalty Organization
Press release
February 12, 2001
On the Napster Ruling
Statement of Jenny Toomey, Executive Director, Future of Music Coalition
Press release
October 10, 2000
Future Of Music Coalition 'Wary' of RIAA PRO Initiative and Proposes
Independent Performing Rights Organization
Press release
FMC in the News
