Press Releases

Joint Statement on Elimination of the NEA, NEH, and CPB

March 16, 2017

Washington, D.C. — The Content Creators Coalition (c3) and the Future of Music Coalition release the following statement reacting to President Trump’s budget, which if enacted by Congress would eliminate programs supporting arts and culture, including the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting:

“The arts play a vital role in our culture. They help define us as a people. They help unite us as a nation. They help inspire us to explore the unknown. They help drive our economy and create American jobs. For these reasons and more, President Trump’s proposed budget that guts the arts programs is indefensible. read more

Future of Music Coalition Applauds Introduction of Copyright Small Claims Court bill

August 11, 2016

Earlier this month, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) introduced the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2016” or “CASE Act”, which would create a small claims court facilitated by the Copyright Office for federal copyright-related claims as a voluntary alternative to the federal court system.

Kevin Erickson, National Organizing Director for Future of Music Coalition made the following statement: read more

FMC Dismayed by DOJ 100% Licensing Requirement

July 21, 2016

In conference calls earlier this month, attorneys at the Department of Justice informed songwriters and composers that the DOJ intends to leave intact the consent decrees governing performance rights organizations ASCAP & BMI, and is reinterpreting these consent decrees to require ASCAP & BMI to offer 100% licensing.

Kevin Erickson, National Organizing Director for Future of Music Coalition made the following statement: read more

Musicians Celebrate Net Neutrality Court Victory

June 14, 2016

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected a challenge by Internet Service Providers, upholding the Federal Communications Commission’s Open Internet Order, ruling that the agency exercised its proper authority when it reclassified broadband internet access as a telecom service in February 2015.

This ruling affirms the basic rules long sought by a broad coalition that includes musicians, internet users, civil rights groups, public interest organizations, and technologists.

FMC National Organizing Director Kevin Erickson released the following statement: read more

Future of Music Coalition Weclomes New Board Members, Sets Bold Vision for Artist Engagement

January 1, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC—Future of Music Coalition (FMC) is thrilled to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors. Jean Cook is a musician who formerly served FMC as Director of Programs, where she co-led the organization’s groundbreaking Artist Revenue Streams Project. Jason Burns is a well-respected and forward-looking music manager based in Toronto, Canada. They join a governance team committed to improving conditions for working musicians and composers, and will support FMC’s goal of a musical ecosystem where artists flourish and are compensated fairly and transparently for their work. read more

Future of Music Coalition on Internet Radio Royalty Decision

December 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC — On December 15, 2015, the Copyright Royalty Board issued its decision establishing non-interactive webcasting royalty rates for sound recordings in the 2016-2020 period. These rates represent a partial increase over the amount currently paid by digital radio services transmitting music via the Internet.

Future of Music Coalition CEO Casey Rae made the following statement: read more

Arts & Culture Groups to DC Circuit Court: Let Net Neutrality Rules Stand

September 22, 2015

CONTACT
Kevin Erickson, Communications & Outreach Manager
Future of Music Coalition
202-822-2051
keving [at] futureofmusic [dot] org

Open Internet Essential to Promoting Free Speech and Commerce read more

Artists Celebrate Abandoned Comcast-TWC Merger

April 24, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Comcast officially confirmed its decision to walk away from its 45-billion dollar deal to acquire Time Warner Cable. This merger was widely criticized by creators and consumers alike, and had previously been greeted with skepticism by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). read more

Fair Play Fair Pay Act Introduced to Address Musician & Label Compensation

April 13, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN.), John Conyers Jr. (D-MI.), and Ted Deutch (D-FL.) introduced the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015. Among other things, the bill would establish a public performance right for terrestrial radio, enabling musicians and sound recording owners to collect royalties when their music is played on AM/FM radio.

Musicians and Composers Welcome FCC Net Neutrality Order

March 12, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC—Today (March 12, 2015), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published its Open Internet Order that was approved in a vote on Feb. 26, 2015. Following Congressional guidelines, the rulemaking includes comments from the two dissenting commissioners, along with full details on the Commission’s framework for “reclassifying” broadband Internet service under Title II of the Communications Act. read more