WASHINGTON, D.C. (CelebrityAccess) – Award-winning songwriters will convene on Capitol Hill tomorrow, May 17, to meet with elected officials as part of the annual American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers‘ (ASCAP) “Stand with Songwriters” Advocacy Day.
They are gathering to ask senators to cosponsor the Music Modernization Act, the bipartisan music reform bill that passed unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 25 and was recently reintroduced in the Senate.
“While technology has completely transformed the way we listen to music, those who create the songs we love are disadvantaged by laws that prevent them from earning fair compensation in the digital age,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams, an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning songwriter. “With the Music Modernization Act pending in Congress, we stand at a critical juncture in our fight to protect the livelihoods of songwriters and composers. We urge our legislators to pass this important bill and give the music creators a chance to see the true value of their work.”
ASCAP songwriter and composer advocates on Capitol Hill will include: Johntá Austin, Brandy Clark, Mike Love of The Beach Boys, and Suzanne Vega, as well as ASCAP songwriter, composer and publisher board members Williams, Joel Beckerman, Richard Bellis, Bruce Broughton, Desmond Child, Dan Foliart, Dean Kay, James Kendrick, Evan Lamberg, Leeds Levy and Michelle Lewis.
The meetings will follow tonight’s “We Write the Songs” concert at The Library of Congress, sponsored by The ASCAP Foundation.
