Leading Music Organizations To Trump: 'Tech Corporations Can Do Better'

Click to read the full letter.

Leading music industry organizations, including the RIAA, The Recording Academy and the performing rights organizations, sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump to state the importance of intellectual property and rights-holders earning fair market value. This letter comes on the eve of Trump’s meeting with leaders of the tech industry Wednesday (Dec. 14) afternoon.

The correspondence addresses that “music drives innovation” and that “sophisticated technology corporations can do better” in preventing illegal access to music and “paying fair market value.”

The letter is signed by A2IM, American Federation of Musicians, ASCAP, Americana Music Association, BMI, Church Music Publishers’ Association, Christian Music Trade Association, Gospel Music Association, The Living Legends Foundation Inc., Music Managers Forum – U.S., NSAI, NMPA, The Recording Academy, RIAA, Rhythm & Blues Foundation, SAG-AFTRA, SESAC, The Songwriters Guild of America and SoundExchange.

According to the New York Times, top executives from Tesla, Alphabet (Google’s parent), Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook are scheduled to attend tomorrow’s meeting.

Last month, Mr. Trump hosted a similar meeting with members of the media with the main purpose of lashing out at them.