Artists Send Statement To Congress Urging CLASSICS Act Passage

Several artists sent a statement to Congress Tuesday (Dec. 19) urging passage of the CLASSICS Act to stop older artists being taken advantage of by digital music services. The Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society Act (the CLASSICS Act), aims to make pre-1972 recordings subject to the same compulsory license laws that govern later recordings.

“Digital radio makes billions of dollars a year from airplay of music made before 1972,” the CLASSICS Act reads. “Yet, because of an ambiguity in state and federal copyright laws, artists and copyright owners who created that music receive nothing for the use of their work. The CLASSICS Act would correct this inequity and finally ensure that musicians and vocalists who made those timeless songs finally get their due. We urge Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act and other pro-artist reforms quickly.”

Artists signing the statement include:

• Stelth Alexander
• T Bone Burnett
• Clem Burke
• Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Rosanne Cash
• Beth Nielsen Chapman
• Marc Cohn
• Ry Cooder
• Rodney Crowell
• John Doe
• Jerry Douglas
• Mark Erelli
• Mary Gauthier
• Emmylou Harris
• Debbie Harry
• David Hood
• Patterson Hood
• Kris Kristofferson
• John Leventhal
• Mac McAnally
• John McCrea
• Bette Midler
• Rhett Miller
• Parker Millsap
• Jason Moran
• Paul Moravec
• Grant-Lee Phillips
• John Prine
• Bonnie Raitt
• East Bay Ray
• Vernon Reid
• Henry Rollins
• Wesley Stace (John Wesley Harding)
• Chris Stein
• Jeff Tweedy
• John Paul White
• Hank Williams Estate
• Hal Willner
• Jason Isbell
• Amanda Shires
• Matraca Berg

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at [email protected].

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