Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood Sign CLASSICS Act Petition

A coalition of 213 musical artists, supported by eight leading music organizations, called upon the U.S. Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act, bipartisan legislation pending in both the House and Senate. A two-page advertisement, featuring artists and signees Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Loretta Lynn, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, k.d. lang,  as well as the John R Cash Trust and Hank Williams Sr., will appear in Wednesday’s (Feb. 14) issue of Politico.

The eight organizations supporting the act include The Recording Academy, A2IM, The American Federation of Musicians, RIAA, SAG-AFTRA, Content Creators Coalition, Music First, and SoundExchange.

In the advertisement, the artists state:

“Digital radio makes billions of dollars a year from airplay of music made before Feb. 15, 1972. 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 (H.R. 3301 / S. 2393) 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.”

The CLASSICS Act is one component of a package of music licensing reforms supported by the organizations that includes additional critical reforms such as the Music Modernization Act (H.R. 4706 / S. 2334), the AMP Act (H.R. 881) and the establishment of market-based rate standards. In the coming weeks, music community leaders anticipate the House Judiciary Committee will commence formal consideration of the music licensing reform legislation with the goal of consolidating the key reforms into a single bill.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at [email protected].

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