Hatch Foundation Holds Music Licensing Symposium

Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, leads a panel discussion.

Yesterday (Aug. 13), the Hatch Center—the policy arm of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation—hosted a symposium entitled “Music Licensing in the 21st Century.”

Speakers included Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; Gordon Smith, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters; Elizabeth Matthews, CEO of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; Michael O’Neill, President and CEO of Broadcast Music, Inc; and Orrin G. Hatch, Chairman Emeritus of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation.

“What an honor to have so many music luminaries here in our own backyard,” said Hatch. “As a lifelong songwriter myself, I have long advocated on behalf of the talented men and women who contribute greatly to our arts and culture through their work in the recording industry. Today we heard insightful commentary from a handful of policymakers who are committed to building on the coordinated effort between lawmakers and stakeholders that resulted in the Music Modernization Act last year.”

“In true Orrin Hatch fashion, today’s symposium brought together two sides of an issue to work towards a unifying solution,” said Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of the Hatch Foundation. “The focus of our discussion was on striking a balance in music licensing: We need a regulatory environment that allows our broadcasters to thrive, but we also need consent decrees that work for our songwriters and publishers. The biggest takeaway from today is that we can do both.”