The final procedural vote on the Music Modernization Act occurred today (Sept. 25) as the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill with its new name, The Hatch-Goodlatte Music Modernization Act. The act’s new name honors retiring Senator Orrin Hatch, the lead Senate sponsor of the legislation and U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA) who is also retiring from Congress at the end of this term.

The final step for the MMA is for President Donald Trump to sign the act into law.

“Today Congress officially passed the Music Modernization Act, giving American songwriters real hope for fair royalty compensation in the future,” said songwriter Steve Bogard, President of the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

“It has been a long, long journey,” said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. “But in many ways the journey has really just begun. After the President signs the legislation into law. songwriters and music publishers being a two-year process to create a new licensing agency that they will oversee. Controlling that process is very important and along with tools to achieve higher streaming royalty rates makes the MMA the most important bill for songwriters in history.”

The Music Licensing Collective (MLC) begins operation Jan. 2, 2021 and will administer a new blanket license for digital mechanical royalties, work to identify song owners so they can be properly compensated, distribute unclaimed funds and represent every American songwriter. It will also be the first time in history 100 cents of every dollar collected will be paid to songwriters since the streaming companies have agreed to pay all costs associated with operating the MLC.

The bill will also:
Changes the standard by which songwriter streaming rates are established replacing an outdated 1909 law that governs songwriter mechanical or sales royalties, changes consent decree regulations from 1941 that govern songwriter performance royalties.
Requires the random selection of judges when performing rights societies ASCAP or BMI go to a rate court proceeding. Presently those judges are appointed for life.
Eliminates the disastrous Notice of Intent (NOI) program administered by the U.S. Copyright Office that allows digital streaming companies to put the licensing burden back on songwriters.
Guarantees streaming royalty payments to artists whose recordings were done before 1972 who now are not required to be paid due to a loophole in the Copyright Act.
Pays streaming royalties directly to music producers and engineers instead of going through other parties first.

NMPA President & CEO David Israelite commented, “After many months moving through Congress, we are thrilled to see the Music Modernization Act officially passed. Now, only days stand between tonight’s House vote and this bill becoming law. We thank our champions Congressman Doug Collins, Hakeem Jeffries, Bob Goodlatte and all of the members who again voted unanimously to improve the lives of millions of music creators and fans. This was not an easy process, but it has galvanized the entire industry behind the songwriters, artists, producers and composers whose voices carried the bill across this threshold. Music is at the core of our country and it’s edifying to see Congress work together to ensure those who make it can make a living in the digital age.”

“The trajectory of the Music Modernization Act has shown the power of music creators to effect real change. From its unanimous approval in the House of Representatives in April, to its passage in the Senate last week, we have seen unprecedented advocacy from the music community. With today’s final passage of the bill in the House, we are one step away from the most sweeping music copyright reform since the 8-track tape era, and we look forward to this being signed into law,” says Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow.

“If you are a music fan, you should celebrate today’s House passage of the Music Modernization Act. The music industry came together to demand that Congress modernize our music laws. That includes ensuring that music creators get paid more fairly. Because we spoke with one voice, Congress heard us. On behalf of SoundExchange’s 170,000-member community, thank you.” said SoundExchange President/CEO Michael Huppe.

John Josephson, SESAC Chairman and CEO, adds “Tonight’s unanimous passage of the Music Modernization Act by the House is a big win for content creators, and we remain hopeful the President will sign the bill in the coming days. Thanks to all for their support on this important legislation for our creative community.”

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the final version of the Music Modernization Act, now known as the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act. We are now one step away from enacting comprehensive copyright reform that will benefit American music creators for generations to come, while simplifying the licensing process for music streaming services. We would like to thank our music industry partners, the diverse businesses that utilize music, the bipartisan legislators, and the highly engaged, passionate community of songwriters and composers, all of whom together championed this bill to protect the future of music in our nation. We hope to be able to celebrate the final passage of this historic bill into law in the near future,” said BMI President/CEO Mike O’Neill.

 A new book by Jake Brown, Nashville Songwriter II: The Inside Stories Behind Country Music’s Greatest Hits will be released to stores and digital retailers on Oct. 15. The second in the series, readers will enjoy the true stories that inspired 300 No. 1 hits by a roster of the biggest multi-Platinum country superstars, including Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and more.

The stories are organized into 35 exclusive interviews with country’s top writers such as Shane McAnally, Hillary Lindsey, Rhett Akins, Lori McKenna, Josh Kear, Luke Laird, Liz Rose, Ashley Gorley, Rodney Clawson, Cole Swindell, Ross Copperman, Natalie Hemby, Josh Osborne, Nicolle Galyon, Zach Crowell and many more.

The book also includes a chapter devoted to music publishing, featuring interviews with the biggest publishers on Music Row such as Warner/Chappell, Creative Nation, SMACK, Rezonant, Carnival, BMG, Tape Room, and Play It Again, among others.

Pictured (L-R): Luke Laird (Songwriter/Co-Founder), Kelsey Granda (Publishing), Christina Wighton (Publishing), Rachel Burleson (Management), Lori McKenna, Jeff Skaggs (Publishing), Shaina Botwin (Publishing), Beth Laird (Co-Founder/CEO), and Brandon Gill (Management). Photo: Katie Kauss

Lori McKenna has extended her publishing and management agreements with Creative Nation. The Grammy award-winning songwriter has been a writer and artist at Creative Nation since April 2015.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with Lori over the last three years and we are excited to have the opportunity to continue to expand upon what we’ve built together. Lori is a songwriter’s songwriter and it’s been incredible to watch what she has accomplished. She continues to set the bar and carve her own path as a songwriter and artist,” Creative Nation’s Co-Founder and CEO, Beth Laird, says.

“I’m excited to continue on with my Creative Nation team of people who work so hard to make sure my time in music is spent simply making music. My life in music has always surpassed my dreams of it and that has so much to do with Beth and Luke and the amazing people that make up Creative Nation,” McKenna says.

McKenna made history as a songwriter in 2016, becoming the first woman ever to win the CMA’s Song of the Year two years in a row, for her co-write on Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and writing Tim McGraw’s No. 1 “Humble And Kind” solo. Both songs also clinched back-to-back Grammy wins for Best Country Song. In 2017, she became the ACM’s first female Songwriter of the Year. Her other hits include “Cry Pretty” (Carrie Underwood), “I Want Crazy” (Hunter Hayes), “God Made Girls” (RaeLynn), and “Sober,” “Your Side of the Bed,” and “Happy People” (Little Big Town). Her catalog also includes songs recorded by Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Reba, Alison Krauss, Brandy Clark, The Cadillac Three, Jillian Jacqueline, Ashley Monroe, and Eli Young Band, among others.