The Music Modernization Act would overhaul the current process for mechanical royalties by creating a market-based rates and appointing a collective to manage all digital uses of mechanical licenses (read more here). The CLASSICS Act would establish royalty payments for digital radio plays of music recorded prior to 1972, when federal copyright law took effect (read more here). The AMP Act adds producers and engineers to U.S. copyright law.
The organizations participating in the joint release include the National Music Publishers Association, the RIAA, ASCAP, BMI, the American Association of Independent Music, SoundExchange, and the Content Creators Coalition. The overwhelming support from this swath of the music industry indicates that the organizations are throwing their weight behind these acts, and will push for their passage in 2018.
Three of the four proposals currently available to Congress won the groups’ endorsement. The joint releases did not mention the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, which would implement performance royalties for terrestrial radio airplay (read more here). The National Association of Broadcasters has vehemently opposed this legislation.