Written by Chris CastleJune 28, 2018

Content Creators Coalition & MusicAnswers Applaud the Revision and Passage of the Music Modernization Act by the Senate Judiciary Committee — Artist Rights Watch

PRESS RELEASE [Washington, D.C.] – The Content Creators Coalition and MusicAnswers released today the following statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote in support of the Music Modernization Act. C3 and MusicAnswers applaud the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to advance the Music Modernization Act, while incorporating key changes we had urged to make the legislation stronger, more […]

Written by Chris CastleJune 28, 2018

What’s Up With @SenSasse’s Vicious Little Amendment on pre-72?

It’s important to know who your friends are, and we’ve learned this week that Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse is not one of them. It’s a bit surprising given Omaha’s musical legacy that starts with the big band era–you know, the musicians and artists Sasse was trying to dis with his amendment to strike the […]

Written by Chris CastleJune 27, 2018June 27, 2018

Here Comes the Shiv: Sen. Sasse to Move to Strike the CLASSICS Act and Screw Pre-72 Artists

MTP readers will not be surprised to learn that Senator Sasse is circulating an amendment to strike the CLASSICS Act from the Senate version of the Music Modernization Act. The amendment appears to have been drafted by the Google Shills at Public Knowledge.

Written by Chris CastleJune 27, 2018June 28, 2018

Ron Wyden’s Teachable Moment: Should one Senator be allowed to stop 415 Members of Congress on the Pre-72 Fix

It’s rare that we get insight into just how sleazy the Congress can be–but Senator Ron Wyden is giving us all a guided tour when it comes to his singular dedication to screwing pre-72 artists. There is a process in the Senate called a “hold” (see this memo from the Congressional Research Service describing the […]

Written by Editor CharlieJune 26, 2018June 26, 2018

Guest Post: Court Rules Photographs are “Factual Depictions”; Copying Them Is Fair use

On June 11, 2018, another head scratching decision came out of the Eastern District of Virginia, one that has the potential to seriously erode the copyright protections afforded photographers.

Written by Chris CastleJune 24, 2018June 24, 2018

@Tched: Rethinking Local Newspaper Subscription Models For People Who Have Never Paid For News

To save local news publications, readers in local communities will need to show renewed interest and willingness to pay for a newspaper subscription. This seems highly unlikely given that most newspapers still treat subscriptions like they did a decade ago. By that I mean they have more in common with lawn care businesses than modern […]

Written by Chris CastleJune 22, 2018June 22, 2018

Operation Song

“In a world in which everything is subject to the passing of time, art alone is both subject to time and yet victorious over it.” ― André Malraux I wanted to call your attention to Operation Song, a nonprofit run by our friend Bob Regan the songwriter. It’s a wonderful organization that describes itself: Operation […]

Written by Chris CastleJune 22, 2018

The Music Modernization Act’s New Burdens for Labels Identifying Unmatched Songs — Music Tech Solutions

The Music Modernization Act is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. It seems like every time I read it, a new toad jumps out from under a rock.

The latest one I found is a new burden the MMA places on all sound recording owners, large and small. Why? To help the digital services comply with their obligation to locate song copyright owners in order for the services to keep the new “reachback” safe harbor–what we used to call “copyright infringement.”

Written by Chris CastleJune 21, 2018June 24, 2018

Is YouTube The Lyor Show?

While we can appreciate Lyor’s old school view of his role in the Google Nation, no one should be persuaded that his approach will change anything as long as one of the largest corporations in commercial history is allowed to weaponize the DMCA safe harbor.

Written by Chris CastleJune 18, 2018

Songwriters Guild President Rick Carnes testifies on the Need for Copyright Small Claims Court

Strangely overlooked in the hoorah about the mechanical licensing collective is the CASE Act that would finally establish a small claims court for copyright infringement. If Big Tech is going to give themselves another safe harbor in MMA for the mechanical licenses they failed miserably to obtain, the least that the Congress can do is […]

Music Technology Policy

News from the Goolag Since 2006 ~ A survival guide to the creative apocalypse: We follow issues and opinion important to professional creators. Data is the new exposure.

Month: June 2018