Paul McCartney and others threaten to boycott SiriusXM

In 2013, Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, two members of the Turtles who also perform as Flo & Eddie, filed a class-action lawsuit against SiriusXM over its playing of "pre-1972 recordings without obtaining licenses from or paying royalties to owners of the recordings." In a settlement reached in November 2016, SiriusXM agreed to pay up to $99 million. A month later, a New York State Court of Appeals judge upheld SiriusXM's appeal, concurring that "the issue of royalty payments is determined by the federal Copyright Act. An alleged state copyright for pre-1972 sound recordings does not exist." Not surprisingly, SiriusXM no longer plays Turtles recordings.

As Al Jolson said in The Jazz Singer (1927), the first feature film with synchronized sound, "You ain't heard nothin' yet!" More than 150 musicians and music executives are now threatening to boycott SiriusXM over the company's opposition to portions of the new copyright revision bill known as the Music Modernization Act.

Paul McCartney, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Katy Perry, Carole King, Carly Simon and dozens more threaten to boycott SiriusXM over its opposition to the Music Modernization Act

https://variety.com/2018/music/news/...ct-1202944141/

SiriusXM quickly responded to the musicians' allegations:

SiriusXM responds to artists' letter threatening boycott

https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/si...tt-1202945226/

And today:

Music Modernization Act passes in Senate with unanimous support
Billboard, Sep 18 2018

The long road to copyright revision is nearing its end as the US.Senate today passed the Music Modernization Act by unanimous consent . The move mimics the House's unilateral support, previously passing the bill by a vote of 415-0 back in April. With the Senate's move, the legislation has been renamed the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act in honor of the Republican senior senator from Utah -- a songwriter himself -- who will retire at the end of his term this year.

Now the Senate version of the bill will go back to the House where it needs approval due to all the changes made to the bill in order to get it passed in the Senate. If the House approves the new version of the bill, it will need to be signed by President Donald Trump before it can become law.

https://www.billboard.com/articles/b...nimous-support

Stay tuned. And if all of Paul McCartney's music suddenly disappears from The Beatles Channel, we'll know why.

Music industry executives are responding to the Senate's passage of the Music Modernization Act:

Martin Bandier, CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing: "The unanimous backing of the MMA by the US Senate shows what can be achieved when a diverse group of parties puts aside its differences and works together for the music industry’s greater good." (In other words, it's all about the money.)

Chris Harrison, CEO of the Digital Media Association: "Today the Senate passed the Music Modernization Act by unanimous consent. This milestone for the MMA demonstrates that with bipartisan leadership and a united music industry looking to the future, consumers, creators and copyright owners can all benefit." (In other words, it's all about the money.)

David Israelite, CEO of the National Music Publishers Association: "Today is a momentous day for songwriters, artists, composers, producers, engineers and the entire industry that revolves around them. The Senate vote marks a true step forward towards fairness for the people at the heart of music who have long been undervalued due to outdated laws." (In other words, it's all about the money.)

This accord (which, by the way, is all about the money) means SiriusXM can continue to play pre-1972 recordings. I'm guessing it also means SiriusXM will have to increase its subscription fees. *Sigh*

Music community comes together on Music Modernization Act
MarketWatch, Sep 18 2018 11:09 PM

SiriusXM joined with Azoff Music Management, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) to announce an agreement on the Music Modernization Act. The changes build upon existing language to confirm in law that artists will receive 50% of performance royalties from SiriusXM for pre-1972 sound recordings and confirm that the existing sound recording royalty rate for satellite radio will remain in place unchanged until 2027, an additional five year period.

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-re...-09-18-2318390

Hey, Kanye, if you want me to write a special parody version of Gold Digger that you can sing and dedicate to all the recording artists (yourself included), just let me know.

Kanye West will join President Trump for Music Modernization Act signing
Billboard, Oct 10 2018

Kanye West will join President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, October 11 for the Music Modernization Act (MMA) signing, as the monumental music legislation becomes law. Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow, Recording Industry Association of America President Mitch Glazier and others will also attend the event. The legislation signing is scheduled for 11:45 AM local time.

The MMA is a multifaceted bill forged by compromises throughout the music industry that creates a blanket mechanical license and a centralized system to administer it, while changing some considerations used in setting music publishing rates. It also compels digital and satellite radio to pay royalties on pre-1972 master recordings to labels and artists and codifies the procedure by which SoundExchange can pay producers and engineers royalties for the records it works on.

The Senate unanimously passed the MMA on September 18 and a week later the House of Representatives unanimously approved the updated version of the bill, sending it to the President's desk.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news...d5cH?ocid=AMZN