This article has been amended to reflect a change in the panelists. Richard Barone has replaced Ryan Shaw.
The New York section of the Audio Engineering Society will conduct a panel discussion concerning royalties, June 9. “Understanding Copyrights” is being coordinated with the New York chapter of the Recording Academy and the New School for Jazz Performance.
A release explains, “From the ‘Fair Play, Fair Pay Act’ to promises of digital royalties for producers, mixers, and engineers, new bills in Congress seem to guarantee a new brighter horizon for many who have not enjoyed this type of revenue in the past. But is this future so promising? This panel discussion will explore details of these new house bills as well as touch on underutilized or unclaimed revenue based on existing royalty, rights and trademarks.”
Moderator Ray Archie, CEO, of MixLuv Inc., asked, “Antiquated legislation about music performance rights and music licensing has created unsustainable inequalities with the relationship between music and broadcast media. In what other business can you demand the government legislate below market prices?”
He added, “The fundamental issues to be addressed are the creation of an AM/FM performance right, enforcement of royalty requirements for pre-1972 recordings, and streamlined royalty payments to producers and engineers.”
Furthermore, he warned, “The importance of this discussion to radio is exemplified by The Turtles recent class action suit against SiriusXM in California, New York and Florida for unlicensed and unauthorized performance of pre-1972 recordings and requesting $100M in damages. Granting this suit opens the doors for other artists to enter the class.”
Expected panelists include: New York University Clive Davis Institute professor Richard Barone; multi-platinum engineer, producer and songwriter, Jack Douglas; Deezer VP of Music Rights and Label Relations, Julien Simon; entertainment and trademark attorney Keith A. Weltsch; S-Curve Records head and Grammy Award-winning Producer, Steve Greenberg; and SESAC VP of Writer/Publisher Relations Linda Lorence-Critelli.
The event will be held at The New School for Jazz Performance, starting at 6 p.m.. It is opened to the public with registration.