MUSIC CREATORS VIST CAPITOL HILL AT THE RECORDING ACADEMY®'S GRAMMYS ON THE HILL® ADVOCACY DAY AFTER 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAMMYS ON THE HILL
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam attend GRAMMYs On The Hill Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on April 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
SUMMARY: Benefitting the GRAMMY Museum® and sponsored by City National Bank, the Recording Academy's 2022 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards returned to the nation's capital on Wed, April 27, recognizing five-time GRAMMY-winning, renowned songwriters and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who have been instrumental in defining the sound of pop music for decades. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) were also honored for their leadership in supporting the rights of music creators, according to the Academy.
By Mona Austin
On Wednesday, the Grammys on the Hill Awards celebrated 20 years of music rights advocacy in the nation's capitol. Mega producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were honored for defining American pop music over the past 4 decades before headin to the Capitol the net day to speak to lawmakers about the needs of music creators. With a friendship that spans over 50 years the pair has worked together on 100 gold, platinum and diamond albums, writing and producing music for top artists like Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, Mary J Blige and George Michael. Held at the Hamilton Hotel, the awards also honored Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) for their leadership in supporting the rights of music creators, especially as those in the music industry work to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic. The event was postponed last year due to the Coronavirus.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Terry Lewis, Lupita Infante, Yolanda Adams, Rep. Jim Clyburn, Harvey Mason jr., and Jimmy Jam attend GRAMMYs On The Hill Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on April 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Terry Lewis said, "It's very important that we stress to those who are coming behind us that we have a voice and we have to use it to better their circumstances and the circumstances of those who come behind them," referrin to the needs for artists to et paid for their work.
Minnesotta Democrat, Sen. Amy Klobuchar presented the recognition to the producting team that represents her state. Klobuchar was recognized for supporting music industry and independent performance venues through pandemic hardships by securing over $16 billion in emergency grant funding.
"To all the artists here tonight," said Deutch in accepting his recognition for advocacy, "No matter what I have done in Conress nothin can compare to what you have done for all of us."
Jimmy Jam signs the guiutar of Kevin McCarthy.
Musicians and politicians met at the U.S. Capitol to raise Awareness about the American Music Fairness Act., a bipartisan bill that requires radio stations to pay artists royalties for the songs they air. The U.S. is the only country in the world that does not pay musicians for radio airplay according to an article in Variety magazine. The AMFA legislation would require that the creators of music and other sound recordings played on AM/FM radio stations adeqaute pay.
Actress Fran Drescher who is the head of SAG-AFTRA was also in attendance showin her support for musicains to get fair pay for their music bein played. She stated that as that as an actress she getg paid when she performs and in the same way royalties should be extended to music perofrmers.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis meet Jim Clyburn (D-SC).
The bill also safeguards the royalties received by songwriters, and it contains key protections for small broadcasters to ensure that local and community radio stations can continue to thrive. Stations often benefit from playing the top 10 songs in rotation to attract listeners, while those spins are not tracked for payment purposes.
Per the Recording Academy. . .
The 20th anniversary of the GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards is Washington's premier annual celebration of music and advocacy, bringing together congressional leaders and music makers to recognize those who have led the fight for creators' rights.
"Over the past two decades of GRAMMYs on the Hill®, we've honored legendary creators and congressional leaders moving our industry forward and standing up for working musicians across the country," said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy®. "Last night was no exception, though there is still work to be done. As we meet with legislators today, we urge them to join us in support of more equitable solutions that protect the creative community, ensure fair treatment for creators, and harness the power of music to reach across cultures in pursuit of peace."
Musicians and lawmakers gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
There were performances by Yolanda Adams, Ledisi and Sofia Carson. Several of the artists joined the heads of the Recording Academy in meetings with politicians at the Capitol the follwing day.
WATCH: Grammys on the Hill 20th Anniversary Recap
Deutch is the lead Democratic sponsor for the American Music Fairness Act, which, if passed, would pay royalties to artists and producers when their music is played on the radio. McCaul has co-sponsored key legislation like the Help Independent Tracks Succeed Act (HITS Act), which updates the federal tax code to bring in line music production with other industries and create parity.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis meet with Vermonth Senator Patrick Leahy.
Together, Deutch and McCaul also introduced the Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) through Music Diplomacy Act, an effort crystalized into importance by recent events and showcased in action during the 64th GRAMMY Awards® by a powerful performance from three Ukrainian artists, Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newton and Lyuba Yakimchuck, together with GRAMMY winner John Legend.
Another key issue that will be addressed on behalf of songwriters and composers is the fight for fair pay. Later this year, the Copyright Royalty Board will set the royalty rates that streaming services pay to songwriters, and tech companies are once again pushing to cut songwriter pay.
Over the last 20 years, GRAMMYs on the Hill has hosted award-winning artists and applauded congressional leaders alike, including four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, then Vice President Joe Biden, two-time GRAMMY winner Garth Brooks, former United States Secretary of State and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), former Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), 28-time GRAMMY winner Quincy Jones, seven-time GRAMMY winner John Mayer, former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), four-time GRAMMY winner Missy Elliott, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and more. The annual advocacy event has also led to several major legislative wins for the music industry, most notably the Music Modernization Act in 2018.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar's efforts to support music rights
Klobuchar’s bipartisan Save Our Stages Act, which was co-led by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) was enacted into law in December 2020. The legislation created the Shuttered Venues Operating Grant program to help independent performance venues, museums, and theaters survive the pandemic and continue paying their employees. Additional funding for the Shuttered Venues Operating grant program was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan that was signed by President Biden in March 2021.
The bipartisan legislation gained more than 50 cosponsors in the Senate, and the House version of Save our Stages, led by Representatives Peter Welch (D-VT) and Roger Williams (R-TX), gained over 170 cosponsors.
Since its enactment, the Save Our Stages Act has helped over 250 Minnesota venues and organizations, including First Avenue.
“Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are music pioneers and Minnesota legends who helped define the Minneapolis sound in the 1980s,” said Klobuchar. “Making iconic records and winning awards would have been enough to secure their place in the history books. But they have done so much more than that, giving back through philanthropy and advocacy, supporting music education, and rallying others in the music industry to enact change. Jimmy and Terry have shown us again and again the power of music to serve others.”
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