At a White House ceremony packed with “A-list” singers, songwriters, and producers, President Donald Trump signed into law the Music Modernization Act (MMA), originally sponsored by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (VA-6). In front of reporters, the President asked legendary recording artist Kid Rock, “You like this legislation or do you hate it?” The singer-songwriter replied, “I like it.”
Intended to update music copyright law for the digital era, the legislation carried by Goodlatte the House and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in the Senate will ensure that songwriters and artists receive royalties on songs recorded before 1972, are allocated royalties for music producers, and modernizes licensing and royalty rules for streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora in a more efficient manner.
President Trump called the MMA “a milestone that would ‘close loopholes’ in copyright law and help music creators get paid.”
“They were treated very unfairly. They’re not going to be treated unfairly anymore,” Trump added.
“Everybody knows this business of music is a very dirty business,” Kid Rock said after the singing of the bill according to Rolling Stone. “There’s a lot more that needs to be done here. We need to go after the record labels next, and things like free goods,” he added.
However, he reiterated that the legislation “is a great start to protect songwriters, producers, engineers — the unsung heroes behind many of these songs that go out there. People like myself who are maybe more at the top of the food chain, it really doesn’t affect as much. But I know many people it does affect.”
The MMA also repeals Section 114 of the Copyright Act, which made the financial playing field within the music industry uneven, with the disadvantage placed on songwriters. By repealing the section, the industry will be governed on a more fair system, resulting in songwriters being allotted more fair rates for the public performances of their musical works.