ASCAP Publishes Groundbreaking Position Paper


To remind the public, members of the music industry and U.S. legislators of the central role and rights of those who conceive and create music, ASCAP launched a Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers during ASCAP “I Create Music” Week in Los Angeles (April 10-12). This awareness-building initiative centers around 10 core principles, including "We have the right to be compensated for the use of our creative works, and in the revenues that they generate" and "We have the right to license our works ashare nd control the ways in which they are used.

These rights, all of which are already inherent in the act of music creation and protected by U.S. copyright law, are increasingly under threat as competing interests argue over the future of the business of music – and as growing numbers of individuals bypass payment altogether to illegally share music online.

"Given the many issues surrounding the music industry today, it can be all too easy to overlook the source of it all – individual songwriters, lyricists and composers," said ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman. "That is why ASCAP has launched this Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers. Our goal is to remind lawmakers, the general public and music creators themselves of the rights that are inherent in their art. We simply cannot allow the original source of all music to be lost in the shuffle."

Developed by ASCAP to support and empower all those who create music, the Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers debuted during ASCAP "I Create Music" Week at the 25th Annual Pop Music Awards held on April 9 and was also introduced to attendees of the third annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO (April 10-12). In just a few days, more than 500 signatures were collected from songwriters including: Lionel Richie, Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson, Justin Timberlake, Jackson Browne, Steve Miller, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Chamillionaire, Keri Hilson, Desmond Child and John Rzeznik.

The initial signatures served as the kickoff to a grassroots campaign that, over the next few months, will collect signatures and support from both established and aspiring songwriters, lyricists and composers from all genres. To date, the Bill has collected over 6,000 signatures. Those who wish to add their support to the Bill can sign it electronically at ascap.com.

As part of this initiative, ASCAP also wrote a perspective piece on the relevance and importance of music copyright protection, titled "Music Copyright in the Digital Age: A Position Paper." The paper is being made available to all who want and need to understand the basic rights of music creators. Critical issues addressed in the paper include “Back to Basics: Defining a Right,” “Are Rights Still Relevant in the Digital Age?,” ”Who is ASCAP and Who Are Its Members?” and “Setting the Record Straight: Questioning the Commons.”

"The signatures that we collect on this Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers will be shared with key legislators in Washington, as well as numerous other leaders both inside and outside the music industry," said ASCAP CEO John A. LoFrumento. "Now is the time to ensure that everyone who has a stake in determining the future of music, both as an art and as an industry, recognizes the importance of protecting creators' rights."


Click here for more information about the Position Paper and the Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers.