A coalition of music artists, supported by eight leading music organizations, continues to grow, with 89 additional musicians joining the call on Congress to pass the CLASSICS Act. This bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress, with the number of artists supporting CLASSICS now totaling 302.
Currently, artists who recorded their work before Feb. 15, 1972 are not required by federal law to be paid when their work is played on digital radio and digital streaming services. The CLASSICS Act would ensure that music creators who made those recordings are compensated.
The CLASSICS Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and will be a part of the music copyright package scheduled for markup by the House Judiciary Committee the week of April 9. Companion legislation in the U.S. Senate, (S. 2393), is sponsored by Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and in recent weeks Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have signed in support of the legislation.
The growing coalition of artists urging passage of the CLASSICS Act is supported by music community leaders including A2IM, American Federation of Musicians, Content Creators Coalition, the Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange.
The artists recently joining the coalition to pass the CLASSICS Act includes:
Albert Hammond
Janita
Allen Toussaint (Estate)
Jesse Colin Young (of the Youngbloods)
Allman Brothers Band
Jewel
Aloe Blacc
Joe Williams (Estate)
Ann-Margret
John Lennon (Estate)
Anthony Hamilton
Johnny Rivers
Betty Everett (Estate)
Jon “Bowzer” Bauman
Big & Rich
Jonatha Brooke
Big Joe Turner (Estate)
Judy Collins
Bill Gaither
Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
Billy Preston (PMGI Billy Preston’s Legacy)
Laurence Corky Laing
Billy Talent
Lionel Richie
Blackwood Brothers Quartet
Louis Jordan (Estate)
Blake Morgan
Mac Davis
Bob Crosby (Estate)
Martha Reeves
Bruce Springsteen
Maurice White (Estate)
Camper Van Beethoven
Mel Schacher
Candi Staton
Michael McDonald
Cathedral Quartet
Mike Curb Congregation
Chris Clark
Milt Jackson (Estate)
Chuck Berry (Estate)
Oak Ridge Boys
Clara Ward (Estate)
Outkast
Claudette Robinson/The Miracles
Pat Boone
Cracker
Patty Smyth
Curtis Stigers
Paul McCartney
Cyrille Aimee
Petula Clark
Danny Hutton
Portugal. The Man.
David Barbe
Randy Crawford
David Lowery
Ricky Nelson (The Ricky Nelson Company)
David Poe
Ringo Starr
David Sanborn
Rob Thomas
Dickey Betts
Rush
Dinah Washington (Estate)
Ryan Cabrera
Dorothy Norwood
Sam Moore
Don Brewer
Shawn Mendes
Duane Betts
Simon Kirke (Bad Company)
Elf Power
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Estate)
Ella Fitzgerald (Estate)
Smokey Robinson
Engelbert Humperdinck
Tennessee Ernie Ford (Estate)
Ethel Merman (Estate)
The Beatles
Frank Zappa (Estate)
The Empty Pockets
Glen Campbell (Estate)
The Nelons
Gunnar Printz “Mert” Madsen
Tracy Bonham
J.D. Sumner (Estate)
Trombone Shorty
Jackie “Moms” Mabley (Estate)
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About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
