SGA's Music Advocacy
The SGA works on Capitol Hill and elsewhere around the world to protect songwriters. Learn more about our efforts, below.
June 25, 2024
SGA president speaks out on streaming services and the MLC
While opting out of the blanket license would improve songwriters' control over streamers, this change may not equally benefit both major players and smaller entities, said Rick Carnes, president of the Songwriters Guild of America. “Unless it’s one of ...
May 30, 2024
American Independent Music Creator Community Reacts to Potential Re-designation of the MLC and DLC
The Songwriters Guild of America, the Society of Composers and Lyricists and Music Creators North America submitted comments to the United States Copyright Office regarding the re-designation of the Music Licensing Collective...
Dec. 7, 2023
SGA supports the “No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act”
The Songwriters Guild of America thanks Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) for introducing the, “No Section 230 Immunity for AI Act.” The bill would clarify that Section 230 immunity will not apply to claims based on generative AI...
Nov. 1, 2023
Biden-Harris Order Shows Promise of Protecting Songwriters From AI Threats
After years of work, the SGA - along with outside counsel Charles Sanders and the ACG Advocacy group - are seeing progress in their attempts to protect songwriting as a career in the age of artificial intelligence.
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Sept., 2023
Congresswoman Ross Wants Indie Creators To Have Collective Bargaining
The Songwriters Guild of America applauds Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) for introducing legislation to provide independent songwriters, composers, lyricists, and other music creators the power to collectively negotiate with streaming platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) developers...
Feb., 2023
SGA Says US Copyright System Must Be Accessible to Songwriters, Composers & Lyricists
The SGA this week issued a letter to the Copyright Royalty Board -- but this was no lover letter. Essentially, the letter pointed out that only the most wealthy in the music business (labels, publishers, streaming services) are invited to the CRB process while the creators are locked out.
Dec., 2022
SGA and Allies Seek Transparency/Fairness in CRB Royalty Rate-Setting
The SGA - along with its ally organizations, the Society of Composers and Lyricists and Music Creators North America - in December approached the US House and Senate Judiciary Committees seeking reforms to the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) music royalty rate-setting process.
Sept. 29, 2022
US Recorded Music Revenues Hit $7.7 Billion in First Half of '22
The US recorded music market grew in the first half of 2022 – but only half as fast as it did in H1 2021. On a retail basis, recorded music revenues in the US (money spent on streaming subscriptions, as well as physical and digital music), grew $700 million YoY to $7.7 billion in the first half of this year (up from $7 billion in the first half of 2021).
April 7, 2022
RIAA Files Emergency Motion in Move to Reverse CRB Decision Favoring Music Creators
On April 6, Chris Castle announced that the RIAA has issued an "emergency motion" asking the CRB judges to "clarify' their decision. The filing by the RIAA suggests that only George Johnson -- the initial songwriter to post opposition to the frozen royalty extension -- should have the royalty freeze lifted. Other creators be damned.
March 30, 2022
Victory: Copyright Royalty Board Rejects Continued
Royalty Rate Freeze
Songwriters scored a victory Tuesday when the US Copyright Royalty Board rejected a proposal to extend a freeze on royalty rate increases paid to songwriters and composers.
Songwriter and composer royalty rates for downloads and sales on vinyl records and CDs have been frozen at 2006 rates...
July 29, 2021
@DavidPoeMusic Comment to Copyright Royalty Board
The great David Poe is among the first songwriters to post a comment opposing freezing the mechanical royalty rate for physical and downloads promoted by the NMPA and the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Music Tech Policy will be posting their own comments, but wanted to start with David Poe’s passionate and well-reasoned comment to the CRB, that can be downloaded below.
July 26, 2021
SGA, SCL, MCNA and other creator groups fight mechanical royalty rate freeze for music creators
The Copyright Royalty Board is considering a proposal to continue to freeze mechanical royalty rate increases to music creators for years to come. The rate freeze would apply to mechanical royalties that include vinyl and digital song downloads. This comes at at a time when streaming platforms and other big-money music interests are seeing record profits from use of these mechanicals...
July 11, 2021
SGA, SCL & MCNA help win more time for music creators to claim their royalties
The Songwriters Guild of America, the Society of Composers & Lyricists and the Music Creators of North America coalition enthusiastically welcomed a recent announcement by the U.S. Copyright Office. A report from the Copyright Office recommends delaying the Mechanical Licensing Collective's “market share” redistribution of unmatched royalties...
SGA and MCNA oppose freezing royalty rates for songwriters
The SGA has joined with Music Creators North Amercia (MCNA) in sending letters to the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board asking that songwriters have a voice in how much they will be paid for their physical mechanical royalty rates. Recently streaming companies and large music publishers have asked to have royalty rates to songwriters frozen for years to come. Another group, the Nashville Songwriting Association, Intl., are siding with big money to freeze out songwriters.
SGA asks U.S. Copyright Royalty Board for more transparency in setting rates
Following its success in getting the CASE Act passed, the SGA is doubling-down on its mission to, "protect songwriters." As part of its alliance with the MCNA and other songwriting groups, the SGA is asking for more transparency with the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. The Board sets limits on what songwriters can be paid for CDs, vinyl records and downloads sold in the U.S. Check out the links below for more information:
SGA work pays off: copyright small claims court to open
More than a decade of work by SGA President Rick Carnes, paid off in December when the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in passing the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act. The long-awaited new law allows songwriters and other creators to sue, in a copyright small claims court, those who use their work without payment or permission.
Who's guarding your mechanical royalty payments?
On January 1,2021 the newly-passed Music Modernization Act (MMA) took effect. The law was initially launched to take into account new technology and address how it affects the sale of music creations. However, text in the law leaves room for potential corruption in the way music creators may (or may not) be paid.
Comments on 'Copyright and the Internet' efforts by U.S Copyright Office
Last September, the SGA submitted comments to the House Committee on the Judiciary regarding “Copyright and the Internet in 2020: Reactions to the Copyright Office’s Report on the Efficacy of 17 U.S.C. § 512 After Two Decades.”
Good news for music creators seeking relief during shutdown
The Songwriters Guild of America has compiled the latest information on resources for music creators who are in need of financial relief during the current shutdown caused by the COVID19 virus.
SGA questions whether unclaimed royalties will find the right pockets
Last August, the SGA responded to the U.S. Copyright Office's request for comments about the “Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act of 2018: Unclaimed Royalties Study." Read our comments and see how your royalties may be affected.
SGA joins DCC in letter to US Trade Representative
On February 26, 2021 the SGA joined in penning a letter from the Digital Creators Coalition to newly confirmed United States Trade Rep. Katherine Tai. The organizations urged Tai to prioritize strong IP protections at home and abroad.
SGA joins music leaders in thanking teachers for, "keeping the music playing."
Artists from across the scope of music and songwriting have come together in collaboration with the National Music Council (NMC) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to thank music educators for their perseverance during these challenging times.
SGA comments on Music Modernization Act and uncertainty of royalty collection
In November, 2020, the SGA responded to the “Notice of Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking and Inquiry Issued by the United States Copyright Office. THE USCO asked for comment concerning the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act of 2018. Specifically, the comments address the MMA's transition period transfer and reporting of royalties to the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
SGA weighs in on draft of Digital Copyright Act
In March, the SGA submitted comments to Senator Tillis, (Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Intellectual Property), regarding the Digital Copyright Act of 2021.
"Fair Use Industries” is Google's spin to cover predatory practices against creators
The Songwriters Guild of America joined Chris Castle in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in support of Oracle America which is suing Google over alleged copyright violation stemming from Google's use of Java APIs.