WASHINGTON, DC — Top names from the fields of music, law, technology and policy will gather in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 to discuss how technology is rapidly reshaping the music industry. The event is sponsored by the Future of Music Coalition and the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS).
The “Music, Technology and IP Policy Day” will feature robust and balanced discussions on issues that have grabbed headlines recently such as the upheaval in satellite and terrestrial radio, the battle over net neutrality, and the ongoing challenges of licensing music for the global digital platform. Noted experts will provide the context and analysis necessary to understand what these issues mean, and how the courts, Congress and the Copyright Office might deal with them this year.
The all-day event (
“There has never been a more important time to discuss the intersection of technology and music,” said Jenny Toomey, executive director of the Future of Music Coalition. “The decisions made on a host of issues from satellite radio to net neutrality will reverberate through the music industry for years to come.”
Panelists will include CEA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Michael Petricone, BMI’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations Fred Cannon, Microsoft’s Senior Copyright Attorney Jule Sigall, Pandora CEO Joe Kennedy, political blogger Atrios, AFM counsel Patricia Polach and R.E.M. advisor Bertis Downs, among others. To register for media credentials, please go to the media section of the Policy Day website at
According to ACS Executive Director Lisa Brown, "These emerging issues present some of the most potentially influential policy choices of the next generation. For instance, the boundaries of intellectual property rights over digital content such as music, and whether technology companies will gain the power to allow differential access to the Internet, are issues whose importance will only grow in future years."
Since 2001, FMC has organized five Policy Summits and one Policy Day in Washington, DC. Each event has brought together a spectacular mixture of technologists, attorneys, musicians, managers and industry leaders for discussions about the most compelling music/technology/policy matters. In October 2006, FMC held its sixth annual Policy Summit in Montreal, Quebec in partnership with McGill University’s Schulich School of Music and Pop Montreal where, over the course of three days, 120 panelists and 550 participants debated issues that are emerging as music promotion and distribution moves to a global, digital platform.
An electronic version of this press release is available at:
Event Location:
1333 H Street NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 682-1611
Closet Metro stops:
McPherson Square
Metro Center
Media must obtain credentials.
The registration fee for the general public is $25.
Panel Descriptions
Radio Waves
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
In the past 10 years, satellite and Internet radio have grown from basement hobbies to legitimate platforms for the delivery of music and news. But this growth has also brought new challenges, ranging from debates about content protection, to the public performance right, to how to manage the transition to HD radio. The attention to the issues has only increased recently, with webcasters negotiating with the Copyright Royalty Board over royalty rates, and XM and Sirius proposing a merger. Representatives from satellite and internet radio will join with artist and label representatives for a discussion about the challenges for both old and new radio platforms, and solutions that would benefit both technologists and the music community.
The Net Effect
1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Congress is considering a series of bills designed to revise the telecommunications regulatory framework. One of the most heated debates surrounds the principle of network neutrality. Is this a solution in search of a problem, or do we need the government and the FCC to enforce rules that would preserve the open nature of the Internet? This panel brings together advocates for both positions with internet based music service providers and policymakers to discuss the real world impact of net neutrality on musicians, labels and the public at large.
Stocking the Celestial Jukebox
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
For music fans, there are more choices than ever when it comes to discovering, listening to and purchasing music. There are stores like iTunes and eMusic, subscription services like Rhapsody and Napster. There are webcast stations, satellite radio, MP3 blogs and the ubiquitous MySpace. Despite the emergence of many models, challenges remain in the space, especially related to artist compensation and licensing parity among different platforms. What would make it easier for music services to license music, for consumers to access music, and for musicians, songwriters, and others in the content community to be paid? Experts from the music, technology and legal communities will discuss Section 115 reform, orphan works and other intellectual property issues.
Programming details at:
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About the Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that identifies, examines, interprets and translates the challenging issues at the intersection of music, law, technology and policy. FMC achieves this through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/citizen groups.
About American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation’s leading progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS is a rapidly growing network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers and other concerned individuals. ACS’s mission is to ensure that fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice enjoy their rightful, central place in American law.
ACS aims to revitalize and transform the legal and policy debates occurring in law school classrooms, federal and state courtrooms, legislative hearing rooms and the media. ACS has student and lawyer chapters all across the country, and hosts programs and projects at both the national and local level.
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups. More