WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, April 12, top names in music, technology, law, academia and policy will convene in Washington, DC to discuss crucial policy issues facing musicians and the music industry. Panelists and participants will come together for the Future of Music Coalition’s DC Policy Day at the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Barbara Jordan Conference Center to focus on four critical topics emerging in the Courts, Congress, and at the Copyright Office: digital audio broadcasting and the future of radio, low power FM and community voices, health insurance and musicians, and copyright in the courts and Congress.
What: Future of Music DC Policy Day
Where: Kaiser Family Foundation’s Barbara Jordan Conference Center
1330 G Street NW, Washington, DC
When: April 12, 2005, 10 AM to 6 PM
The Policy Day will feature keynote speeches from Representative Diane Watson (D-CA), Chair of Congressional Entertainment Caucus, and FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, as well as a diverse range of panelists including David Goodman, President of Infinity Broadcasting; Mitch Glazier, Government Relations, RIAA; Gigi Sohn, President, Public Knowledge; John Simson, Executive Director, SoundExchange; Dave Ulmer, Director of Marketing, Media Solutions, Motorola; Dan Halyburton, Senior VP/GM, Susquehanna Radio; Joseph Kluger, President, Philadelphia Orchestra; Margot Nassau, Royalties and Licensing Manager, Smithsonian Folkways; Hannah Sassaman, Organizer, Prometheus Radio Project, and many more.
Schedule and complete list of panelists here
Recent technological innovations have given musicians and creators unprecedented access to a dizzying array of ways to create, promote, and distribute their work. Yet these technological innovations have also bred uncertainty and a desire to protect traditional music industry business models.
This shifting landscape was exemplified most recently by the MGM v Grokster case at the US Supreme Court, a case that intermixes the interests of technologists, inventors, content owners, consumers and creators. On the fourth panel, legal and licensing experts not only discuss the recent arguments in the Grokster case, but also the US Copyright’s Orphan Works proceeding, which elicited over 700 public comments.
Technology is also affecting radio, a medium that has enjoyed widespread acceptance for decades. In the past few years, traditional radio has been challenged by the ever-increasing number of technically-driven consumer options for enjoying music and news including webcasting, iPods and satellite radio. Broadcast radio is also in the midst of its own transformation as it adopts a digital transmission platform. Tuesday’s panels will talk about radio’s challenges and opportunities in a digital world, as well as the potential for the expansion of new voices through Low Power FM and other community media.
The suggested donation for attending the event is $25. Student and musician scholarships are also available.
Members of the press are welcome to attend. The Barbara Jordan Conference Center is fully equipped to meet the press’ needs, including mult boxes and camera platforms.
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