Treat songwriters like other copyright owners and eliminate government regulation of royalties

Think about the most personal, emotional thing you’ve ever gone through in your life. Heartbreak or joy, sadness or elation, pain or love. Imagine writing down how you feel and telling it to an audience of thousands or hearing it broadcast on TV, the radio, or in a bar. That’s the life of a professional songwriter.

Now imagine writing about those experiences and creating something that is deeply meaningful to you, only to have it devalued by big businesses and the US government. Unfortunately, that’s also the life of a songwriter, thanks to an outdated and overreaching regulatory system that limits our ability to obtain a fair market rate for our music.

These regulations aren’t just decades-old—first written in 1941— but they’re out of step with what’s actually happening in the marketplace, both here in the US and abroad. If we don’t update these regulations, we run a real risk of losing out on the next generation of great music creators. And now that my son Maison has decided to follow in my footsteps as a musician, I’ve never felt stronger about protecting the future of songwriting.

Think about the most personal, emotional thing you’ve ever gone through in your life. Heartbreak or joy, sadness or elation, pain or love. Imagine writing down how you feel and telling it to an audience of thousands or hearing it broadcast on TV, the radio, or in a bar. That’s the life of a professional songwriter.

Now imagine writing about those experiences and creating something that is deeply meaningful to you, only to have it devalued by big businesses and the US government. Unfortunately, that’s also the life of a songwriter, thanks to an outdated and overreaching regulatory system that limits our ability to obtain a fair market rate for our music.

These regulations aren’t just decades-old—first written in 1941— but they’re out of step with what’s actually happening in the marketplace, both here in the US and abroad. If we don’t update these regulations, we run a real risk of losing out on the next generation of great music creators. And now that my son Maison has decided to follow in my footsteps as a musician, I’ve never felt stronger about protecting the future of songwriting.

What we need is for policymakers in Washington to stand with songwriters in support of reasonable reforms for the modern music marketplace. What we’re asking for isn’t complicated. We’re just asking for songwriters to have the same chance at the American dream as everyone else.

That way, we can continue to commemorate the memories of music fans the world over. After all, it all starts with the song and isn’t that worth saving?

-Original posted on QZ.com