Many of today’s biggest names in music are coming together to boycott Sirius XM and it’s parent company Liberty Media. Almost 200 individuals within the music industry including Kim Gordon, Karen O, Tom Waits, Sia, and Katy Perry are just a handful of the names that have signed an open letter to Liberty Media, supporting the Music Modernization Act. According to Pitchfork, “The MMA is legislative push towards modernizing copyright protection for songwriters and artists in the digital and streaming age.” The Music Modernization Act is scheduled to be “hotlined” today by the Senate — at which point any Senator has 24 hours in which to object to the bill passing out of the Senate without an official vote (Senate leadership does this for bills with high cosponsor counts that they know would sail through if a vote was forced or needed) — the legislation is facing one final hurdle in the form of objection by SiriusXM, stated in Variety.
Other artists that have signed the bill included Charlie Puth, Carly Simon, Joe Perry, Max Martin, and Ryan Tedder. SiriusXM claims that the bill favors “broadcasters over satellite radio and streaming services” and suggests amendments to the bill, which they say would benefit artists. Read the full letter below by Golan, provided by Variety.
Dear Greg Maffei, Scott Greenstein and Jim Meyer and Liberty Media Board of Directors Evan D. Malone, David E. Rapley, Larry E. Romrell, Brian M. Deevy, Andrea L. Wong, Robert R. Bennett, M. Ian G. Gilchrist and John C. Malone:
I’m writing you with grave concern about SiriusXM’s opposition to the Music Modernization Act (Classics Act included).
I’m CCing some of the greatest songwriters and artists in the history of the music business to show our solidarity in support of this legislation in its current form. We are all aware of your company’s objections and trepidation but let me say that this is an opportunity for SiriusXM to take a leadership position. As you are aware, 415 Representatives and 76 Senators have already cosponsored the MMA along with industry consensus. It’s SiriusXM vs all of us. We can either fight to the bitter end or celebrate this victory together. Rather than watch bad press and ill will pile up against SiriusXM, why not come out supporting the most consequential music legislation in 109 years? We do not want to fight and boycott your company but we will as we have other opponents. Stand with us! Be brave and take credit for being the heroes who helped the MMA become historic law! Momentum is building against SiriusXM and you still have an opportunity to come out on the right side of history. We look forward to your endorsement but the fire is burning and only you can put this out.
Sincerely yours,
Ross Golan and Legends CC-ed Here
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