Congratulations From The Recording Academy President/CEO

Dear Recording Academy Member:

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee considered our major legislative initiative, The Performance Rights Act. As I've written to you many times before, the bill closes the "corporate radio loophole" and makes terrestrial radio play by the same rules as Internet and satellite radio by compensating the performers of the music they play.

It's been a long road to get here, with many Academy members testifying before Congress, flying to Washington to lobby, and sending literally thousands of emails. Last week, we asked Academy members from the states of key Senators to weigh in with their support. Hundreds of you did, and your voices were heard loud and clear--the Committee voted to APPROVE the measure.

With May's successful House Judiciary vote behind us, today's vote was the final committee action before the bill can be considered by the full Congress. While there is much work left to get final passage, today's historic vote marks the most significant progress on a nearly 80 year quest for performance rights for artists. Congratulations on this important victory and a special thank you to the Recording Academy members who called their Senators in the past week.

Kind regards,
Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy