A2IM Celebrates the Unanimous Approval of the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act by the U.S. Senate

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM is celebrating the unanimous passage of the Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act (S. 2823) by the U.S. Senate. This comes on the heels of the also unanimous passage of the legislation by the entire U.S. House of Representatives (415-0) in April.

A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess is elated by this huge step forward towards the bill becoming a law.

“The passing of the MMA bill is yet another example of what can be achieved when creators and their representatives stand together for fairer remuneration. A2IM is grateful to all the people involved in finally making this a part of our music industry reality. All creators should be compensated fairly and A2IM is a strong advocate to ensure that happens not only for independent artists and labels, but for all music creators and the businesses that support them. We look forward to the bill becoming a law, and giving all music creators what they have deserved for so long.

A2IM is grateful to both chambers of Congress for turning this historic and enormously relevant bill into a law. Without the support from the community of music – independent and major – and almost every Member of Congress for creating a bill that will equally benefit all American music creators for decades to come.”

About A2IM:

A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that exists to support and strengthen the independent recorded music sector. Membership currently includes a broad coalition of more than 550 Independently-owned American music labels. A2IM represents these independently owned small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so, it supports a key segment of America’s creative class that represents America’s diverse musical cultural heritage. Billboard Magazine identified the Independent music label sector as 37.32 percent of the music industry’s U.S. recorded music sales market in 2016 based on copyright ownership, making Independent labels collectively the largest music industry sector.

The organization’s board of directors consists of the following: Laura Ballance – Merge Records, Glen Barros – Concord, Glenn Dicker – YepRoc/Redeye, Kris Gillespie – Domino Recording Co., Andrew Kautz – Big Machine Label Group, Tony Kiewel – Sub Pop Records, Rosie Lopez – Tommy Boy, Louis Posen – Hopeless Records, Thaddeus Rudd – Mom & Pop, Portia Sabin – Kill Rock Stars and Victor Zaraya – R&T Industries