Re: The Congressional Songwriter Caucus
The Honorable Ben Cline and the Honorable Ted Lieu
2443 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressmen Cline and Lieu:
As two of the nation’s largest and longest-established independent music creator organizations, we write to express our gratitude and congratulations at the re-launching by your offices of the bi-partisan Congressional Songwriters Caucus. This is an exciting development, and one in which we are eager to take part.
As you may be aware, and as is set forth in greater detail at the conclusion of this letter, the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) and the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) have for decades been active on Capitol Hill and though our affiliation with Music Creators North America (MCNA), throughout the world advocating for the rights of the American songwriter and composer community—independently and without undue influence or interference from organizations with competing and often conflicting interests. We represent songwriters, lyricists and composers of all genres, located in all regions of the United States, and our members speak with their own voices as professional creators.
With that in mind, we would very much appreciate the opportunity in the near future to meet with you in Washington, DC, to discuss how we can become active and collaborative Caucus participants. In that role, we look forward to serving the Caucus by bringing to light the many complex issues currently facing our community. These include the rapid advance of generative AI, limitations on fair use, CRB and MLC reform, the future of collective licensing, industry consolidation, Copyright Office funding, the safeguarding of copyright protections and creative freedoms, the global protection of creators from political violence, and a panoply of other important economic and cultural challenges facing America’s music creator community.
Please let us know if and when such a meeting is possible this summer, and we shall arrange our schedules accordingly. We again commend you on this effort, and hope to do all we can to assist you in making it a tremendous success for American musical culture.
With regards,
Rick Carnes
President, Songwriters Guild of America
Officer, Music Creators North America
Ashley Irwin
President, Society of Composers & Lyricists
Co-Chair, Music Creators North America
Eddie Schwartz
President, Music Creators North America
About our Organizations
SGA is the longest established and largest music creator advocacy and copyright administrative organization in the United States run solely by and for songwriters, composers, and their heirs. Its positions are reasoned and formulated independently and solely in the interests of music creators, without financial influence or other undue interference from parties whose interests vary from or are in conflict with those of songwriters, composers, and other authors of creative works. Established in 1931, SGA has for over 90 years successfully operated with a two-word mission statement: “Protect Songwriters,” and continues to do so throughout the United States and the world. SGA’s organizational membership stands at approximately 4500 members. For more information: www.songwritersguild.com
SCL is the premier U.S. organization for music creators working in all forms of visual media. With chapters in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville, and members in every state of the U.S. as well as over 80 countries around the world, the SCL operates as the primary voice for over 3,000 members who work as creators of scores and songs for film, television, video games, and theatre. The SCL is a founding co-member — along with SGA and other independent music creator groups — of Music Creators North America (MCNA). For more information: https://thescl.com
MCNA is an alliance of independent songwriter and composer organizations that advocates and educates on behalf of North America’s music creator community. As the only internationally recognized voice of American and Canadian songwriters and composers, MCNA, through its affiliation with the International Council of Music Creators (CIAM), is part of a coalition that represents the professional interests and aspirations of more than half a million creators across Africa, Asia, Austral-Oceania, North and South America, and Europe. For more information: www.musiccreatorsna.org
SGA, SCL and MCNA are also founding members of the international organization Fair Trade Music International, which is the leading US and international advocacy group for the principles of transparency, equitable treatment, and financial sustainability for all songwriters and composers. For more information: www.fairtrademusicinternational.org
