Future of Music Convenes Policy Summit
On February 11, the Future of Music Coalition once again gathered a provocative mix of musicians and music industry professionals into an auditorium in Washington D.C. for a day of policy discussion. With changes—both the expected and the hoped for—from the new administration clearly on the table, panelists tackled some of the more perplexing yet essential issues challenging our field today: the evolving landscape of the radio industry, internet and spectrum policy issues, copyright and innovation in the digital age, and music marketplace models for the current economy. In addition, Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps delivered a post-lunch address.
Panelists included Zahavah Levine (Chief Counsel, YouTube), Steve Marks (Executive VP and General Counsel, RIAA), David Carson (General Counsel, US Copyright Office), Justin Ouellette (CEO & Founder, Muxtape), and many, many more. You can view the panels on demand here. Panel number four covering copyright issues generated some particularly spirited debate.
The nine hours of conversation provided quite a bit of food for thought, though perhaps the most provocative call-to-arms comment of the day came from Ben Scott, policy director at Free Press, who noted that when it came to the issues being discussed, “Washington doesn’t know what they’re doing. That’s both a challenge and an opportunity.” —MS