Artist Advocacy in the Music Ecosystem, 2016–2022
Between 2016 and 2022, Georgetown University deepened its influence on music policy by addressing the sweeping changes introduced by the era of streaming and digital content. During this period, Lauinger Library received the Future of Music Coalition archive for Special Collections, a significant acquisition that enriched academic and practical insights into music policy. The university also shifted its partnership focus to collaborate closely with the Music Policy Forum, enhancing its ability to address contemporary issues in music policy. These initiatives fostered a series of dialogues and summits that tackled critical challenges such as fair artist compensation, copyright in the digital landscape, and the sustainability of local and global music ecosystems. Through these engagements, Georgetown remained at the forefront of shaping policy and advocacy in response to the dynamic transformations within the music industry.
2022 Music Ecosystem Forum
The Georgetown Music Ecosystem Forum was a vibrant gathering that attracted participants from various parts of the music industry, academia, and advocacy groups. The event featured speakers and attendees from multiple countries and regions, reflecting a broad spectrum of musical cultures and perspectives. Notable contributions included historical analysis by Steve Waxman (Smith College), challenges of touring discussed by artist Santigold, and panels with experts like Michael Seman (Colorado State University), Shawn Watterson (Happy Dog, Cleveland), and Eric Gilbert (Treefort Music Fest), who explored themes of environmental sustainability and the economic impacts of music venues. The diversity of the attendees—from artists to academics to industry executives—continued the forum’s comprehensive approach to rethinking the music industry as an ecosystem focused on sustainability and equity.
2021 Streaming and Fair Compensation Workshop
The workshop in 2021 delved into fair compensation for artists, featuring panelists like Crispin Hunt, a songwriter and Chair of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. The discussion revolved around innovative models for revenue distribution. The workshop led to a pilot program involving several labels and streaming services to test new revenue-sharing models that could potentially be scaled industry-wide.
2020 Digital Music and Copyright Symposium
During the COVID-19 pandemic, this symposium was pivotal in addressing the copyright challenges posed by virtual music events. Legal experts such as Anne-Marie Blake, a copyright lawyer, discussed new norms for live streaming and copyright in digital performances. Recommendations were made for updating copyright laws to better accommodate the surge in virtual performances and digital content creation.
2019 Music Policy Forum Summit
The Music Policy Forum Summit 2019 returned to Georgetown University, highlighting the complex intersection of local music ecosystems with global insights. Featuring twenty-five presenters from a dozen North American cities, the summit served as a critical platform for discussions on advancing local music communities. Among the themes addressed were the development of music strategies, sound management, inclusivity, and the intersection of music and public radio in audience development.
Key participants included Anna Celenza from Georgetown University (Washington, DC), who underscored the university’s commitment to both local and global music communities. Michael Bracy, co-founder of the Music Policy Forum (Washington, DC), emphasized the summit’s community-building power. Board members such as Kate Becker (Seattle), Kwende Kefentse (Ottawa), Ashley Keaton (New Orleans), and Amy Terrill (Toronto) provided international insights, reflecting a diverse geographic perspective.
The summit also featured sessions on noise versus music in urban settings, with contributions from Don Pitts (Sound Music Cities, Austin, TX), Allie Martin (Indiana University), and Ashlye Keaton (Ella Project, New Orleans, LA), and discussions on creating safer public spaces with representatives from New Orleans, Denver, and Seattle. These discussions highlighted current challenges and shared successful strategies and initiatives benefiting local music ecosystems globally.
2018 Georgetown Music Policy Conference
This conference tackled the globalization of the music industry facilitated by streaming platforms, examining impacts on local music cultures and economies. Speakers included cultural anthropologist Dr. Sally Anne Gross, who discussed the cultural dilution risks and strategies for preserving musical diversity. The event resulted in actionable strategies for artists and policymakers to leverage global platforms while safeguarding local music ecosystems.
2017 Future of Music Summit
The 2017 Summit at Georgetown explored deep implications of digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music on copyright reform and artist compensation. It brought in thought leaders like Daryl Friedman, Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations Officer of The Recording Academy, to discuss legislative reforms aimed at protecting musicians’ rights in the digital age. The summit produced a white paper on digital copyright challenges and proposed legislative changes to ensure fair compensation for artists.
2016 Music Policy Forum
The 2016 Music Policy Forum addressed the seismic shift brought about by streaming technologies on traditional music business models. The event featured keynote speeches and panels with industry experts like Alex White, co-founder of Next Big Sound, discussing data-driven decision-making for artists and labels. The forum led to the development of guidelines and best practices for emerging artists navigating the complex landscape of digital music revenue and rights management.