Originally from D.C., husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, known as The War And Treaty, participated in the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day. Before performing during a dinner event on April 30 for the advocacy days in 老澳门开奖网, D.C., the couple discussed the importance of meeting with Congressional leaders. (Ja鈥橫on Jackson/The 老澳门开奖网 Informer)
Originally from D.C., husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, known as The War And Treaty, participated in the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day. Before performing during a dinner event on April 30 for the advocacy days in 老澳门开奖网, D.C., the couple discussed the importance of meeting with Congressional leaders. (Ja鈥橫on Jackson/The 老澳门开奖网 Informer)

The Recording Academy came to 老澳门开奖网, D.C., for their annual , a time to advocate about issues affecting music creatives. This year, Grammy winners and nominees visited the White House and Capitol Hill to discuss AI fakes and high concert ticket prices, while also taking time to honor their own and two congressional leaders with Grammys on the Hill Awards.聽聽

Singer, composer, producer, advocate, and nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow and Congressional members Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) were awarded for their significant contributions in supporting music creators.聽

Talking AI and High Ticket Prices with U.S. Political Leaders

The Recording Academy continues to call on Congress to protect the image, likeness and voice of individual creators from AI fakes. 

Legislative measures such as the in the House of Representatives and the Senate’s are in the discussion draft phase. 

A second issue is reforming the marketplace to protect artists and fans through legislation. This includes the Senate鈥檚 and a similar House bill, the . 

On May 1, music creative advocates went to the U.S. Capitol for several meetings with Congressional members seeking support for these issues and bills. Rep. Mar铆a Elvira Salazar (R-FL) addressed the group.

“Your identity is in danger because of artificial intelligence,” Salazar asserted. “Did you know that right now, someone with not very good intentions can grab the image and voice and likeness of your daughter and transfer that information to make pornography?” 

Later that day, more than 60 advocates headed to the White House to discuss AI policy with senior members of the Biden-Harris Administration. While at the White House, advocates were briefed on AI policy, ticket reforms, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the President’s work on gun violence. That was followed by a special conversation with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 

Hearing Directly from Grammy Winners and Nominees

Consumers have been horrified by the rising cost of concert tickets. But it is another thing to hear successful recording artists talk about what they encountered when buying tickets to hear live music. 

鈥淲ell, I can attest as a husband and dad with a family that wanted to see Taylor Swift, the ticket prices were out of control,鈥 said musician, composer, producer, and five-time Grammy winner Jimmy Jam, 鈥淎 lot of the time, it鈥檚 not really the artist benefitting from the higher prices. Artists set their ticket price, but because of a type of deregulation, those tickets are allowed to be sold at really exorbitant prices.鈥

Vocalist Patti Austin, known for her hit records in R&B, jazz, and pop, was among Grammy artists who came to speak with legislators. She is a seven-time Grammy nominee and has received one. Austin is also the founder of the mentoring organization The Over My Shoulder Foundation. She has a clear perspective about the impact of AI and skyrocketing ticket prices on music creatives. 

鈥淵ou gotta stop the pimping because that鈥檚 what鈥檚 going on with ticket prices. I鈥檓 gonna take your talent and monetize it,鈥 Austin continued. 鈥淲e鈥檝e known about AI for a long time. We鈥檝e watched what technology has done to every industry on planet Earth.鈥

Learn more about and the Recording Academy鈥檚 advocacy work at .

Brenda Siler is an award-winning journalist and public relations strategist. Her communications career began in college as an advertising copywriter, a news reporter, public affairs producer/host and a...

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