Current Issues

The below letter was written to the CEO of Sony Records on August 3, 2016.

Dear Mr. Morris,

Congressmen Doug Collins (GA), Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Trent Franks (AZ), Judy Chu (CA) and Steve Cohen (TN), all members of the House Judiciary Committee, recently submitted a letter to U.S. Attorney General, Loretta E. Lynch about their concerns regarding the recent DOJ ruling. Click here to read their letter.

Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries & Republican Rep. Tom Marino Propose Copyright Claims Board to Help Artists Protect Their Life’s Work

Comments from Bart Herbison Executive Director, Nashville Songwriters Association International, in response to the decision regarding “PRO Licensing of Jointly Owned Works” by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division

The United States Department of Justice today, according to published reports, denied every request from American songwriters to ease restrictions found in the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees, World War II-era restrictions imposed by the federal government on the two largest American performing rights societies (PRO’s).

The Department of Justice has requested comments from the public regarding fractional licensing. We feel strongly that 100% licensing would be detrimental for songwriters. View our submission to DOJ on the issue here-> NSAI_DOJFractionalLicensingComments.pdf.

Nashville, Tennessee- September 21, 2015. The U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. March 4, 2015. The SONGWRITER EQUITY ACT (SEA), legislation to change the process that sets royalty rates for American songwriters, was re-introduced in Washington, D.C.

Friday, February 13th, NSAI received the Chairman's Award For Creativity at the Copyright Society of the USA Executive Committee meeting in Nashville, TN.

NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison is featured on the Nashville BizBlog to talk about low royalties, the Music Mill and changes on Music Row. Read more here.

NSAI PRESIDENT LEE THOMAS MILLER ON FOX 17
This week on Fox 17, Lee Thomas Miller talks about fighting for updates in streaming royalty rates. This past summer he visited DC to advocate changes for the songwriter community. Check out the video and article here.

The United States Copyright Office has undertaken a study to "evaluate the effectiveness of the existing methods of licensing music." NSAI recently submitted comments answering specific questions from the Copyright Office relatign to this issue. U.S. Register of Copyrights, Maria Pallante, is expected to testify before Congress in a few months to give her thoughts on this study after reviewing all comment submissions.

The National Music Publishers' Association awarded NSAI President, Lee Thomas Miller, with plaques commemorating his gold and platinum selling singles on September 15 at the Bluebird Café during their annual meeting in Nashville. NMPA CEO David Israelite commended Miller on his advocacy work for songwriters as President of NSAI as well as his personal songwriting accomplishments. Miller ended the evening by playing his new Garth Brooks single "People Loving People" co-written with busbee and Chris Wallin.

The Nashville Songwriters Association helped welcome America’s Governors as Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam hosted the 2014 National Governor’s Conference in Nashville.  The event opened with a special songwriter show at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

View the rest of the album here.

Executive Director, Bart Herbison’s, take on the current legislative landscape in an interview with Nekst.biz
Read The Interview