NMPA, SESAC DECLARE
"UNCONDITIONAL" LOVE
FOR MMA

After a public scuffle that pitted much of the biz against the PRO, The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and SESAC have announced their unconditional support for The Music Modernization Act, which now heads for the U.S. Senate.

A compromise was reportedly struck that enables Harry Fox Agency (owned by SESAC parent Blackstone) to administer voluntary licenses outside the MMA-mandated collective, if participants so choose.

Naturally, a whole bunch of prominent biz folk have issued soundbites about it.

"We are thrilled that we have mutually agreed on a path forward," declared NMPA topper David Israelite. "We are stronger when our music family speaks with one voice and this agreement will allow us to come together to work towards the passage of the MMA. Songwriters need and deserve this bill. We thank the Senators involved for their leadership and guidance."

"SESAC has been fighting for songwriters since 1931 and continues to do so with its enthusiastic support of the MMA," insisted org chief John Josephson. "At the encouragement of Senators closely involved in this legislation, all parties came together to agree on outstanding items related to the MMA including the reform of the Section 115 compulsory license and other important related matters. We share a collective responsibility to help ensure that the MMA benefits all stakeholders in the industry and look forward to the Senate’s consideration of the bill."

"After working so hard for so long to update our music licensing laws," declared ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews, "we must keep working together to keep the Music Modernization Act moving forward. All parties have had to give and take in order to achieve this consensus legislation that has so far seen widespread, bipartisan support and would help update music licensing laws to improve the future for music creators. We hope the Senate will pass it without delay."

"Music industry unity got the Music Modernization Act through the House," proclaimed Recording Academy boss Neil Portnow, "and it will take that unity to get it through the Senate. The Academy is gratified that the music industry worked through its differences and can work together to pass MMA into law."

"Reaching consensus within the music industry, on what may be the most important songwriter legislation in history, is a win for American songwriters and the broader music community," reads a statement from Nashville Songwriters Association International. "We are pleased to have put our differences behind us and support this bill in unanimous harmony. The Nashville Songwriters Association International has been a friend and fan of SESAC’s for decades and that is how our relationship will immediately resume."

"We are pleased to have come together with our partners SESAC, the NMPA, SONA and NSAI to move forward as a unified music community to support the successful passage and implementation of the much-needed Music Modernization Act," chimed in Songwriters of North America Executive Directors Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley. "SONA would personally like to thank our partners, the NSAI and songwriter Ross Golan for their efforts and support in mobilizing the songwriter and artist community nationwide."