Gospel Music Industry Urges Changes to Copyright Act To Protect Digital Broadcasts

Christian Music Trade Association Sends Resolutions
To Congress And FCC

Nashville, Tenn. - The Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA), a sister organization to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) which specifically represents the interests of record companies, has issued official resolutions to the Commerce and Judiciary Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging their support in recognizing the importance of protecting music transmitted over digital broadcast radio, announced John W. Styll, president of the CMTA and GMA.

The resolutions specifically petition for the advancement of HR 4861, a bill which would revise Section 114 of the Copyright Act, granting the FCC limited authority to protect digital audio broadcasts from illegal copying and redistribution over digital networks. The bill was introduced by Representative Mike Ferguson and co-sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Rep. Bart Gordon, Rep. Edolphus Towns and Rep. Mary Bono.

“Digital piracy has wreaked economic harm at all levels of the music business, including the gospel music industry. Now, with new recording devices capable of recording satellite radio broadcasts and digital broadcasts from terrestrial radio stations, we are concerned that further damage will be inflicted on copyright owners and in turn, the record labels, musicians, recording artists, recording engineers, record store owners and others employed in gospel music. As part of our advocacy responsibility, the CMTA was compelled to make these direct appeals to our legislators and the appropriate regulatory authority,” said Styll.

Joining Styll in signing the resolutions were CMTA Board of Directors:

• Greg Bays, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing, EMI CMG Distribution
• Larry Blackwell, VP/GM, EMI Gospel
• Don Cason, President, Word Music
• Monica Coates, Associate Director of A&R, Verity Records
• Mike Coleman, President, Integrity, Inc.
• David Crace, Senior VP-Marketing & Artist Development, EMI CMG Label Group
• Mike Craft, COO Provident Music Group
• Benson Curb, VP of Sales, Curb Records
• Mark Funderburg, President, Word Distribution
• Tara Griggs-Magee, Executive VP/Gospel & Urban, Sony Music Entertainment
• Bob Gurich, VP/General Manager, Madacy Christian
• Greg Ham, Executive VP, Business Development, EMI CMG
• Bill Hearn, President/CEO, EMI CMG
• Terry Hemmings, President/CEO, Provident Music Group
• Barry Jennings, President, Gaither Music Company/Spring House, Inc.
• Claude Lataillade, CFO, GospoCentric/B-Rite Labels
• Ed Leonard, President, Daywind Music Group
• Alex MacDougall, Executive VP/General Manager, Maranatha Music
• Jeff Moseley, President, INO Records
• Don Noes, Senior VP of Distribution, Provident Distribution
• Max Siegel, President/VP Urban A&R, Verity Records/Jive Records
• Jerry Weimer, COO, Integrity Music
• Kevin Weimer, VP, Integrity Label Group, Integrity, Inc.
• Phillip White, President, Artemis Gospel

About the CMTA and GMA

The Christian Music Trade Association is a sister organization of the GMA which operates Christian SoundScan (www.cmta.com). Founded in 1964, the 4,000-member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children’s gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and will be held on Wednesday, April 5 in Nashville. For more information, visit www.gospelmusic.org.