A number of high profile artists have signed up to support the US CLASSICS Act, which aims to reform US copyright policy to better compensate the creators of music.
The Act is lobbying for a change in law so that artists whose work was recorded before February 15th 1972 get paid when their music gets played on SiriusXM and digital streaming services.
Currently, US digital radio platforms are not required to pay for the use of music that was recorded before that date.
Sir Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen are a further 89 artists now calling on Congress to pass the Act.
Other names newly added to the list, that now totals 302 artists, include Aloe Blacc, Petula Clark, Outkast, Patty Smyth, Smokey Robinson and Ringo Starr.
The estates of John Lennon, Chuck Berry and Ella Fitzgerald are also supporting the bill.
Alongside a number of musicians, the act is supported by organisations including A2IM, American Federation of Musicians, Content Creators Coalition, the Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange.
The bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress and will be a part of the music copyright package scheduled for markup by the House Judiciary Committee the week of April 9th.
The artists recently joining the coalition to pass the CLASSICS Act include:
| Albert Hammond | Janita |
| Allen Toussaint (Estate) | Jesse Colin Young (of the Youngbloods) |
| Allman Brothers Band | Jewel |
| Aloe Blacc | Joe Williams (Estate) |
| Ann-Margret | John Lennon (Estate) |
| Anthony Hamilton | Johnny Rivers |
| Betty Everett (Estate) | Jon “Bowzer” Bauman |
| Big & Rich | Jonatha Brooke |
| Big Joe Turner (Estate) | Judy Collins |
| Bill Gaither | Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues) |
| Billy Preston (PMGI Billy Preston’s Legacy) | Laurence Corky Laing |
| Billy Talent | Lionel Richie |
| Blackwood Brothers Quartet | Louis Jordan (Estate) |
| Blake Morgan | Mac Davis |
| Bob Crosby (Estate) | Martha Reeves |
| Bruce Springsteen | Maurice White (Estate) |
| Camper Van Beethoven | Mel Schacher |
| Candi Staton | Michael McDonald |
| Cathedral Quartet | Mike Curb Congregation |
| Chris Clark | Milt Jackson (Estate) |
| Chuck Berry (Estate) | Oak Ridge Boys |
| Clara Ward (Estate) | Outkast |
| Claudette Robinson/The Miracles | Pat Boone |
| Cracker | Patty Smyth |
| Curtis Stigers | Paul McCartney |
| Cyrille Aimee | Petula Clark |
| Danny Hutton | Portugal. The Man. |
| David Barbe | Randy Crawford |
| David Lowery | Ricky Nelson (The Ricky Nelson Company) |
| David Poe | Ringo Starr |
| David Sanborn | Rob Thomas |
| Dickey Betts | Rush |
| Dinah Washington (Estate) | Ryan Cabrera |
| Dorothy Norwood | Sam Moore |
| Don Brewer | Shawn Mendes |
| Duane Betts | Simon Kirke (Bad Company) |
| Elf Power | Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Estate) |
| Ella Fitzgerald (Estate) | Smokey Robinson |
| Engelbert Humperdinck | Tennessee Ernie Ford (Estate) |
| Ethel Merman (Estate) | The Beatles |
| Frank Zappa (Estate) | The Empty Pockets |
| Glen Campbell (Estate) | The Nelons |
| Gunnar Printz “Mert” Madsen | Tracy Bonham |
| J.D. Sumner (Estate) | Trombone Shorty |
| Jackie “Moms” Mabley (Estate) |
Click here to see the full list of artists that have signed up in support.Music Business Worldwide
