LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Songwriter act levels playing field

OPINION:

As a songwriter, I must respectfully disagree with the recent editorial, “Songwriter Equity Act inequity” (Web, June 6), as it utterly fails to capture the experience of a modern-day songwriter. There is no question technology has changed the way we all listen to music, and our current system needs serious reform. However, scapegoating songwriters will not get us closer to a solution.

While the editorial calls out the glitz and glamour of Nashville, Hollywood and New York, most songwriters get their start in much smaller and more private places. Many of the words from America’s most beloved songs were composed by people who first wrote on a kitchen table after preparing food for their children, or in their bedroom at night after work. Moreover, even though they often provide the seed for music that is eventually enjoyed by million of fans, the songwriters — unlike recording artists — usually don’t make it to the stage.

Songwriters are now forced to operate within a regulatory system created 73 years ago, which hasn’t seen meaningful updates since 2001, well before Spotify, Pandora or even the iPod became part of our daily lives. This regulatory system is unnecessarily restrictive and no longer reflects the reality of today’s music marketplace.

As years pass without reform, and companies that license music learn to take advantage of this system, songwriter royalties are increasingly marginalized. Compensation for others in the music business — free from the constraints of consent decrees — is more adaptable to the new digital environment. In an age when music is reaching more fans than ever before, it is outrageous that so many songwriters now struggle to make ends meet.

Last month, I had the honor of speaking with lawmakers in Washington about these issues. I am grateful for the leadership of members of Congress such as Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, Tennessee Republicans, and Rep. Doug Collins, Georgia Republican. The Songwriter Equity Act would start to level the playing field for songwriters. Although not a comprehensive solution, it’s an important first step — and I encourage any lover of American music, whether professional or just a fan, to support it.

BARRY EASTMOND

Tarrytown, N.Y.