CALIFORNIA BILL THREATENS INDIE MUSICIANS

A2IM’s Richard James Burgess, RIAA’s Mitch Glazier and Music Artists Coalition’s Jordan Bromley and Susan Genco are fighting California’s AB5 bill, stating that it could decimate the state’s recorded music industry.

In an op-ed posted by Variety, the organization chiefs see the new law—designed to define independent contractors—as having “outsized consequences for independent musicians.”

They write: “The proposed bill states that any person who provides services that relate to the usual course of the “hiring entity’s” business is an employee of that entity. This makes sense for large corporations like Uber and Lyft; it does not make sense for the independent artist who is trying to make music.

“Artists work with many people to help them realize their vision: producers, engineers, musicians, publicists, managers, music video creators, dancers, background vocalists, etc. Under this new law, an artist in California could become the employer of all of these people.

“In 2019, the opportunities to make music independently are endless, and this law threatens to quash that innovation.”

The bill is scheduled to become law on 9/13. The op-ed writers are pushing for an industry exemption and encouraging people to call local government reps, unions and the AFM.

The op-ed is here.