July 8, 2024, NEW YORK CITY–The National Music Council of the United States (NMC) has issued an educational, legislative-based statement outlining the general consensus views of the American music creators, copyright owners and educators that constitute its broad membership, concerning both the opportunities and the existential dangers posed by the rapid introduction of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) systems throughout the U.S. and global music communities.
With billions of dollars and the future of American musical culture at stake, NMC states that it is seeking to provide the basis through the attached statement for a more informed and far-reaching dialogue among creators, copyright owners, business leaders, technologists, legislators, students, educators and members of the public regarding the need for measured legislative action and governmental oversight to ensure fairness and equity in the GenAI marketplace.
According to NMC Chair Charles J. Sanders, “GenAI has the capacity – using pre-existing copyrighted works to produce new derivatives – to enhance human musical expression and public enjoyment of the musical arts through fairness in voluntary licensing, or to cause long standing, crushing and potentially irreparable damage to musical creativity, commerce and culture. Our goal is to support the best possible legislative outcomes for our organizational members and their constituencies, leading to ever-increasing advancement of human-centric musical excellence, progress, equity and cultural preservation around the world.” NMC President Dr. James Weaver adds “the issues covered in the document include the general principles of consent, credit, fair compensation, disclosure, record keeping, and a necessarily narrow application of any exceptions to infringement, limited to only certain, non-commercial exemptions in the area of education.”
Dr. David Sanders, NMC’s Executive Director, expressed his hope that the statement will help facilitate rapid, legislative progress toward protecting the rights of creators, copyright administrators and educators through cooperative discussion. “Our paper is intended as an educational primer designed to demonstrate both support of our membership for AI technology in general, but insistence in the context of GenAI on respect for the legal rights of the creative community – and for the principles of diversity, equity and inclusiveness which our community considers very high priorities.”
NMC is the Congressionally-chartered, educational umbrella organization for the broad spectrum of US music community advocacy groups. Founded in 1940, NMC’s membership is today comprised of almost fifty leading American trade organizations representing four distinct categories of music community interests: those of music creators; musical artists & performers; music copyright owners & administrators; and, music educators. In all cases and on every issue, each member organization explicitly retains the authority to speak independently on its own behalf, regardless of whether the views it expresses differ from those of NMC and/or other NMC members. Click here to read the GEN AI statement. For more information on NMC, please visit musiccouncil.org.
On June 14th, the National Music Council of the United States honored composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music ambassador David Amram with the prestigious American Eagle Award at the organization’s 40th annual ceremony in New York City at the Music Publishers Association annual meeting and awards luncheon.
A genuine polymath, David Amram is regarded as an expert in more musical genres than any other artist in the world, perhaps in history. He plays more than 35 instruments, has composed more than 100 well-received classical works, conducted 75 of the world’s great orchestras, and has been a soloist with more than 40 orchestras. Amram introduced the French Horn to jazz, was Jack Kerouac’s musical collaborator for twelve years, composed two operas, scored twenty-five films, composed music for twenty-five Broadway shows, and has worked with artists as diverse as Leonard Bernstein, Bob Dylan, Lionel Hampton, Odetta, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Eugene Ormandy.
The award to Amram was presented by Grammy, Emmy, and Peabody award-winning singer-songwriter Tom Chapin, “in recognition of his longstanding, unique, and global contributions to the creation, performance, and appreciation of the musical arts, and in celebration of his pioneering work as an American musical ambassador for peace and culture throughout the world.” Chapin charmed the crowd with a song he penned in tribute to Amram, a funny and touching tribute that the awardee adored.
Ray and Vivian Chew with the American Eagle Award
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
The National Music Council of the United States presented its 2023 American Eagle Award to music visionaries Ray Chew and Vivian Scott Chew on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at the American Federation of Musicians Convention in Las Vegas. The honor is presented each year in recognition of those who have made career-long contributions to American musical culture, to promoting the ideal of music education for all children, and to supporting the protection of creators’ rights both locally and internationally. The Chews were honored “in recognition of their longstanding commitment to fostering and providing excellence in American musical performance and education, and for the inspiration they have consistently generated throughout the global music community by their dedication to the ideal of equal opportunity for all.”
This year’s special presenter was Academy Award and multi-Grammy-winning artist Regina Belle. Her tribute to the Chews included an emotional performance of So Glad I Got You, a song written by her late brother, Bernard Belle, which she dedicated to the couple. She was accompanied on piano by her nephew, Tyrone Belle.
Iconic Music Director, Producer and Composer Ray Chew’s work has been celebrated for excellence both in front of the camera and behind the scenes over the course of decades, ranging from the most important special holiday broadcasts on NBC to award-winning shows including Dancing With the Stars, Showtime at the Apollo, and American Idol. Ray’s uniquely-prized music direction talents have been further highlighted in prestigious musical specials and historic landmark events, including the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremonies, the 2008 Democratic National Convention, President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Ball, the NAACP Image Awards, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America and the BET Awards.
Among the list of globally renown artists with whom Ray has worked include Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Pitbull, Queen Latifah, James Taylor, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jennifer Hudson and Quincy Jones. His reputation as one of the most sought-after collaborative talents in the global music industry is rivaled only by his commitment to passing along the benefits of his experiences to future generations of composers, arrangers, performers and producers.
Vivian Scott Chew is an equally innovative figure in the global music and entertainment industry, with an accomplished history at ASCAP, Polygram Records and Sony Music, and as co-founder and principal of TimeZone International – the first U.S. based African-American owned company that provides recording artists with international marketing and promotion services in expanded regions.
Ray and Vivian are likewise founding partners in Chew Entertainment – a premiere event production firm whose work includes the annually acclaimed “A Night of Inspiration” at Carnegie Hall, an all-star concert that promotes diversity and unity at the famed venue with a 64-piece orchestra and massive choir for notable artists from the gospel and secular communities. The couple similarly remains steadfast in their commitment to philanthropy through both the Power 2 Inspire Foundation, which they created to identify and nurture the future of music creators and industry leaders, and by fundraising efforts in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians to benefit out of work musicians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.power2inspire.org and https://www.youtube.com/@allthingschew.
This year’s honorees join a “who’s – who” of musical giants whose careers and works have been previously awarded the American Eagle, including Stephen Sondheim, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Max Roach, Lena Horne, Roy Clark, Crystal Gale, George Clinton, Ervin Drake, Theo Bikel, Vince Guaraldi, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Patti Smith, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Café, and Save the Music Foundation.
Click here for more photos of the 2023 Eagle Awards
The National Music Council
The Congressionally-chartered National Music Council is celebrating its 82nd year as a forum for the free discussion of this country’s national music affairs and challenges. Founded in 1940 to act as a clearinghouse for the joint opinion and decision of its members and to work to strengthen the importance of music in our lives and culture, the Council’s initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity. Through the cooperative work of its member organizations, the National Music Council promotes and supports music and music education as an integral part of the curricula in the schools of our nation, and in the lives of its citizens. The Council provides for the exchange of information and coordination of efforts among its member organizations and speaks with one voice for the music community whenever an authoritative expression of opinion is desirable. www.musiccouncil.org
In 2023, the National Music Council produced a landmark Symposium addressing the recent spike in political violence against songwriters, composers and music performers throughout the world. The webcast, “Protecting Free Speech in the Global Music Landscape” premiered on Music Freedom Day and was produced in cooperation with the International Music Council. It featured discussions and interviews with many of the world’s leading experts and activists on free speech issues as they pertain to the music and music education communities. Panel topics included Movements to Protect Free Speech in Music; Trends in Politically-based Censorship of the Musical Arts, and The History of Music’s Political Influence and of Governmental Attempts to Harness, Control and Silence It. A compendium briefing paper tracing the history of global music repression was prepared by NMC Chair Charles J. Sanders, containing dozens of links to musical sources, and providing music community members with the opportunity to incorporate the lessons of the past into their ideas for forging a less dangerous future for songwriters, composers, recording artists and performers. The symposium and briefing paper are currently viewable on the NMC website.
Vivian and Ray Chew accept the 2023 American Eagle honor
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Ray Chew, Regina Belle, and Vivian Scott Chew
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Ray and Vivian Chew with the American Eagle Award
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
NMC Director David Sanders, Ray Chew, AFM President Ray Hair, and Vivian Scott Chew
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Regina Belle performing the musical tribute to the honorees
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Regina Belle with Tyrone Belle on piano for the musical tribute
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Regina Belle
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Regina Belle
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
Tyrone Belle at the piano
Photo Credit: Fred Morledge
The National Music Council of the United States is proud to announce it will honor music visionaries Ray Chew and Vivian Scott Chew at the organization’s 39th annual American Eagle Awards on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at the American Federation of Musicians Convention in Las Vegas. The honors are presented each year in recognition of those who have made career-long contributions to American musical culture, to promoting the ideal of music education for all children, and to supporting the protection of creators’ rights both locally and internationally. This years’ honored presenter will be Academy Award and multi-Grammy-winning artist Regina Belle.
Iconic Music Director, Producer and Composer Ray Chew’s work has been celebrated for excellence both in front of the camera and behind the scenes over the course of decades, ranging from the most important special holiday broadcasts on NBC to award-winning shows including Dancing With the Stars, Showtime at the Apollo, and American Idol. Ray’s uniquely-prized music direction talents have been further highlighted in prestigious musical specials and historic landmark events, including the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremonies, the 2008 Democratic National Convention, President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Ball, the NAACP Image Awards, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America and the BET Awards.
Among the list of globally renown artists with whom Ray has worked include Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Pitbull, Queen Latifah, James Taylor, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jennifer Hudson and Quincy Jones. His reputation as one of the most sought-after collaborative talents in the global music industry is rivaled only by his commitment to passing along the benefits of his experiences to future generations of composers, arrangers, performers and producers.
Vivian Scott Chew is an equally innovative figure in the global music and entertainment industry, with an accomplished history at ASCAP, Polygram Records and Sony Music, and as co-founder and principal of TimeZone International – the first U.S. based African-American owned company that provides recording artists with international marketing and promotion services in expanded regions.
Ray and Vivian are likewise founding partners in Chew Entertainment – a premiere event production firm whose work includes the annually acclaimed “A Night of Inspiration” at Carnegie Hall, an all-star concert that promotes diversity and unity at the famed venue with a 64-piece orchestra and massive choir for notable artists from the gospel and secular communities. The couple similarly remains steadfast in their commitment to philanthropy through both the Power 2 Inspire Foundation, which they created to identify and nurture the future of music creators and industry leaders, and by fundraising efforts in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians to benefit out of work musicians affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.power2inspire.org and https://www.youtube.com/@allthingschew.
This year’s honorees will join a “who’s – who” of musical giants whose careers and works have been previously awarded the American Eagle, including Stephen Sondheim, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Max Roach, Lena Horne, Roy Clark, Crystal Gale, George Clinton, Ervin Drake, Theo Bikel, Vince Guaraldi, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Patti Smith, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Café, and VH1’s Save the Music Foundation.
For more information on schedule, location details, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.musiccouncil.org or contact NMC Director David Sanders at sandersd@montclair.edu.
Proceeds from the event support the National Music Council’s music education advocacy efforts.
The National Music Council
The Congressionally-chartered National Music Council is celebrating its 82nd year as a forum for the free discussion of this country’s national music affairs and challenges. Founded in 1940 to act as a clearinghouse for the joint opinion and decision of its members and to work to strengthen the importance of music in our lives and culture, the Council’s initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity. Through the cooperative work of its member organizations, the National Music Council promotes and supports music and music education as an integral part of the curricula in the schools of our nation, and in the lives of its citizens. The Council provides for the exchange of information and coordination of efforts among its member organizations and speaks with one voice for the music community whenever an authoritative expression of opinion is desirable. www.musiccouncil.org
In 2023, the National Music Council produced a landmark Symposium addressing the recent spike in political violence against songwriters, composers and music performers throughout the world. The webcast, “Protecting Free Speech in the Global Music Landscape” premiered on Music Freedom Day and was produced in cooperation with the International Music Council. It featured discussions and interviews with many of the world’s leading experts and activists on free speech issues as they pertain to the music and music education communities. Panel topics included Movements to Protect Free Speech in Music; Trends in Politically-based Censorship of the Musical Arts, and The History of Music’s Political Influence and of Governmental Attempts to Harness, Control and Silence It. A compendium briefing paper tracing the history of global music repression was prepared by NMC Chair Charles J. Sanders, containing dozens of links to musical sources, and providing music community members with the opportunity to incorporate the lessons of the past into their ideas for forging a less dangerous future for songwriters, composers, recording artists and performers. The symposium and briefing paper are currently viewable on the NMC website.
As an important feature of the landmark, NMC/IMC joint Symposium on Protecting Free Speech in Music scheduled to premiere on March 3rd in conjunction with international Music Freedom Day, a briefing paper tracing the history of global music repression will be made available to the public for the very first time. The compendium, prepared by NMC Chair Charles J. Sanders and containing dozens of links to musical sources, will serve to provide music community members with the opportunity to incorporate the lessons of the past into their ideas for forging a less dangerous future for songwriters, composers, recording artists and performers.
“We’ve all seen the current headlines from around the world,” the document begins. “Musicians and composers attacked as rabble-rousers and enemies of the state. Singers arrested, their performances banned as dangerous, un-patriotic or sacrilegious. Most recently, we’ve even seen lethal attacks committed against music creators for refusing to perform, or simply for attempting to entertain, not even to proselytize or lampoon. On this subject, the mission of the global music community is clear. We must quickly and effectively formulate ways to help curb this despicable trend.”
According to the report’s author, however, it’s also incumbent on us to recognize that such dangers have plagued humankind’s composers and troubadours for centuries. “Finding sustainable solutions to this newest spike in violence and repression will require our community to evaluate approaches to these threats with a careful eye on history.” Past events addressed in the paper include the banning of musical works and coercive or physical attacks on creators during the US Civil War, the Native American Genocide, the Great Depression and World Wars I and II, other murderous actions in fascist Spain, Nazi Germany, and Imperial Japan, brutal suppression in Soviet Russia and during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, outrageous acts of violence under the Pinochet Regime, the Khmer Rouge, and in Apartheid South Africa, and up to and including current, tragic events in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
“The historical pattern of musical repression is actually a simple one to understand. Music’s dual, facile ability to serve as both a powerful tool of propaganda and as an existential threat to power structures and political leaders has made it a prime focus of nervous governmental concern over the entire span of history. As a result, when it comes to music, whether we’re dealing with instances of governmental coercion, repression, violence or all three in combination, whatever we are seeing now the world has seen before. That fact itself creates an opportunity for more expeditiously finding the best way forward.”
The paper concludes with the assertion, “that crucial process is our responsibility to undertake” and it begins with the aphorism past is prologue. Stated another way, as the great novelist William Faulkner once sagely observed, the past is not dead. It is not even past.”