‘We Write the Songs’ annual charm-offensive unruffled by Trump policies
WASHINGTON>> In the current political climate, everyone seems convinced the Trump administration will either be the saving grace of their cause or destroy it in one fell swoop. But one organization lobbying the government just seems ... impartial.
Members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) who performed at the “We Write the Songs” event at the Library of Congress Tuesday, made it clear their movement is really rather nonpartisan.
“Friends on both sides of the aisle” was the catchphrase of the night used by music industry titans as they described how outdated federal copyright regulations established in 1941 and not updated since 2001 are depriving songwriters of their hardearned moolah.
“Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Doug Collins (R-Ga.), who probably don’t agree on a lot of things, but they both love music,” said ASCAP President Paul Williams, citing two lawmakers he considers among the biggest champions for the cause.
Dems and Republicans such as Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Judy Chu, D-Calif., took turns introducing the songwriters/performers (Peter Frampton, Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian among them) and even joined together for a few sing-a-longs (which sounded surprisingly good).
While many members of the arts community are basically freaking out over President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, songwriter Desmond Child (co-writer of “Living on a Prayer”) said the chief executive’s pro-small business mentality could actually be a good thing.
The payoff for songwriting has diminished in the digital age because of streaming services — people don’t buy as much music. “I think this might be a good time to look at us the same way they look at all businesses,” Child said of the new admin. “You hear about certain sectors losing jobs. ... We’ve lost a million jobs in 20 years.”