As Donald Trump continues his preparation for taking over leadership of the free world, there is at least one cause he’ll be reminded of that many would like to remain not free. The Recording Academy, the organization that runs the Grammys, has written a letter to the president-elect urging him to protect music copyright laws at all costs when he steps into office. It’s signed by Nile Rodgers and producer Rodney Jerkins (a.k.a. Darkchild), along with many others, in the latest of many attempts on behalf of the music industry to get the government’s attention. Earlier this year, the RIAA and several dozens of musicians — including Taylor Swift — signed a separate letter to Congress asking it to reform the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. They’ve taken particular umbrage with YouTube’s long history of using loopholes to avoid proper compensation to artists. It appears the music biz is now betting on Trump — himself a master of taking advantage of loopholes — to now use his authority to “support the music economy” by appealing to his business senses: “This is an important moment to ensure the continued viability of music as one of America’s greatest exports and as an integral part of the American innovation story,” the Academy writes.
