FUTURE OF MUSIC COALITION presents D.C. Policy Day 2009 at National Geographic Music and Radio and National Geographic Live! :: February 11, 2009.

This daylong event brings together leading voices to debate how changes in the policymaking landscape could impact the music community. Scheduled just two weeks after the start of a new federal administration, the event brings laser-beam focus to the core issues emerging in the courts, in Congress, at the FCC and the Copyright Office. With three panels, two keynote speeches and a special conversation, Policy Day 2009 will provide musicians, technologists, legal experts, policymakers and advocates with the opportunity to participate in robust but balanced discussions about how media and broadband policy affect the music industry, and how changes in copyright law could impact the music and tech communities.

Confirmed speakers and panelists include FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps, FCC Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein, Associate Register for Policy & International Affairs, U.S. Copyright Office David Carson, Pandora founder Tim Westergren and CD Baby founder Derek Sivers. More participants will be announced shortly.

Policy Day 2009 highlights issues of key importance to those in the music community and beyond. Topics of conversation include broadband and internet policy, copyright and compensation, radio issues and new business models. These discussions will help establish an agenda for music, technology and law as a new policy landscape coalesces.

Event Schedule *

Wednesday, February 11 , 2009
TIME DESCRIPTION
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome

9:10 AM – 9:30 AM
Keynote Address 1

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Adjust Your Dial: Radio for the 21st Century
In recent years, terrestrial radio has seen its fair share of challenges: competing technologies, shifting demographics, and a stuttering economy. But radio is still a vital technology that draws huge audiences and serves an essential purpose, acting as a conduit for community news and information and potentially supporting local culture and music.

With the new administration in place, panelists will discuss the status of some of the key radio-related issues facing the FCC and Congress: media ownership rules, ongoing efforts to improve localism, the expansion of low power licenses, public performance royalties, indie label market share and the effect of the 2007 payola settlement on airplay. What would radio look like in a perfect world, and how could it best serve musicians, record labels, arts organizations and the public?

Bryan Calhoun Vice President, New Media & External Affairs, SoundExchange
Parul Desai Associate Director, Media Access Project
Peter Gordon President, Thirsty Ear Recordings
Michael Bracy Policy Director, Future of Music Coalition (moderator)

11:10 AM – 11:30 AM
Keynote Address 2

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Broad-band: Internet and Spectrum Policy and the Creative Class
For years, Congress and the FCC have worked on a series of initiatives designed to revise the telecommunications regulatory framework, including everything from broadband deployment and network neutrality to spectrum reform. It’s clear that these issues are a top priority for the Obama administration, but which will be tackled first? How will proposed revisions impact musicians, tech entrepreneurs and the public? How does broadband policy intersect with concerns about protecting intellectual property? What would a pro-musician Telecom Act look like?

Sascha Meinrath Research Director, Wireless Future Program, New America Foundation
Michael Petricone Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Consumer Electronics Association
Ben Scott Policy Director, Free Press
Brian Zisk Technologies Director, Future of Music Coalition (moderator)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
lunch

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Win-Win When? Copyright and Innovation in the Digital Age
The Obama administration has made it clear that intellectual property and copyright are core issues, stating in its transition documents that it intends to “update and reform our copyright and patent systems to promote civic discourse, innovation, and investment while ensuring that intellectual property owners are fairly treated.” Will we see a renewed focus on copyright reform, orphan works, sampling, the length of term, or creators’ right to exploit? Will the administration revisit the DMCA? And what will be the role of the proposed “Copyright Czar”? Leading voices from the music, technology and policy communities will discuss what work would ensure a dynamic, forward thinking policies that also ensure artists are compensated.

Rick Carnes President, Songwriters Guild of America
David Carson General Counsel, US Copyright Office
Zahavah Levine General Counsel & VP Business Affairs, YouTube
Steve Marks Executive VP and General Counsel, RIAA
Hal Ponder Director of Government Relations, American Federation of Musicians
Gigi Sohn Executive Director, Public Knowledge
Walter McDonough General Counsel, Future of Music Coalition (moderator)

3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
Fair Trade Music: Monetizing P2P and Online Access
Thanks to the internet, there are now a mind-boggling array of legal tools and services that help musicians promote, distribute and sell their music while offering fans unprecedented avenues of discovery and interaction. Tech entrepreneurs have devised many brilliant and beloved applications for the legal distribution or streaming of music, but new models often struggle to succeed working within the constraints of existing copyright law, licensing fees and telecommunications policies. Using the Policy Day’s discussion as a starting point, leading entrepreneurs and artist representatives will discuss how technology is changing the music marketplace, and what changes in broadband, broadcast or IP policy are the most important to address to ensure creators are compensated and innovation can flourish.

Tim Westergren Founder, Pandora
Derek Sivers Founder, CD Baby (moderator)

5:15 PM – 5:30 PM
Final Thoughts

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Cocktail Party

To register online, click here: https://www.futureofmusic.org/events/dcpolicyday09/regform.cfm

About Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,700 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.