March 2, 2010:
The musicFIRST Coalition held a March 2 press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to help launch its 2010 campaign with an expanded coalition. Speakers at the event included Susan Scanlon, president of the National Council of Women's Organizations; Hilary O. Shelton, director, NAACP Washington Bureau/vice president for advocacy; Dionne Warwick, GRAMMY-winning artist; and Brent Wilkes, national executive director, League of United Latin American Citizens. Among the items addressed at the press conference were the Performance Rights Act.

March 1, 2010:
The Advocacy & Government Relations team is pleased to welcome new intern Olivia Harrington, an international studies and communications major at American University. Harrington previously pursued her passion for the arts and advocacy while gaining work experience with organizations such as Public Allies in Indianapolis and the Human Rights Institute at American University. Harrington is excited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as she assists the department with projects such as the 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill.

January 30, 2010:
A delegation of policymakers from Washington, D.C., came to Los Angeles for a series of Recording Academy advocacy activities during this year's GRAMMY Week.

On Jan. 30 several representatives from the independent music sector joined the delegation for a GRAMMY Industry Roundtable to discuss the issues facing the independent sector and answer questions from the policymakers. Following the briefing, GRAMMY-nominated artist Katy Perry opened her recording session with producer Dr. Luke to explain the recording process and discuss their studio philosophy.

During GRAMMY rehearsals on Jan. 31 the delegation continued its briefings at Staples Center. In addition to hearing from Academy staff, the group also heard Hank Neuberger, general manager of the Chicago Recording Company, speak about the issues of white spaces and from members of GRAMMY winners Lady Antebellum.

January 29, 2010:
More than 20 artists signed a statement during GRAMMY Week encouraging Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act.

The statement read as follows:

"We, the undersigned artists, believe in the partnership between music and radio. We believe that artists (including the background singers and musicians and the great legacy artists of the past decades) deserve to be compensated when their music is used by radio.

We support the Performance Rights Act because it is fair to radio and fair to artists. We encourage the radio industry to work with the music community and Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act. Together, we can create a true partnership that benefits radio, artists and musicians, and fans."

Artists who signed the statement during GRAMMY Week include: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stephen Stills, Kenny Aronoff, Sheryl Crow, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt and Billie Joe of Green Day, Phil Soussan, Jackson Browne, Don Was, Dave Matthews, Josh Groban, Travis Barker, Andrea Bocelli, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, Will.i.am and Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, Drake, Mary J Blige, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, David Foster and Lil Wayne.

November 12, 2009:
Several top artist managers convened in Nashville, Tenn., and New York on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, respectively, to meet for the second round of the Recording Artists' Coalition re-launch meetings.

October 16, 2009:
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) participated in a panel titled Fighting for Music: The Power of Advocacy at the MusicTech Summit in Seattle on Oct. 16. The discussion focused on how individuals can use their power as creators to influence politics and provide a voice for the creative community. The panelists were Kate Becker, director of development at the Seattle Theatre Group; Kevin Erickson, All-Ages Movement Project; Thomas Goldstein, representing the youth voting engagement organization Washington Bus; and Portia Sabin, president of Kill Rock Stars and A2IM board member; and moderator Dave Dederer, singer/musician. The panelists addressed different strategies for political engagement at the local, state and national level and how individuals can use the combined power of the music community to advocate for pro-artist and pro-music legislation.

RAC meeting participants (l-r) Deborah Klein, Pat Magnarella, Ron Laffitte, Mathew Knowles, Susan Markheim, Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, Peter Leak, Simon Renshaw, Dan Field, Michael Lippman, Irving Azoff, and Rob McDermott Photo: The Recording Academy

September 15, 2009:
On Sept. 15 several top artist managers met in Los Angeles at The Recording Academy's headquarters for the first in an ongoing series of Recording Artists' Coalition meetings.

August 4, 2009:
Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Governor and GRAMMY-nominated musician Sheila E. testified in favor of terrestrial radio royalties for artists at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Aug. 4. In addition to Sheila E., those who spoke on behalf of the musicFIRST Coalition included Bob Kimball, executive vice president, RealNetworks; Marian Leighton-Levy, co-founder, Rounder Records; Steve Newberry, joint board chairman, National Association of Broadcasters and president and CEO, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation; Ralph Oman, adjunct professor, the George Washington University Law School; and James L. Winston, executive director and general counsel, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.

June 22, 2009:
Atlanta Town Hall hosted by The Recording Academy's Atlanta Chapter. Participants included: Representatives John Conyers (D-MI), Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX), George Clinton, Rymefest, Dionne Farris, Peter Stroud, Johnny Colt, Jimmy Patterson, Kendall Minter and the Recording Academy's, Daryl Friedman.

June 2, 2009:
musicFIRST Coalition held a Town Hall in Detroit. Among those who attended were House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), the Four Tops' Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Martha Reeves, Warwick, and the Supremes' Mary Wilson.

March 3, 2009:
musicFIRST Advocacy Day was held, as more than 40 Recording Academy members came to Washington for a day of grassroots advocacy. Academy members were divided into groups and spent the day visiting key members of Congress and legislative staff.

February 7, 2009:
GRAMMY Town Hall in Los Angeles. The event was attended by Reps. Marsha Blackbun (R-TN), John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Darrell Issa (R-CA), Simon Renshaw, Jimmy Jam, Josh Groban, Mary Wilson, Sam Moore and Lamont Dozier, as well as over 300 members of the Recording Academy and music community.