The political chaos in the US beneath Trump’s new authorities is unattainable to disregard. With devastating anti-LGBTQ+ insurance policies and different oppressive measures taking centre stage, the cultural panorama appears to be like bleak. Nonetheless, buried beneath the torrent of regressive laws is an unlikely glimmer of hope for the music business. In an odd twist, a number of payments launched by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn might revitalise the music business in the US, leaving the UK authorities trying woefully underprepared to match such assist.
Boosting Music Tourism: The American Music Tourism Act
Music tourism is nothing new, however the introduction of the American Music Tourism Act might see the US money in even additional on its huge cultural heritage. Dwelling to legendary landmarks like Graceland, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, the US already rakes in billions yearly from music-related tourism. This invoice would leverage the Division of Commerce’s sources to create a strategic plan for reinforcing home and worldwide visits to iconic websites.
What makes this initiative promising is its potential to amplify not solely the financial influence of music tourism but additionally to position an excellent brighter highlight on native artists and historic venues. If executed correctly, this might create a virtuous cycle the place elevated tourism funding interprets into higher sources for preserving cultural heritage.
The laws has even gained bipartisan assist, with Democratic co-sponsors becoming a member of Blackburn, a rarity in right this moment’s polarised local weather. It’s a stark distinction to the UK, the place the federal government has performed little to guard its grassroots venues, not to mention promote tourism with the identical stage of focus.
Tackling the Scalpers: The MAIN Occasion Ticketing Act
Ticket scalping has been a thorn within the aspect of music followers and artists alike for years, with bots swooping in to snag tickets and resell them at outrageous markups. The MAIN Occasion Ticketing Act seeks to handle this by constructing on the 2016 BOTS Act.
Whereas the unique laws outlawed bots, enforcement has been weak. This up to date invoice proposes stronger necessities, together with obligatory reporting of bot assaults, a client criticism database, and new knowledge safety measures for ticket sellers.
Whereas it’s tempting to scoff on the thought of significant reforms coming from the Trump administration, the MAIN Occasion Ticketing Act might be a real win for concertgoers. It presents a sensible path ahead by holding scalpers accountable whereas giving the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) the enamel it must implement the foundations. In distinction, the UK has largely didn’t sort out ticket scalping in any significant means. For British music followers, who’re fed up with extortionate resale costs, watching this unfold throughout the Atlantic could sting.
Levelling the Taking part in Discipline for Creators: The HITS Act
Maybe probably the most important growth for unbiased musicians is the HITS Act. At present, unbiased artists are excluded from the tax advantages afforded to movie, TV, and theatre productions, leaving them with fewer sources to fund new initiatives. The HITS Act would enable musicians, songwriters, and producers to completely deduct their recording bills in the identical yr they’re incurred, easing monetary burdens for creators struggling to remain afloat.
This invoice, endorsed by a variety of music business organisations, might be transformative. The flexibility to write down off recording prices in real-time might assist stage the enjoying area for unbiased artists competing with main labels. It’s a practical answer to some of the important challenges within the music business: monetary viability for smaller creators. For the UK music scene, which prides itself on its vibrant indie panorama, this serves as a reminder of how far behind British policymakers are in addressing related points.
Business Backing and Bipartisanship: A Stunning Consensus
What’s most stunning about these payments is the widespread assist they’ve garnered throughout the music business and the bipartisan nature of their sponsorship. Organisations starting from the Recording Academy to the Nationwide Impartial Venue Affiliation have thrown their weight behind these initiatives. This stage of coordination between lawmakers and business stakeholders is uncommon, particularly within the fragmented political panorama of the US.
It’s exhausting to think about the identical stage of collaboration occurring within the UK, the place assist for the humanities typically seems like an afterthought. The UK authorities’s response to the pandemic laid naked its lack of information of the music sector’s wants, with grassroots venues and unbiased artists left scrambling to outlive. In the meantime, beneath Trump, the US seems to be taking important steps to future-proof its business, albeit unintentionally, beneath the guise of Blackburn’s agenda.
Conclusion: A Dubiously Vibrant Future
It’s unattainable to disregard the broader context by which these payments are being launched. Trump’s authorities is actively undermining equality and pushing regressive insurance policies that threaten the material of American society. The progress represented by these music-related payments doesn’t erase the hurt being performed elsewhere. Nonetheless, it does spotlight the potential for significant change in particular sectors, even in probably the most unlikely of circumstances.
For the UK, these developments ought to function a wake-up name. The American Music Tourism Act, MAIN Occasion Ticketing Act, and HITS Act show what might be achieved when lawmakers prioritise cultural industries. Whereas the UK continues to coast on its musical repute, the US is quietly laying the groundwork for a extra sustainable future. Whether or not this momentum will proceed stays to be seen, however for now, it’s a uncommon occasion of cautious optimism in an in any other case grim political panorama.
Article by Amelia Vandergast