Some of the music industry's leading trade and rights advocacy groups are joining forces with Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC) to host "Our Seat at the Table," a virtual panel addressing power imbalances in the digital music economy.
The online forum focuses on the re-introduced Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 (PWMA), a legislative effort designed to allow independent artists, songwriters, and record labels to negotiate collectively with tech platforms, streaming services, and AI developers.
Quick Event Overview
Event: Our Seat at the Table: A Conversation on the Protect Working Musicians Act
Date: Thursday, August 6
Time: 2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM PT
Featured Speaker: Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC)
Hosted By: American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), American Federation of Musicians (AFM), Artist Rights Alliance (ARA), Fan Alliance, Folk Alliance, Future of Music Coalition, Music Artists Coalition (MAC), Music Managers Forum US (MMF-US), National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), Recording Academy, and Songwriters of North America (SONA).
Free Registration: A2IM Zoom Webinar Registration Link
What is the Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026?
The Protect Working Musicians Act (PWMA) addresses a fundamental challenge facing independent creators: antitrust laws currently prevent small rights holders from joining together to negotiate payouts from mega-platforms. While major record labels hold enough market share to negotiate favorable streaming payouts and licensing terms, independent artists and small labels are forced to accept non-negotiable take-it-or-leave-it rates.
The re-introduced 2026 bill creates an antitrust exemption enabling independent music creators and small businesses to:
- Bargain collectively with dominant streaming platforms for fair royalty rates.
- Negotiate terms with AI developers who train generative models on copyrighted musical works.
- Establish market leverage to shift payouts from platform-dictated terms to mutually agreed valuations.
Why Independent Music Coalition Support Matters
The virtual forum brings together an unprecedented coalition of organizations representing every corner of the creative ecosystem from songwriters and performers to managers, agents and independent record labels.
With generative AI reshaping royalty distribution and streaming payout structures remaining heavily skewed toward tech platforms, this bill offers a concrete regulatory path toward economic sustainability for independent working musicians.
How to Attend the Forum Free
The event is free to attend, but pre-registration is required. Independent creators, managers, label operators, and industry advocates are encouraged to join the conversation and ask questions directly.
- Date: Thursday, August 6th
- Time: 2:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM CST / 12:00 PM MST / 11:00 AM PST
- Format: Live Zoom Webinar
- Registration Link: Reserve your spot on Zoom
