Most songwriters are not against new technologies, in fact we embrace them. We simply want to ensure that creators of copyrighted materials are appropriately paid. When distribution of songs is allowed on the Internet, there is no way to guarantee that the song won't be distributed time and time again to users who have never paid to own the song. Nothing less than the very profession of songwriting is at stake. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.
Toby knows that the way songwriters receive payment for their copyrights is being redefined.
We are at one of the most important points in the professions' history in terms of how writers are compensated in the future for their creations. For every hit songwriter the fear exists that someone will claim, usually without merit, that they were the original composer. Unfortunately, it costs tens of thousands of dollars to defend a claim, even if it is blatantly false. The NSAI Legislative Committee has begun pursuing the possibility of legislative, legal, and practical answers to this problem. We also plan to look at possible regulatory and legislative.