The Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA), a sister organization to the Gospel Music Association (GMA) that represents the interests of music companies, has sent official resolutions to the Commerce and Judiciary Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging their support in recognizing the importance of protecting music transmitted over digital broadcast radio.

Announced by John W. Styll, president of the CMTA and GMA, the resolutions petition for the advancement of HR 4861, a bill which would revise Section 114 of the Copyright Act, granting the FCC limited authority to protect digital audio broadcasts from illegal copying and redistribution over digital networks.

“Digital piracy has wreaked economic harm at all levels of the music business, including the gospel music industry,” Styll said. “Now, with new recording devices capable of recording satellite radio broadcasts and digital broadcasts from terrestrial radio stations, we are concerned that further damage will be inflicted on copyright owners and, in turn, the record labels, musicians, recording artists, recording engineers, record store owners and others employed in gospel music.

“As part of our advocacy responsibility, the CMTA was compelled to make these direct appeals to our legislators and the appropriate regulatory authority.”

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