Songwriters of Northern America (SONA) is a not-for-profit trade organization for songwriters' rights.[1] It was founded by Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley in January 2015, in order to advocate for fair remuneration for songwriters in the era of streaming digital music services.[2] The organization allows songwriters to organize to lobby for better licensing rates for music creators with digital streaming companies like Spotify and Pandora.[2] In 2016 the band sued the Justice Department who they claim "overstepped its authority and that its ruling violated the property rights of songwriters by potentially nullifying private contracts between writers who have worked on the same song."[3] SONA also pressed for fair pay for songwriters within other music legislation including crafting, lobbying and working to pass the Music Modernization Act.[4]
In addition to advocacy, SONA hosts "Back To School" nights and public speakers in order to educate songwriters at all levels on the complicated and ever-changing digital music industry.[2] In 2020 the group, led by Michelle Lewis, Jess Furman and Sarah Robertson organized to offer emergency grants to songwriters facing economic hardship because of the COVID pandemic.[5][6] In addition, SONA successfully lobbied for independent contractors to be included in the CARES Act and continued to lobby for fair inclusion of mixed earners in relief aid.[7]
SONA is almost entirely run by volunteers with leadership coming from their Board of Directors, made up of songwriters and music industry professionals.[8]
^Maloney, Darby. "Hello, Spotify! Goodbye, songwriters?". The Frame. KPCC. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
^ abc"History & Mission". Songwriters Of North America. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
^Sisario, Ben (2016-09-13). "Songwriters Sue Justice Department Over Licensing Rules". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
^Wang, Amy X. (2019-09-30). "Future 25: Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis, Co-Directors of Songwriters of North America". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
^Eggertsen, Chris (2020-05-15). "SONA Launches Songwriter Pandemic Emergency Relief Fund: How to Apply". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
^"Songwriters, Self-Employed Music Workers Eligible Federal Relief". Variety. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
^Aswad, Jem (2020-11-24). "Recording Academy, RIAA, Other Major Music Organizations Ask Congress for COVID-19 Aid". Variety. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
^"Volunteer". Songwriters Of North America. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
^"The Board". Songwriters Of North America. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
External linksEdit
Official site
This article about a music organization is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
songwriters, north, america, songwriters, northern, america, sona, profit, trade, organization, songwriters, rights, founded, michelle, lewis, hanley, january, 2015, order, advocate, fair, remuneration, songwriters, streaming, digital, music, services, organiz. Songwriters of Northern America SONA is a not for profit trade organization for songwriters rights 1 It was founded by Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley in January 2015 in order to advocate for fair remuneration for songwriters in the era of streaming digital music services 2 The organization allows songwriters to organize to lobby for better licensing rates for music creators with digital streaming companies like Spotify and Pandora 2 In 2016 the band sued the Justice Department who they claim overstepped its authority and that its ruling violated the property rights of songwriters by potentially nullifying private contracts between writers who have worked on the same song 3 SONA also pressed for fair pay for songwriters within other music legislation including crafting lobbying and working to pass the Music Modernization Act 4 Songwriters of Northern AmericaNicknameSONAFormation2015FoundersMichelle Lewis Kay HanleyTax ID no 81 1193694Headquarters9000 W Sunset Blvd West Hollywood CA 90069Websitewww wbr wearesona wbr comIn addition to advocacy SONA hosts Back To School nights and public speakers in order to educate songwriters at all levels on the complicated and ever changing digital music industry 2 In 2020 the group led by Michelle Lewis Jess Furman and Sarah Robertson organized to offer emergency grants to songwriters facing economic hardship because of the COVID pandemic 5 6 In addition SONA successfully lobbied for independent contractors to be included in the CARES Act and continued to lobby for fair inclusion of mixed earners in relief aid 7 Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Board of Directors 9 2 References 3 External linksOverview EditSONA is almost entirely run by volunteers with leadership coming from their Board of Directors made up of songwriters and music industry professionals 8 Board of Directors 9 Edit Michelle Lewis Kay Hanley Adam Dorn Adam Gorgoni Autumn Rowe Brendan Okrent Dina LaPolt Jack Kugell Jared Brenner Lauren Hancock Mark Pariser Michelle Featherstone Pamela Sheyne Priscilla Renea Shay M Lawson Shelly PeikenReferences Edit Maloney Darby Hello Spotify Goodbye songwriters The Frame KPCC Retrieved 24 August 2020 a b c History amp Mission Songwriters Of North America Retrieved 2020 08 24 Sisario Ben 2016 09 13 Songwriters Sue Justice Department Over Licensing Rules The New York Times Retrieved 2020 08 24 Wang Amy X 2019 09 30 Future 25 Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis Co Directors of Songwriters of North America Rolling Stone Retrieved 2020 08 24 Eggertsen Chris 2020 05 15 SONA Launches Songwriter Pandemic Emergency Relief Fund How to Apply Billboard Retrieved 2020 08 24 Songwriters Self Employed Music Workers Eligible Federal Relief Variety 2020 03 25 Retrieved 2020 08 24 Aswad Jem 2020 11 24 Recording Academy RIAA Other Major Music Organizations Ask Congress for COVID 19 Aid Variety Retrieved 2021 03 01 Volunteer Songwriters Of North America Retrieved 2021 03 01 The Board Songwriters Of North America Retrieved 2021 03 01 External links EditOfficial site nbsp This article about a music organization is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Songwriters of North America amp oldid 1012712820, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
