The Illinois General Assembly is fighting the good fight to protect artists and individuals from unauthorized AI digital replicas.

On Friday, May 24, the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed HB 4875, sending the bill to the Governor's desk to become law. HB 4875, which unanimously cleared the state senate earlier in May, modernizes Illinois's existing Right of Publicity law to specifically address the challenges artists face from AI-generated creations and digital replicas.

Since the legislation's introduction by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz and Senator Mary Edly-Allen the Recording Academy has been an advocate for the bill and how it establishes key safeguards and enforcement mechanisms to ensure an individual's identity is not misappropriated by generative AI. 

In April, members from the Recording Academy's Chicago Chapter went to the state capitol in Springfield for a state advocacy day in support of the bill. Immediately following that day of action, the bill cleared the House of Representatives for the first time and was sent to the Senate for further action. 

And earlier this year, in March, Recording Academy Chicago Chapter Board Members Jeff Becker and Dani Deahl testified in support of the legislation during hearings in the House and Senate. Their testimonies laid the foundation to pass the bill, bringing needed attention and support from state lawmakers. 

"As we embrace AI's potential, we must also be prepared for the risks it presents that are already here. The clearest example of these risks is the ability of AI to steal people's images and voices," Deahl testified. "I myself have had the unsettling experience of hearing my voice replicated by AI, delivering messages I never endorsed. This violation of identity is a profound invasion of personal autonomy."

Once signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois will become the second state in the nation to proactively protect creators from having their likeness replicated without permission by generative AI. In March, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the ELVIS Act into law to become the first state. The Recording Academy worked closely with the Governor, Tennessee legislators, and other stakeholders in the passage of the groundbreaking law.

The Recording Academy is also prioritizing federal protections to confront this growing threat to human creativity. During this year's GRAMMYs on the Hill, GRAMMY winners and nominees came to Washington, D.C. to urge Members of Congress to support the House's No AI FRAUD Act and the Senate's NO FAKES Act. Both bills would establish similar protections to Illinois's HB 4875. 

For more information on how the Recording Academy continues to fight for artists' rights, keep checking our Advocacy page at recordingacademy.com.

The House Of Representatives Has Passed The TICKET Act: Here's What You Need To Know

Over the past 10 years, the Recording Academy has championed the rights of music creators and professionals through its annual Music Advocacy Day, the largest grassroots advocacy movement for music and its makers. Music Advocacy Day, which this month celebrated its 10th anniversary, has progressed, shaped and secured music laws and legislation that impact creators and fans and support the music industry at-large. At this year's Music Advocacy Day, formerly known as District Advocate Day, the Recording Academy set new records and reached new heights in its mission to elevate important policy issues impacting the music community.

At Music Advocacy Day 2024, which took place Tuesday across the U.S., more than 2,100 Recording Academy members from 47 states, as well as Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, participated as the Academy secured nearly 200 congressional meetings from coast to coast. GRAMMY U students attending the 2024 GRAMMY U Fall Summit were also allowed the opportunity to get involved. This record-breaking level of engagement set the record as the largest Music Advocacy Day ever.

Throughout the day, Academy members and participants met with their congressional representatives in their local offices to discuss the vital issues and legislation impacting music creators and fans and the wider music industry, including the NO FAKES Act, aimed at safeguarding the voice and likeness of creators from AI exploitation, and the American Music Tourism Act, which seeks to enhance music tourism nationwide. Music Advocacy Day participants also advocated for the passage of additional important pieces of legislation, including the American Music Fairness Act, the HITS Act, and the Fans First Act, reinforcing the Recording Academy's commitment to creating a supportive environment for artists and the music industry.

This year, eight-time GRAMMY winner Mark Ronson joined the fight as the 2024 Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador. Ronson, who's advocated for the music community over the years and participated in the 2024 GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day in May, met locally in New York City, while singer/songwriter Maggie Rose and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. met in Nashville and legendary soul artist Angela Winbush met in Las Vegas.

Meetings included bipartisan and bicameral Congressional leaders, influential Committee members, and other critical policymakers, including Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Mark Green (R-TN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Darrell Issa (R-CA).

Mark Ronson (L), Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador, and Recording Academy NY Chapter Members meet with the office of Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) in New York on Music Advocacy Day on Oct. 1, 2024. | Photo Courtesy of the Recording Academy / Photo by Rob Kim for Getty Images © 2024

In addition to direct engagement with congressional offices, Music Advocacy Day participants launched a social media campaign urging legislators to "Stand With Music" and collaborate with creators to modernize the music ecosystem.

As with all our community-driven initiatives, the Recording Academy urges its members and music fans across the country to amplify the call for effective policies that protect creators and empower artists. Keep the spirit and mission of Music Advocacy Day alive and continue to fight for creators' rights all year long using our Music Advocacy Action tool.

See more photos from 2024 Music Advocacy Day participants and events below.

With additional reporting from Claire Hoffman.

Singers Michael Trotter jr. and Maggie Rose, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., Chief Advocacy & Public Policy Officer Todd Dupler, and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Members meet with Rep. Mark Green (TN-7) (center) in Nashville on Music Advocacy Day 2024 on Oct. 1. | Photo: Courtesy of the Recording Academy / Photo by Tibrina Hobson for Getty Images © 2024

Singer Maggie Rose performs at a Music Advocacy Day meeting with Rep. Mark Green (TN-7) in Nashville on Oct. 1, 2024. | Photo: Courtesy of the Recording Academy / Photo by Tibrina Hobson for Getty Images © 2024

(L-R): Mark Ronson, Music Advocacy Day Artist Ambassador; Keisha Martin, Recording Academy NY Chapter Member; and Tevin Williams, Director of Community & External Affairs for the Office of Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) meet in New York on Music Advocacy Day, Oct. 1, 2024. | Photo: Courtesy of the Recording Academy / Photo by Rob Kim for Getty Images © 2024

In Miami, Florida, and across the country, we Stand With Music!

Join our @RecordingAcad members in advocating for the passage of the NO FAKES Act: https://t.co/Gh7FXdnN2H #MusicAdvocate pic.twitter.com/tGbTwRoaFZ

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) October 2, 2024

To @RepHankJohnson, we appreciate your leadership and support during today’s meeting. Thank you for meeting with @RecordingAcad members to discuss important issues impacting the music community. #MusicAdvocate pic.twitter.com/yw9nCaanQk

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) October 2, 2024

Standing With Music in the city that never sleeps!

Thank you, Congressman Jerry Nadler, for your time on Music Advocacy Day! Together, we can make a difference. #MusicAdvocate pic.twitter.com/gAS1KYzbBZ

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) October 1, 2024

Thank you Congresswoman @sydneykamlager for supporting music creators and meeting with #RecordingAcademy members today! #MusicAdvocate pic.twitter.com/6nKBG6OEAD

— GRAMMY Advocacy (@GRAMMYAdvocacy) October 2, 2024

Thanks to @RecordingAcad for inviting me to join the conversation and play a few songs for Music Advocacy Day. https://t.co/eWbGq4J4Pk

— Maggie Rose (@IAmMaggieRose) October 2, 2024

The Recording Academy has set a new milestone with its Music Advocacy Day, gathering a record-breaking 2,130 participants, and surpassing the previous registration record set in 2016.

As the nation's largest grassroots effort of its kind, Music Advocacy Day unites Academy members with congressional representatives to address critical issues facing the music community. Now in its tenth year, the event's impact continues to grow.

On October 1, Recording Academy members across 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico will meet with their congressional representatives to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the music industry. The event aims to bring key issues directly to the lawmakers' attention, driving policy change that supports artists and creators.

This year's anticipation was amplified by the announcement of eight-time GRAMMY winner Mark Ronson as the event's Artist Ambassador. In a letter to Academy members, Ronson highlighted the rapid changes in the music industry and the need for proactive advocacy. He wrote, "The music industry is changing faster than ever, and with those changes come challenges — whether it’s navigating the impact of artificial intelligence or tackling the issues surrounding live event ticketing. But these challenges are also our opportunities to shape the future of music… Now, on Music Advocacy Day, we can build on the progress we’ve made and speak with our Congressional leaders at home in our local communities to ensure they hear our concerns." 

Adding to the momentum, the House of Representatives introduced their version of the NO FAKES Act on September 12, following the Senate's introduction of the companion bill in July. This Academy-endorsed legislation aims to create a national standard for protecting creators' likenesses from the unauthorized creation of digital replicas by artificial intelligence.

Read more: NO FAKES Act Introduced In The Senate: Protecting Artists' Rights In The Age Of AI

The NO FAKES Act's introduction in both the House and Senate marks a historic milestone for artists' rights, setting the stage for an AI ecosystem that safeguards and empowers creators. During Music Advocacy Day, participating members will urge their Congressional representatives to support the bill and highlight the importance of protecting artists from AI misuse.

"The Recording Academy is thrilled to celebrate the introduction of the NO FAKES Act in the House," said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. "Alignment with the Senate on this bill represents an important step in the bipartisan, bicameral effort to establish a federal right of publicity that will protect artists, creators, and all Americans in this new era of technology. We will continue to advocate for music creators by collaborating with Congress to pass this landmark bill into law."

With only a few months left in the 118th Congress, Music Advocacy Day aims to be a pivotal moment for advancing legislation like the NO FAKES Act. In addition to this, Academy members will advocate for policies that strengthen the live event ticket marketplace, promote music tourism, and support other pro-music policies.

In the lead-up to Music Advocacy Day, registrants have already been called into action. They have been sending emails to their Senators and Congressmembers, urging them to co-sponsor the NO FAKES Act. Additionally, in honor of National Voter Registration Day on September 19, the Recording Academy partnered with Headcount — a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to promote democratic engagement — to encourage participants to check their voter registration status and prepare for upcoming elections.

You can register to vote, update registration information, and confirm your registration at Headcount.

Read more: California Passes AB 1836: A Victory for Artists' Rights Against AI Misuse

While Washington, D.C. quiets down with Congress out for the August recess, the Recording Academy has ramped up its advocacy efforts, engaging with state governments across the nation. This work focuses on enacting legislation to protect artists' images and voices from unauthorized regenerative AI, highlighting the need for a safer, more equitable environment for creators.

Texas Takes Center Stage

On August 27th, Texas found itself at the heart of these efforts when Recording Academy member Josh Abbott testified before the state's Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. As the frontman of the Josh Abbott Band, he spoke passionately about the importance of safeguarding an artist's unique identity, emphasizing the personal violation that occurs when AI duplicates are used without consent. 

“My voice and image set me apart. It is part of what defines me as an individual and drives my career. When others use an artist’s voice and likeness without consent, it is a personal and fundamental violation that strikes at the heart of who we are and what we do as creators," Abbott testified. 

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A post shared by Josh AbboŦŦ Band (@joshabbottband)

In his testimony, Abbott pointed out that while Texas law currently recognizes property rights to an individual's name, voice, and likeness after death, it fails to protect living creators. He urged Texas lawmakers to pass strong protections to safeguard human creativity. “AI fakes don’t care if you’re famous, an actor, a recording artist, or even if you’re alive or dead. AI frauds and deepfakes can impact everyone. False and unauthorized depictions driven by digital technology can destroy relationships, businesses, public trust, livelihoods and legacies.”

While at the state capitol, Abbott found time to meet with a number of lawmakers working on AI issues. When the legislature reconvenes in early 2025 for the state’s 89th legislative session, the Recording Academy anticipates that there could be active legislation around AI policy.  

California's Cultural Economy and Artist Protections

In California, advocacy efforts were equally vibrant. On August 16th, Qiana Conley Akinro, Senior Executive Director of the Recording Academy’s Los Angeles Chapter, took a stand at the California Assembly Select Committee on Downtown Recovery during a field hearing on “Revitalizing Struggling Downtowns Through Arts, Culture, and Entertainment” in San Diego.

Conley Akinro discussed the impact the Recording Academy members have in California along with the overall value of arts and culture to the state’s economy. Music, alone, contributes $39.5 billion to the state’s GDP according to research by the RIAA, the Otis College Report on the Creative Economy found that 7.6 percent of all jobs in California are tied to creative industries. 

Conley Akinro also spoke about the critical importance of legislative protections for artists against unauthorized AI duplicates. Specifically, she highlighted the significance of the Recording Academy-endorsed Assembly Bill 1836, which seeks to extend California's "Right to Publicity" law to deceased individuals, preventing their likeness from being exploited without consent. This bill, she argued, is just as crucial for living artists, particularly in the age of AI.  

“As artists embrace the potential for innovation with Artificial Intelligence, it’s crucial that there are effective guardrails in place that preserve the essence of human creativity," she testified. "No challenge is more pressing than the rapid growth of AI-generated digital replicas that impersonate an individual’s distinct image, likeness, or voice without consent or compensation.” She urged the state senate to pass the bill, which has already cleared the Assembly.

Georgia and Virginia Look Forward

Meanwhile, Georgia is contemplating new legislation inspired by Tennessee’s Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act. On August 14th, Georgia Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence Chair John Albers discussed the potential adoption of similar protections that include stronger guardrails on regenerative AI. 

Read more: How The House's No AI FRAUD Act And Tenn.'s ELVIS Act Will Protect Human Creativity

The law endorsed by the Recording Academy in Tennessee safeguards an individual's voice against misuse and imposes liability on companies that offer tools capable of replicating someone's voice or likeness. Given the state's vibrant creative industries, Georgia could become the third state to adopt similar protective legislation.

Virginia also took steps to potentially address AI concerns. On August 20th, Recording Academy’s Managing Director of State and Federal Advocacy Michael Lewan participated in a virtual roundtable on AI hosted by Virginia Delegate Jackie Glass. The discussion, which included Delegate Michelle Maldonado, focused on AI’s implications for the music industry. Both delegates discussed the potential to introduce comprehensive legislation in 2025 to safeguard Virginians against AI misuse.

Looking Ahead to Music Advocacy Day

As the summer advocacy efforts wrap up, the Recording Academy is gearing up for its 10th Music Advocacy Day on October 1st. This event will provide members nationwide with the opportunity to engage directly with their congressional representatives, continuing the push for meaningful protections for music creators in the face of evolving technological challenges.

For more details and to participate in the upcoming Music Advocacy Day, members can register here.

Music Advocacy Day Returns to Mark a Decade of Influencing Policy for Music Creators

Over the past couple of weeks, the music community has lost two formidable advocates and friends of the Recording Academy: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Abdul “Duke” Fakir. Both were passionate champions for creators' rights and made significant contributions to the music ecosystem, leaving it better than they found it. Their legacies will continue to inspire future generations of music advocates.

Sheila Jackson Lee

For nearly 30 years, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee championed music policy on Capitol Hill. Sworn into the House of Representatives in 1995 to represent Texas’ 18th congressional district, which includes much of inner-city Houston, she was known for her strong advocacy on civil rights, healthcare, education, and social justice issues. Jackson Lee's influence extended to the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, and her legislative efforts significantly impacted music activism, artists' rights, and fair compensation in the digital age.

A reliable champion for the Recording Academy’s Texas chapter, Jackson Lee frequently met with members both in their districts and on Capitol Hill. She collaborated with the Recording Academy to help immortalize the legacy of gospel music and was instrumental in various legislative initiatives:

• In 2017, Jackson Lee reestablished the long-dormant Congressional Jazz Caucus, advocating for the economic and cultural development of the jazz community.

• She introduced The National Jazz Preservation, Education, and Promulgation Act, aiming to preserve knowledge and promote education about jazz in the United States and abroad.

• Jackson Lee introduced H.Con.Res 370, designating September as Gospel Music Heritage Month. She noted, “Gospel music is a historical American art form that has spanned hundreds of generations and both inspires and entertains across racial, ethnic, religious, and geographic boundaries. We must officially recognize the great contributions to American culture that have derived from the rich heritage of gospel music and its artists.”

• An original cosponsor of the Music Modernization Act (MMA), Jackson Lee supported the legislation that updated copyright law, making it easier for artists to receive royalties from streaming services and ensuring more accurate payments to songwriters and producers.

Abdul “Duke” Fakir

Abdul "Duke" Fakir, born on December 26, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan, was a celebrated American singer best known as a founding member of the legendary Motown group The Four Tops. Known for hits like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There," The Four Tops played an instrumental role in shaping R&B music. Fakir, the last surviving original member of The Four Tops, ensured the group’s legacy endured in the music industry. His career spanned over six decades, earning numerous awards and accolades, including induction into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 1998 and receiving a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Fakir's advocacy work was incredibly impactful:

• Serving on the Artist Rights Alliance’s Music Council, Fakir fought for an economically fair digital landscape for creators.

• In 2017, Fakir joined the Recording Academy in Washington for GRAMMYs on the Hill, advocating for music licensing reform.

• Fakir was a fierce advocate for performance rights for sound recordings broadcast on AM/FM radio. In 2016, he joined with the musicFIRST Coalition in D.C. to advocate for the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, which would establish a performance right for artists on radio.

• He was also a leader in calling on Congress to  fix the pre-72 loophole, which was addressed by the passage of the Music Modernization Act in 2018. Prior to the MMA, sound recordings released before 1972 did not receive any digital royalties. Since the passage of the MMA, legacy artists like Fakir and their estates have begun to receive fair compensation for their classic works played by services like SiriusXM and Pandora.

During GRAMMYs on the Hill in 2017, Fakir told WTOP News, "Ever since [we first started having records] I’ve been fighting for performance rights, not just for me, a singer, but for musicians, for everyone who’s on the record...they’re all a part of the creation.”

As we remember Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Duke Fakir, we honor their contributions and unwavering commitment to the music industry. Their legacies will continue to resonate, inspiring future generations of music advocates to carry forward their mission for a fair and equitable music ecosystem.