WASHINGTON – Whether it’sTaylor Hanson,Maggie RoseorGrace Potter, their message is clear: the entertainment industry needs to value intellectual property and approach artificial intelligence with caution.
The three musicians were among the advocates at this year’s annualGrammys on the Hill, which pairs the music industry with Congress to champion artists’ rights.
“This is well beyond music,” Hanson said on the red carpet. “It's people's likeness. It's creativity. If you're a video designer, if you're a painter, if you're a programmer, if you're an actor, if you're anyone, if you're walking down the street … we want a future that values people's intellectual property.”
Potter sees value in the curiosity attached to using AI, but cautions “it’s really what we do with it.” She hopes for "a future in which everybody is protected and in which we can honor and use the incredible technology and development that's pushed us forward while also acknowledging the fact that it came from somewhere. It's not just stardust.”
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While there is usuallya signature honoreeat the event, the Recording Academy opted to highlight the broader impact of the policy-driven arm of the organization for its 25thmeeting, held April 21 at The Hamilton in D.C.
During the 90-minute gathering,Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Rep. María Salazar (R-FL)were recognized as Congressional Honorees for their efforts crafting theNO FAKES Act(Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe Act). The bipartisan bill was introduced in 2024 by Salazar, as well as senators Coons, Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) and revised last year. It has still not been passed into law.
“My job is to protect, not only business owners or the private sector, but to protect those who need protection, the artists,” Salazar said. “If all you have is your voice, your likeness, your face and someone can steal it in a moment, you need protection. It’s how you pay your rent, how you make a living. Music has no political parties.”
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Among the members of Congress in attendance were Nancy Pelosi (D-California), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Linda Sanchez (D-California), Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) and former Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont).
Along with the messages being spoken, musical performances dotted the night. Rose and Potter joined for the roots rocker “Poison My Well” – Rose armed with a guitar and tinted glasses, Potter sleek in black and silver sparkly heels – which inspired a crowd clap-along of the Grammy-nominated song.
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Molly Tuttle displayed impressive fretwork on her acoustic for the bluegrass jam "San Joaquin" while Cordae sat on a stool and loosely rapped through the slinky “Lord is Coming,” which he featured on with H.E.R. in 2018, and “Bad Idea.”
“This is a much livelier crowd than I was anticipating,” he joked.
The closing sentiment, before a joyous performance of “You Are Good” fromIsrael Houghton, came from Recording Academy CEOHarvey Mason jr.
“Music is a force. It heals. We celebrate with it in ways like nothing else that can bring us together,” he said. “We’re in a time where there is so much division and uncertainty. There are voices that encourage mistrust and breed fear, but music cuts through all of that and reminds us of our shared humanity.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Celebs urge legal protection from AI misuse at Grammys on the Hill