Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9253
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T19:53:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 (H.R. 9253)
Purpose This legislation aims to allow independent music creators to collectively negotiate licensing terms with large online music platforms and generative AI companies, addressing perceived market imbalances in digital music distribution.
Key Provisions
- Establishes a safe harbor from antitrust liability for Individual Music Creator Owners who agree among themselves to negotiate or refuse licensing with Dominant Online Music Distribution Platforms or AI developers.
- Defines "Dominant Online Music Distribution Platform" as an online service with over $100 million in annual music distribution revenue that does not qualify for certain statutory licenses under copyright law.
- Defines "Individual Music Creator Owner" as musicians, songwriters, or small entities owning copyrights to sound recordings or musical works, with annual licensing revenue under $1 million or qualifying as a small business under NAICS codes 512250 or 512230.
- Requires that negotiations be nondiscriminatory, not limited solely to price, directly related to the platform negotiations, and exclude non-qualifying parties.
- Includes extensive congressional findings on the challenges of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's notice-and-takedown system, market power of large platforms, and difficulties faced by independent creators.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Creates a limited exemption from the antitrust laws (including the Clayton Act, Federal Trade Commission Act, and certain state laws) for collective action by independent creators, overriding the general prohibition on agreements that restrain trade.
- Does not alter other aspects of copyright law or the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: May enable independent musicians and songwriters to secure improved licensing terms, potentially supporting more sustainable careers in music.
- On government agencies: Limits the ability of the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to challenge certain collective negotiations under antitrust rules.
- No direct effects on international relations are specified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Independent music creators, including musicians, songwriters, producers, and small copyright-owning entities.
- Dominant online music platforms meeting the revenue threshold.
- Companies developing or deploying generative artificial intelligence systems.
- Indirectly, major record labels and the broader music industry ecosystem.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Introduces an antitrust exemption, which the bill acknowledges are generally disfavored but justified here to protect creative markets.
- Relies on Congress's authority to adjust antitrust application when it conflicts with market fairness goals.
- Focuses on domestic U.S. copyright and competition policy without addressing international treaties or foreign entities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-10 — PDF (8 pages)