What does Preamble of Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 do?

This bill aims to empower independent music creator owners. It seeks to enable these creators to collectively negotiate with dominant online platforms. The negotiation concerns the terms under which their music may be distributed.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026.

What does FINDINGS. of Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 do?

This section outlines findings related to the music ecosystem and the market for recorded music licensing. It asserts that music is a cultural treasure and a significant economic driver, supporting millions of jobs and billions in economic activity. The text identifies a distortion and imbalance in the online music market, alleging that dominant platforms leverage their market power to dictate licensing agreements to music creators. The current 'notice and takedown' system under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act is described as ineffective and burdensome for music creators. Independent Music Creator Owners are highlighted as particularly vulnerable due to their limited resources and inability to negotiate fair licensing rates. The findings suggest that this imbalance has negatively impacted music careers, with one musician citing young artists giving up their dreams. The section reaffirms the purpose of antitrust laws to promote fair and open markets, including those for music. It concludes that Congress has the authority to resolve conflicts between antitrust laws and their purpose, particularly when protecting online marketplaces for creative works.

What does SAFE HARBOR FOR CERTAIN COLLECTIVE NEGOTIATIONS. of Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a safe harbor from antitrust liability for Individual Music Creator Owners who collectively negotiate music licensing terms with Dominant Online Music Distribution Platforms or companies developing generative artificial intelligence. To qualify for this safe harbor, the negotiations must be nondiscriminatory, directly related to negotiations with the platform, and not limited to price. The term 'Antitrust laws' is defined to include the Clayton Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and state laws prohibiting similar conduct. A 'Dominant Online Music Distribution Platform' is defined as an entity with over $100 million in annual music distribution revenue that does not qualify for a specific license. An 'Individual Music Creator Owner' is defined as a musician or group who owns copyrights to sound recordings and has earned less than $1,000,000 in licensing revenue or qualifies as a small business. The safe harbor applies if the negotiations do not involve parties other than Individual Music Creator Owners or Dominant Online Music Distribution Platforms.

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Protect Working Musicians Act of 2026

Last updated: 5/21/2026 · Introduced: 5/21/2026

Author: Deborah Ross (D-NC)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill provides a legal safe harbor from antitrust laws for independent musicians who collectively negotiate licensing terms with major online music platforms or generative AI developers.
The legislation defines specific criteria for qualifying as an 'Individual Music Creator Owner' and a 'Dominant Online Music Distribution Platform' to be eligible for this safe harbor.
It aims to address an imbalance in the online music market where dominant platforms allegedly dictate licensing agreements, impacting the livelihoods of independent musicians.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 9253(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 2 more.

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