A Message From National Music Council Chair Charles Sanders Regarding Announced Cuts To Cornerstone American Cultural Initiatives

As chair of the National Music Council of the United States (NMC), the Congressionally chartered umbrella organization of American music rights and education advocacy groups, I am both disappointed and dismayed by the apparent, abrupt cancellation of US Government grants to numerous American arts and music education and performance programs and initiatives across the country.

I am equally concerned over the deleterious effects on American musical culture that will likely result from plans to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts, an agency dedicated to ensuring the continued pre-eminence of American music as the platinum standard for creative excellence throughout the world.

Over the past century and a half, American composers, songwriters and recording artists have utterly dominated global musical culture in popularity. A recent recording industry study found that American songs and recordings continue to comprise a huge percentage of the music charts throughout the world, often constituting upward of an astonishing 90% of the top numerical positions. As a result, the US music industry contributes well over $200 billion annually to the American economy, supporting in part some 2.5 million domestic jobs and over 250,000 music venues and establishments.

Just this past week in Washington, DC, I pointed out before members of Congress on behalf of NMC that even statistics as eye-popping as those tell only a part of the story behind the economic and cultural engine that is American music. This level of sustained achievement stands as a living tribute to the unique quality of America’s creative melting-pot. Starting in the 1800s with the synthesis of musical influences from around the world into jazz, gospel, folk and blues, the US music creator community –supported by legal protections and economic incentives provided by the US Government through laws, grants and other opportunities– has succeeded in fostering the advancement of the musical arts in America to the very highest levels of human achievement and commercial success.

And the benefits of this phenomenon go even deeper than the billions in US GDP they produce. By consistently creating the music the world loves, the United States has realized political, social and economic value far beyond the balance of trade benefits music sustains. It has, in fact, helped produce the rarest of all geo-political commodities: lasting and broad good will.

NMC has already placed itself in the forefront of efforts to remind Congress and the White House of the multitude of cultural, economic, and political benefits that flow from the output of the most successful and creative musical community in world history. Our message is a simple one. American music creators have reached those heights in important part through energetic, governmental support for music education, development and performance. That formula must not be abandoned. It would be utter folly to curtail investment in one of the most brilliant sectors of American life, culture and commerce, putting an end to one of America’s greatest stories of success.

We shall keep you posted on further developments.