Latest news with #GrammysontheHill
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
No Fakes Act Reintroduced in Congress With Support From Google, RIAA, More
The Recording Academy's Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day culminated on Wednesday with a press conference on Capitol Hill with Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) and Maria Salazar (R-Fl.) to announce the reintroduction of the 'NO FAKES' Act, standing for 'Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe.' The bipartisan, bicameral bill is intended to advance creators' rights by protecting their voices and likenesses from the unauthorized creation and use of digital replicas. Also at the press conference were stakeholders from the Human Artistry Campaign – where the Academy is a founding member – along with Google, MPA, RIAA, SAG-AFTRA, and YouTube. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said: 'The Academy is proud to represent and serve creators, and for decades, Grammys on the Hill has brought music makers to our nation's capital to elevate the policy issues affecting our industry. Today's reintroduction of the 'NO FAKES' Act underscores our members' commitment to advocating for the music community, and as we enter a new era of technology, we must create guardrails around AI and ensure it enhances – not replaces – human creativity. We thank Senators Blackburn and Coons, and Representatives Dean and Salazar for their unwavering support on this issue, and we look forward to working alongside them to pass the NO FAKES Act this Congress.' More from Variety Roblox Teams With Google on Rewarded Video Ads Product Nvidia Teams With Disney on AI Robotics Project: 'The Age of Generalist Robotics Is Here' Google to Buy Cybersecurity Firm Wiz for $32 Billion in Cash, Its Biggest Acquisition Ever The Academy has worked to protect creators in the age of AI since before the launch of ChatGPT, and in 2024 saw the successful passage of the ELVIS Act in Tennessee, which inspired similar legislation in California and Illinois. The NO FAKES Act would establish the United States' first-ever federal right of publicity and provide a nationwide standard to ensure creators' likenesses are not used without their consent. The bill would give music-makers control over their own digital personas and hold individuals, companies and platforms accountable for the unauthorized use of a creator's voice or likeness. This year's annual Grammys on the Hill initiative honored country music legend and seven-time Grammy winner Randy Travis, as well as Reps. Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and Ron Estes (R-KS), for their support of music creators. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Randy Travis appears at Grammys on the Hill, wife credits AI song for 'whole new energy'
Randy Travis appears at Grammys on the Hill, wife credits AI song for 'whole new energy' Show Caption Hide Caption Who Holds The Record For The Most Grammy Wins Of All Time? Beyoncé holds the record for the most Grammy wins in history, with 32 awards. She cemented her status as one of the most successful artists in Grammy history. Georg Solti is next with 31 wins. unbranded - Entertainment WASHINGTON – Nearly 12 years ago, Randy Travis flatlined three times in the midst of a stroke. The debilitating effects of the medical trauma left him mostly unable to speak and walk. But the country singer whose career thrived from the '80s to the '00s with No. 1 hits including 'Diggin' Up Bones,' 'I Told You So' and 'Forever and Ever, Amen,' made an unexpected return to the charts in 2024 through the use of artificial intelligence. 'Where That Came From' was created using software to recreate Travis' distinctive twang and merge it with a 2011 recording of the song. On Tuesday, Travis was hailed as the 2025 Creators Leadership Award honoree at the annual Grammys on the Hill event, which pairs the music industry with Congress to advocate for artists' rights. The topic of AI – which also took the spotlight at last year's gathering – sparked conversation among musicians and producers including Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying, who hosted the event, singer/producer Kenyon Dixon and renowned producer/composer Giles Martin. But while most discussions focused on the negative aspects of AI – stealing the vocals, notes and likenesses of public figures without permission – Travis represents a productive use of the technology. With wife Mary Davis holding his arm, a bright-eyed Travis, who still struggles to walk and talk, said it felt 'wonderful' to be recognized while Davis expounded on Travis' return. 'It's so important for him to give back to music what music gave to him,' she said as the pair stood on the red carpet at The Hamilton in D.C. 'I wanted so bad to hear his voice again and when we had the opportunity, not only did I want to do it selfishly, but to see him at the soundboard working elbow to elbow with his producer, there was a whole new energy out of Randy.' Travis is expected to be on Capitol Hill Wednesday to help reintroduce the bipartisan No FAKES Act (Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe). First proposed in 2023 by Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the legislation has been tweaked and aims to protect Americans from deepfakes and voice clones, allow platforms to promptly remove unauthorized deepfakes and protect First Amendment use for news reporting and satire. Along with Travis, Reps. Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., and Ron Estes, R-Kan., were also honored for their efforts to assist independent artists with the HITS Act (Help Independent Tracks Succeed), which allows tax relief for the cost of sound recordings. The 90-minute event featured performances from several artists including Paul Overstreet, who co-wrote 'Forever And Ever, Amen' and urged the crowd of about 200 to sing along as he played guitar; soul/gospel singer DOE, who moved listeners with her tender ode to a friend in need, 'I'm So Glad We Met'; and Hoying, who ended the night with an impressive medley of 20 songs that won Record of the Year at the Grammys, including the Eagles' 'Hotel California' and Roberta Flack's 'Killing Me Softly With His Song.'
