In July 2025, UK songwriters secured non-recoupable per diems from all three major labels following pressure from their fellow songwriters, advocates, and the government. UK officials stood with their writers, and it worked.​

Now it’s our turn.

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This open letter to U.S. officials urges support for American songwriters through the Songwriter Fair Pay Initiative, a coalition of songwriters and allies demanding fair compensation from the U.S. recorded music industry.​

Songwriters create the foundation of every recording. Yet while the recording industry made $17.7 billion in 2024, songwriters remain locked out of that revenue.

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We are demanding:

• Non-recoupable per diems for songwriting sessions and label-organized camps

• Non-recoupable song fees for the first commercial use of a composition

• Points on the master for songwriters’ contributions to the recorded music industry

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Even as the U.S. government faces a shutdown, our call for songwriter fairness continues. The Songwriter Fair Pay Initiative urges officials to prioritize fair compensation for songwriters once operations resume.

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This letter has not yet been delivered to U.S. officials or the media yet. We are currently collecting initial signatures from leading songwriters and industry allies before the letter goes public and the wider music community is invited to sign. We'd like to have all signatures in by, October 31.​

When UK writers stood together, they changed their industry.

Now it’s time for American songwriters to do the same.