During the spring legislative season, Recording Academy members throughout Maryland spoke to state legislators in Annapolis about HB 1429/SB 662, the Protecting the Admissibility of Creative Expression (PACE) Act.
Delegate Marlon Amprey (D-District 40) and Senator Nick Charles (D-District 25) introduced the legislation. The PACE Act aims to safeguard artistic expression and uphold the First Amendment rights of Maryland’s dynamic music community.
Maryland’s music industry creates over 22,000 jobs and contributes $1.4 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). Despite the industry’s economic significance, challenges persist for artists whose creative works are misinterpreted or misused in criminal trials nationwide and in Maryland courtrooms.
Delegate Amprey, Senator Charles, the Recording Academy, and Kevin Liles of 300 Elektra Entertainment kicked off this advocacy initiative by hosting a press conference emphasizing the significance of the PACE Act in protecting the rights of Maryland artists.
“We want to make sure and safeguard creative expression here in the state of Maryland,” stated Amprey. “Unfortunately, across the nation, we have seen an uptick of creative expression in lyrics being used against artists wrongfully in court as a form of evidence.”
PACE Legislation Will Protect the Music Industry
Components of the PACE Act impact the music industry nationally. One key aspect is its emphasis on shifting the burden of proof to prosecutors, ensuring that the relevance and admissibility of creative works in legal proceedings are thoroughly evaluated. By doing so, the legislation aims to prevent the unjust weaponization of artistic expression, particularly within marginalized communities that are disproportionately targeted by such practices.
Lisa Winans, a GRAMMY-nominated gospel artist and a member of the Recording Academy, expressed concern in Annapolis along with other Recording Academy artists.
“As a gospel artist, I understand the importance of having the freedom to create music that is an authentic expression of my beliefs without fear of repercussions,” voiced Winans. “Artists in any genre should be able to express their creativity through music without fear of reprisal from the justice system simply because of the content of their art or because of biases against their chosen art form.”