Episode 226 - Interview With Kevin Erickson

Kevin Erickson is the director of the Future of Music Coalition, a Washington DC-based nonprofit supporting a musical ecosystem where artists flourish and are compensated fairly and transparently for their work.FMC works with musicians, composers and industry stakeholders to identify solutions and promote strategies, policies, technologies and educational initiatives that always put artists first while recognizing the role music fans play in shaping the future.In February of this year during a livestream for Blizzcon, Metallica was erroneously censored by Twitch for copyright infringement while performing their own song. This triggered an onslaught of media attention about the nature of censorship, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and Metallica’s decades long fixture in the conversation dating back to they infamous public battle with file-sharing company Napster.In this episode, we sat down with Kevin to get to the bottom of all these issues. We discuss the work being done by the Future of Music Coalition, copyright issues in the modern age, the Twitch controversy, Metallica vs. Napster, clearing up common and pervasive misconceptions and the best ways to support the music you love ethically and responsibly.Fair compensation and transparency for musicians and artists is a deeply personal issue to us as it directly affects our livelihoods. Every day, year in and year out, we see personally and within our community here in Nashville the consequences of how misinformation and apathy surrounding these issues allows large corporations to undervalue and undermine our work. Fascinatingly, Metallica is a thread that has run through these conversations for over two decades. We hope you enjoy this conversation and consider supporting and/or getting involved with The Future of Music Coalition.Make sure to follow the FMC on twitter to keep up with their work, get educated and how you can get involved.TwitterFMC WebsiteIf you think Metal Up Your Podcast has value, please consider taking a brief moment to leave a positive review and subscribe on iTunes  here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077You can further support the show by becoming a patron. All patrons of Metal Up Your Podcast at the $5 level receive volumes 1-4 of our Cover Our World Blackened EP's for free. Additionally, patrons are invited to come on the show to talk about any past Metallica show they've been to and are given access to ask our guests like Ray Burton, Halestorm, Michael Wagener, Jay Weinberg of Slipknot and members of Metallica's crew their very own questions. Be a part of what makes Metal Up Your Podcast special by becoming a PATRON here:http://www.patreon.com/metalupyourpodcastJoin the MUYP Discord Server:https://discord.gg/nBUSwR8tPurchase/Stream Lunar Satan:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lunarsatan/lunar-satanPurchase/Stream Clint's album VAMPIRE:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/clintwells/vampirePurchase/Stream Ethan's album Let It Burn:https://ethanluck.bandcamp.com/album/let-it-burn-2Official Website:http://metalupyourpodcast.comPurchase/Stream our Cover Our World Blackened Volumes and Quarantine Covers:https://metalupyourpodcast.bandcamp.comFollow us on all social media platforms.Write in at:[email protected] If you get value from Metal Up Your Podcast, the best way to support the show is to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077Want more MUYP?You can support the show directly by becoming a Patron.Patrons at the $5 tier receive:Volumes 1–4 of our Cover Our World Blackened EPsInvitations to appear on the show to discuss Metallica concerts you’ve attended.The ability to submit questions to past guests including Ray Burton, Halestorm, Michael Wagener, Jay Weinberg, and members of Metallica’s crew.Join us here:https://www.patreon.com/metalupyourpodcastJoin the MUYP Discord Server to continue the conversation:https://discord.gg/nBUSwR8tSupport Clint’s music:Lunar Satan: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lunarsatan/lunar-satanVAMPIRE: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/clintwells/vampireStream or purchase Cover Our World Blackened and Quarantine Covers:https://metalupyourpodcast.bandcamp.comFollow Metal Up Your Podcast on social media and write in anytime:[email protected]