http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081115/tv_nm/us_obama_4

DENVER (Billboard) � From Bruce Springsteen to Stevie Wonder, plenty of musicians supported President-elect Barack Obama. Now music executives are wondering what kind of support they'll see from the Obama administration.

Soon after an inauguration that Washington, D.C., insiders are speculating could be one of the musical events of the year, Obama will officially name a copyright czar -- one of the most important decisions he'll make, as far as the music business is concerned.

That position -- officially known by the less glamorous-sounding title of intellectual property enforcement coordinator -- was created by the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act, signed in mid-October. The law is aimed at coordinating the anti-piracy efforts of such disparate agencies as the Department of Justice, the Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Trade Representative.

While more urgent positions, like Treasury Secretary, are likely to push back the decision until after Obama takes office January 30, speculation has already begun around who could -- and should -- get the job.

Music executives want a candidate with experience working with government, expertise in copyright law and -- perhaps most importantly -- appreciation for the importance of intellectual property. The name most commonly mentioned at this point is lobbyist Hal Ponder, director of government relations at the American Federation of Musicians and the former director of policy for the AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees. While Ponder says that he hasn't had direct conversations with Obama's transition team, he says, "it's a job that would be very interesting."

The music industry's first choice is probably another lobbyist, Michele Ballantyne, senior VP of federal government and industry relations for the Recording Industry Assn. of America, the trade group for the major U.S. labels. She has impressive connections among Democrats: She was the general counsel for former Senate minority leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and a special counselor to former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta, who is leading Obama's transition team.

Another name in the mix is George Mason law professor Victoria Espinel, who held several positions in the U.S. Trade Representative's office. And rounding out the shortlist is a name familiar to Nashville veterans: Bill Ivey, former head of the Country Music Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Academy. He's currently at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, but he's working with Obama's transition team on cultural agency appointments.

Whoever Obama appoints can expect scrutiny from the content and technology industries. While ostensibly a coordinating position, the copyright czar job could easily expand to include advising the president.

Naturally, the technology industry -- where Obama has many supporters -- would like someone in that role who has a more liberal definition of fair use. And Obama has also talked of creating a post for an official chief technology officer, who would presumably favor that as well.

Obama's list of technology gurus includes former IAC/InterActive executive Julius Genachowski, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Google head of global development initiatives Sonal Shah. Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig, a vocal advocate of radically reduced copyright restrictions, served as a technology adviser to Obama's primary campaign but hasn't held an advisory role since.

"There is some concern in the copyright community about people who have been involved in the tech side of this campaign," says Recording Academy VP of government relations Daryl Friedman. "It's probably an overblown concern. We think he will be balanced."

Of course, the content industry also has strong allies in Vice President-elect Joseph Biden -- a well-established supporter of copyright enforcement -- and Podesta, who before his stint in the Clinton White House served as chief minority counsel for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.

Reuters/Billboard

If Obama gives an RIAA lobbyist this position, it would be the worst possible outcome. It would be like putting Clear Channel in charge of the FCC, or maybe assigning Exxon's CEO as Interior Secretary.

Notice that the RIAA is pushing a Democrat now. They change leadership and switch allegiences for political reasons.

The whole ethics thing and promise to keep lobbyists out of the areas of policy in which they lobbied, would seem to rule out Hal Ponder and the RIAA candidate. It would also seem to rule out Lessig and possibly Ivey.

This was a post-election promise, not a campaign talking point. If Obama doesn't keep it, if he sells out to the cartel, we must challenge it loudly and boldly.

"If Obama gives an RIAA lobbyist this position, it would be the worst possible outcome."

It would also make me want to shoot myself for personally supporting him.

But my faith in him will be much restored (damaged some by his "run to the middle" ...which thus far I had excused to myself as mere ugly political necessity) if he chooses Lawrence Lessig or someone like John Perry Barlow.

George, if reference to http://azoz.com/fmo/business/202planning.html

I am in a similar boat. Me, Andrea and Ross are FINALLY (after all these years) getting down to the nitty-gritty of putting out a commercial album using long-dist tracks by our dear pal Keith Forman - (DMusic's "Black Mike Silver") as our drummer and/or official associate "4th member" (tho his is his OWN artist in his own right!)

Electric Gypsy (with our pal Keith) is planning to "do or die" release the official "debut commercial DIY/& albeit still INDIE" album by the end of 2009 and the thoughts you put forth in your article at AzOz echo my own.

I have known you a long time. I know you will do right both to yourself and you buddies in the end!

(BTW, I might call on ya again for a little backing-keyboard work for OUR album on a track or 2 when the time comes If you would be interested! You did such a great job with the "Treat Me Well" cover by Heart we did for DMusic site a few years ago!)

no

I might call on ya again for a little backing-keyboard

Okay, but you've gotta tune your guitar this time.

lol, I bought a tuner a while back.

Oh,

Go to: http://electricgypsy.dmusic.com and download all four of the tracks there that say "4 keith" in the title. (Especially "B. Goode 2 Me")

These are the scratch-tracks I sent to our drummer (he will be sending us back .wav files of his drums.)

I already have plans to have keys on "B. Goode 2 Me" (keys something kinda like what are on the early demo version I have available at http://electricgypsy.info/NewStuff.htm from the Mp3.com days, now stored at iLike/Garageband.)

Can do?

(Remember/be advised, these are the SCRATCH tracks I sent to Keith. lol, they may or may not be in exact standard tune, but they are close enough. If you'd rather wait until we have the drums, that's fine too - probably even best if wait.)

But anyways, the scratch is there if interested.