L to R: MMF-US President Barry Bergman, Jay Cooper, Doug Frank, Neil Portnow, Rich Bengloff, Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Jimmy Jam, Glenn Lorbecki, Steve Bogard and Pat Collins.

On April 15, 2010, MMF-US President Barry Bergman traveled to Washington DC joining a group of high level music industry leaders and artists from the recording industry for Recording Arts Day. President Bergman met face-to-face with several of the top U.S. Senators and Congressmen to lobby on behalf of artists and their representatives in an effort to garner more support for the Performance Right Act.

MMF-US President Barry Bergman was joined by artist Garth Brooks, producer Jimmy Jam, and music industry leaders such as Neil Portnow of the Recording Academy, Rich Bengloff of A2IM, Pat Collins of SESAC, Jay Cooper, Esq, among others. The delegation including MMF-US representing managers, artists and songwriters met with Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Senator Robert Menendez (NJ), Representative Henry Waxman (CA), Representative Alan Grayson (FL), representative Ted Deutch (FL), Senator Clarence ‘Saxby’ Chambliss (GA), Senator Lamar Alexander (TN), Senator Tom Colburn (OK), and many others (see photos shot by photographer Paul Morigi below courtesy of the Recording Academy).

MMF-US President Bergman wanted to stress the importance of the Performance Right Act and the need for the Music Managers Forum-US to represent managers and artists/songwriters by being personally involved within this high level delegation in Washington, DC for Recording Arts Day. Bergman comments:

"Fifteen years ago, it was thrilling to be involved with the passage of the ‘Digital Performance Right and Sound Recordings Act of 1995’. As we stand here today, it is my hope that we can finally get artists properly compensated for their performances through the passage of the Performance Right Act. This will enable the payment of performance royalties to recording artists from terrestrial radio airplay. The battle wages on, and it is our goal to get it over the finish line after 70 years".

Please find below a selection of photos (with captions) involving Bergman’s myriad of meetings with our country’s leaders and networking with fellow music industry professionals and artists/songwriters. Many more photos are to be posted in the story at www.mmfus.com.

L to R: Chuck Ortner, Diane Blagman, Jay Cooper, Doug Frank, Neil Portnow, George Flanigen, Barry Bergman, Steve Bogard, Jimmy Jam, Glenn Lorbecki, Rich Bengloff and Pat Collins.

L to R: Jay Cooper, Jimmy Jam, Diane Blagman, Barry Bergman

MMF Barry Bergman MMF-US President and Senator Barbara Boxer, CA

L to R: Doug Frank Barry Bergman, Neil Portnow with Senator Robert Menendez (NJ)

Recording Artist Garth Brooks along with MMF-US President Barry Bergman

Barry Bergman - MMF-US President, Neil Portnow - President/CEO The Recording Academy

L to R: Representative Henry Waxman (CA), Rich Bengloff, Neil Portnow, Barry Bergman

Conference with Representative Henry Waxman (CA)

L to R: Steve Bogard, Pat Collins, Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Barry Bergman, Jay Cooper, Neil Portnow

Circle from Front to Rear: Diane Blagman, Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA), Tyler Stephens, Barry Bergman, Glenn Lorbecki, Doug Frank, Jay Cooper, Neil Portnow, Jimmy Jam

L to R: Barry Bergman, Doug Frank, Glenn Lorbecki, Neil Portnow, Kalpen Modi, Jimmy Jam, Pat Collins and George Flanigen

L to R: Barry Bergman, Doug Frank, Neil Portnow, Representative Alan Grayson (FL), and Jimmy Jam

Meeting lead by Diane Blagman with Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA)

L to R: Barry Bergman, Glenn Lorbecki, Jimmy Jam, Representative Ted Deutch (FL), Neil Portnow, Jay Cooper