Sez the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Neither an official state funeral nor the devastating aftermath of a cataclysmic storm will stop the music this morning in Washington. There's always time for showbiz on Capitol Hill.While Washington buries Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in a solemn ceremony stretching from the Supreme Court to Arlington National Cemetery, Desmond Child will be laying on a little Livin' La Vida Loca in a House office building.
As congressional committees scramble to focus on a federal response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Gloria Estefan, Jimmy Jam and Dave Koz will be headlining a Power of Music show promoted by the folks who bring you the Grammys.
Last week, China President Hu Jintao postponed his trip to Washington to give the White House and Congress more time for disaster-recovery efforts. Not Hollywood.
For the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, it's the first-ever Recording Arts Day on Capitol Hill and, of course, the show must go on, good timing or not. Besides, there'll be an awards event packed with stars and lawmakers alike jostling for photo ops.
According to the academy, the point of the event is to not only stress the power of music but to also "raise the profile of recording arts during meetings with legislators."
Desmond, Gloria, Jimmy and Dave have issues, although no one on Tuesday afternoon could recall quite what they might be.
"The entire music industry is coming together on common issues," said Daryl Friedman, vice president of advocacy and government relations for the academy, after a long day of dealing with star-struck media inquiries on the nature of Estefan's dress. "We want to build a top-line relationship [with Congress]."
The coalition put together by the Grammy Awards producers includes performing artists, songwriters, music labels, distributors and retailers, groups whose best interests often conflict with each other.
"They don't always agree," Friedman said. "But they do agree on the big issues." {...}
Should I go for the cheap shot, here? I mean, really it's almost too easy. I don't suppose it will be worth it in the long run, but the urge is so strong, I can't really help myself.
Are you ready for it? You are? Okedokey. Here goes.
Was that good for you, too? I hope so.
{Hat Tip: Mike at Tech Dirt}
Posted by Kathy at September 7, 2005 04:47 PM | TrackBack