Reggae veteran Frankie Sly has taken on a major new role in the fight for creators’ rights, becoming the National Spokesperson for the Creator Rights Movement (CRM).
The appointment sees the Jamaican entertainer lending his voice to an international campaign focused on protecting the rights of musicians, songwriters, filmmakers, authors, producers and other creative professionals.
The Creator Rights Movement is advocating for significant changes to copyright legislation, including stronger ownership protections, fairer streaming royalties, improved contract transparency and better education on intellectual property rights.
As part of his new responsibilities, Frankie Sly will participate in the organization’s Creators’ Tour, a series of educational workshops and public forums designed to help creatives better understand copyright registration, publishing ownership, royalty collection and contract negotiations.
CRM founder Mark G. Goldstein welcomed Frankie Sly’s involvement, describing his support as an important step in raising awareness about the challenges facing creators worldwide.
“Having established artists like Frankie Sly stand with us proves they recognize the severe challenges creators are facing today. Their involvement shows they are eager to use their platforms to help us make a real difference,” Goldstein said.
For Frankie Sly, the mission is deeply personal.
The reggae singer has been involved in a widely publicized copyright dispute with fellow reggae star Buju Banton, making the issues surrounding ownership and intellectual property particularly meaningful.
“Together we join forces, we build and we break these barriers which infringe on our rights,” Frankie Sly said. “Creators, your careers are limited until we take a stand together as one and make changes for our future.”
The Creator Rights Movement has attracted support from a growing network of professionals across the music, film and publishing industries. Supporters include former Motown songwriter Ricky Abernathy, filmmaker Phabian Winfield, rapper and producer Shawn Mims, R&B artist S.O.A.Q. (Abdul Qadaae Bey), Akustix Andrew Donovan White, along with numerous other artists, producers and industry advocates.
CRM Managing Partner Kimberly Weekes said the movement goes beyond financial concerns, arguing that many creators continue to face unfair treatment throughout the entertainment industry.
The organization is currently promoting an online petition urging the U.S. Congress to strengthen creators’ rights by granting artists and authors perpetual ownership of their creative works while limiting perpetual corporate ownership of copyrighted content.
In addition, CRM is calling on major streaming services to improve royalty payments, provide greater transparency in accounting and expand creators’ rights to audit royalty statements.
As conversations surrounding streaming income, copyright ownership and artist compensation continue to grow across the global music business, Frankie Sly’s appointment places him at the forefront of a movement seeking lasting reforms for creators around the world.