[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING MR. PORTNOW AND THE RECORDING ACADEMY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2004

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share remarks made by 
Recording Academy President Neil Portnow at the 46th Annual Grammy 
Awards on February 8th, 2003. Mr. Portnow worked on behalf to the 
Recording Academy in a variety of volunteer leadership roles for over 
20 years before being selected as President by the Board of Trustees in 
September of 2002.
  In his first two years as President of the Academy, Mr. Portnow has 
used his creative talents in marketplace development and his many years 
in the entertainment industry to advocate on behalf of the Music and 
Arts community, especially in the area of Music Education funding.
  I know I am joined by my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
in congratulating Mr. Portnow and the Recording Academy on their 
success in fostering, supporting and promoting a myriad of music-based 
education and community programs throughout the country.
  To follow are the remarks presented by Neil Portnow, President, 
Recording Academy, on February 8th, 2004 on the occasion of the 46th 
Annual Grammy Awards:

       Thank you for joining as we celebrate the 46th Annual 
     Grammy Awards.
       Tonight, you've seen some remarkable performances that span 
     the spectrum of recorded music, with musical icons joining 
     wonderfully talented young artists to demonstrate that we are 
     all one family.
       But our family extends beyond the boundaries of the artists 
     nominated tonight for Grammy Awards. You, the music fans, are 
     the most important part of our family for whom all of us in 
     this creative community give our all. We are inspired to 
     create and make our music so that you can hear and enjoy it. 
     After all, music uplifts the very fabric of our daily lives.
       As in all families, there are times when we must all come 
     together as one. Tonight is one of those times.
       Many of our music family have arrived here on this Grammy 
     stage because they had the benefit of exposure to music and 
     the arts in school. Proposals for dramatic cuts in funding 
     for the arts mean that our children will be denied that vital 
     opportunity. We cannot sit idly by and allow this to happen. 
     If our leaders spend our resources to search for something, 
     it ought to be for tools of mass education and cultural 
     enlightenment in our nation.
       The Recording Academy recognizes your hunger and passion 
     for music. We also represent the music-makers and many others 
     involved in the creative process whose livelihood depends on 
     your support. And tonight we are asking for that support.
       We have spent the past year researching and examining the 
     complex issues created by the digital world and this evening, 
     we are announcing a national program designed to educate and 
     inform music lovers everywhere about the serious issues and 
     alternatives surrounding digital downloading of music. We 
     encourage you to visit our new Web site, What's The 
     Download.com, and learn about legal downloading and the 
     ethical choices you can make about how you get your music.
       The coming months and years will be a critical time for all 
     of us who bring you the music. Our industry will emerge from 
     what has been a perfect storm. And we will reinvent and renew 
     that which requires change, providing more choices and 
     options to discover and enjoy music.
       Just as you would respond to one of your family members 
     seeking your help, we ask you to help us keep music strong 
     and alive for this and for generations to come. You can be 
     sure that we will continue to do our part; we're counting on 
     you to please do yours.

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