Rock band guitarist makes pitch for music industry

By James Paton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 30, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Chris Walla, of the indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, stepped off the elevator on the 24th floor of the Tabor Center and into the offices of Greenberg Traurig.

It was not long before the guitarist was introduced to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, who had already arrived at the firm's Sunday night reception.

Walla, just back from a tour in Australia, described himself as "a card-carrying Democrat" and Barack Obama supporter. He blogged for Rolling Stone and played at two events during the Democratic National Convention.

"Come hell or high water, I was going to come to the convention," Walla told the Rocky.

The lobbyists are glad he did.

The Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys and represents musicians and others in the industry, relied on artists during the Democratic National Convention to help advance their interests. Working with outside lobbyist Greenberg Traurig, the group will do the same in the Twin Cities for the Republican convention.

"When Congress members and their staff hear from the artists themselves it makes all the difference," Daryl Friedman, the academy's vice president of advocacy and government relations, said in an interview.

One issue the group is keeping a close eye on is legislation introduced by Leahy in the Senate and by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., in the House. The bills seek to force AM/FM radio stations to pay artists for the music they air. Stations pay fees to the songwriters, but not to the performers.

"It's a fairness issue," Friedman said.

The broadcasters, however, cite benefits to the artists from free air time.

A couple of nights after the Greenberg Traurig event, the Grammys, with other sponsors, hosted a soiree at the Church nightclub featuring Everclear, Daughtry and the Flobots.

The guests, including a number of lawmakers (but not Leahy) were treated to sushi, whiskey and Everclear's first live performance of a song called Jesus Was A Democrat.

Everclear frontman Art Alexakis and bassist Sam Hudson also met with congressional staffers at the Jet Hotel in LoDo to play a couple of songs and talk about the issue of radio compensation, Friedman said.

Friedman said he also connected with Walla, who in his blog praised Leahy, calling him a "total bada--."

Now the lobbyists will move on to Minnesota. "This year we wanted to go where the action is," Friedman said.

patonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2544

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