Senator tweets, ‘#StandWithSongwriters’ as he posts pirated clip at the #Grammys

Orrin Hatch tweets, ‘#StandWithSongwriters’ as he posts pirated clip from his seat at the #Grammys

Well, this was unexpected…

Senator Orrin Hatch (R, UT) is at the Grammys:

https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/st...98722112499712

Hatch, who is a songwriter himself, followed up with a tweet to #StandWithSongwriters who he thinks have a tough time getting paid in the internet age:

https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/st...99473425432576

This is a big thing for the retiring Utah Republican:

https://twitter.com/nielslesniewski/...01556879044609

He’s even sponsoring legislation to make sure songwriters are paid “fairly for their work.” From Variety:

"The Music Modernization Act updates music licensing laws to make it easier for songwriters to get paid when their music is streamed or purchased online. Songwriters have been seeking legislative changes for years, pointing out that they have not been receiving fair market value for their works on digital platforms like Spotify and Pandora."

“Our music licensing laws are convoluted, out-of-date, and don’t reward songwriters fairly for their work,” said Hatch, who is a songwriter himself. “They’ve also failed to keep up with recent, rapid changes in how Americans purchase and listen to music.”

And then — maybe to prove how easy it is to listen to a songwriter’s work without paying for it? — he tweeted a clip of of the awards show:

https://twitter.com/senorrinhatch/st...03710234681344

And as for Hatch’s attendance at the event, the reaction from the blue-check mob was what you’d expect:

https://twitter.com/jbendery/status/957800879536705537

https://twitter.com/ItsTheBrandi/sta...00809722470400

https://twitter.com/igorbobic/status/957799700253507586

https://twitter.com/NBChristinaGinn/...00724947140608

https://twitter.com/AdamWeinstein/st...05467450925056

https://twitter.com/lesleyabravanel/...04285877682178