Kid Rock and Kanye West Will Join Donald Trump for the Signing of the Music Modernization Act

When you hear the initials ‘MMA,’ you probably think of large dudes beating the living shit out of one another. Or, I dunno, maybe you think of kissing noises. Point is, moving forward, you can think of it as being an abbreviation for the Music Modernization Act.

And what, pray tell, is the Music Modernization Act? Take it away, Rolling Stone:

“Intended to update copyright law for the digital (and specifically streaming) era, the MMA in the form it’s being passed will accomplish three key things: making sure songwriters and artists receive royalties on songs recorded before 1972; allocating royalties for music producers; and updating licensing and royalty rules for streaming services to pay rights-holders in a more streamlined fashion, primarily by setting up an independent entity that will handle much of the work. Under the act, music creators will be paid more and will have a more secure way of collecting all that they’re due.”

So that all sounds great. Unfortunately, the act is passing in 2018, which means Donald Trump will sign it into law. Even more unfortunately, Trump is a malignant narcissist who wants few things more than to be seen as cool by the showbiz types that have generally shunned him since he got into politics (remember, not only did Trump host a game show, he made filmmakers write him into their movies in exchange for using his properties as locations). So Trump will make a big to-do about the signing of the MMA, making sure that the only two A-List celebrities who will still associate with him are present for the ceremony: pretend redneck Kid Rock and authentic nutcase Kanye West.

What’s troublesome about this isn’t just that it taints Kanye’s music (Kid Rock’s music blows goats, so whatever). It’s the message it’s going to send to younger fans who haven’t necessarily developed the capacity to think for themselves yet. It further normalizes Trump. And it gives Trump and any of his racist supporters a(n admittedly very weak) out with regards to accusations of bigotry.

It’s also not doing metal any favors. Anyone who thinks, rightfully or wrongfully, that Rock is an emissary of extreme music now has more ammo to dismiss metal as the soundtrack of cretinous imbeciles.

The signing is going to be taking place right around the time this article is published. I sincerely hope some good of it comes despite Trump’s anti-Midas touch.

Thanks: Archdruid Grulog