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Issues and Advocacy

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Department of Labor Proposal to Increase Salary Test

NAMM is urging its members to file comments with the Department of Labor (DoL) addressing the impact of DoL's proposal to increase the salary test used in determining when so-called "white collar" workers are exempt from overtime pay. Under the proposal, an executive, administrative or professional employee who meets specified duties tests would have to be paid at least $55,068 annually to be exempt from overtime pay requirements if they work more than 40 hours in a week. The current test (salary of $35,568) was adopted by the Trump Administration after an earlier, higher proposal...

The Vital Partnership Between Music Business and Music Educators

Hear an exclusive conversation with John Mlynczak, a former music educator and a prominent figure in the music industry, as he assumes the role of NAMM's new President and CEO.   This eng...
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Know Your Bow: Tips for Owners and Users of Pernambuco Bows

Since September 13, 2007, the Pernambuco wood used in bows has been included under CITES Appendix II, with rules that require any wood material exported from Brazil (up to the unfinished ...
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Actions Impacting Protected Wood Exports and Imports 

On January 31, 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service informed U.S. importers and exporters of tropical hardwood timber species of actions taken at the 19th meeting of the Conference of...
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Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974

An investigative report,  Economic Impact of Section 232 and 301 Tariffs on U.S. Industries (usitc.gov), was mandated by Congress to provide an objective assessment of the tariffs on U.S....
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Takeaways from the 2022 CITES Conference of the Parties

Following two weeks of discussion, delegates at the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP19) reached several decisions which impact the music industry: Appendix II protections for Pernambu...
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NAMM Members Represented at the CoP 19 CITES Gathering

The nineteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP 19) convened Nov 14 – 25, 2022 in Panama City, Panama with NAMM member interests represented by Senior Policy Advisor Mary Lue...