“I DIDN’T KNOW!”: RICK ABERNATHY JOINS CREATORS’ RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS SPOKESPERSON TO FIGHT FOR PERPETUAL COPYRIGHT REFORM
ATLANTA, GA — The Creators’ Rights Movement (CRM) is proud to announce the appointment of powerhouse artist and visionary Rick Abernathy, co-founder and former lead vocalist of the iconic funk group Lakeside Express (later known as Lakeside), as an official Spokesperson for the campaign for Perpetual Copyright Law Reform.
Abernathy’s appointment comes on the heels of a viral realization that has sent shockwaves through the creative community. In a featured video on the movement’s official hub, www.creatorsrightsmovement.com, Abernathy delivers a gut-wrenching moment of clarity, proclaiming, “I didn’t know!” regarding the systemic “expiration date” placed on Black creative genius.
The Revelation: “Don’t Change” the Narrative, Change the Law
For Abernathy, “not knowing” was the catalyst; “doing” is now the mandate. His transition into this leadership role is punctuated by the release of his transformative new single, “Don’t Change.” The title serves as a double-edged sword—a plea to remain authentic to the soul of the music, and a warning against those who seek to “change” the ownership of our work through the fine print of the law.
“We have been artistic sharecroppers for too long,” says Abernathy. “When I realized that the law is designed to eventually strip my children of the rights to my labor, I knew I couldn’t just sit in the studio. Our history is not a lease. The time is now.”
A Charge to the Fans: Protect the Landscape
Abernathy is calling on his fans—the backbone of the creative economy—to do more than just listen. He is charging every supporter of the arts to join him in the trenches. By supporting the Creators’ Rights Movement, fans are protecting the very artists they love from a system designed to drain their legacies into the public domain.
“If you love the music, you must love the creator enough to ensure their family stays fed for generations to come,” Abernathy asserts. “I’m asking every one of you to go to the website and sign that petition. We are building a fortress around our wealth.”
The Mission: Perpetual Equity and Generational Wealth
As Spokesperson, Abernathy will lead the charge in advocating for CRM’s Nine Points of Reform, specifically focusing on the abolition of copyright sunsets.
- Generational Wealth: Ensuring that creative works—like real estate—stay in the family forever.
- Positive Ownership: Reversing the historical trend of Black creators being “edited out” of their own success.
- National Mobilization: A call to arms for all creators to sign the petition and secure their future.
“Our ancestors integrated the institutions; now we are integrating the economy. Rick Abernathy is the voice we need to ensure that the word ‘owner’ is never abbreviated in our history.” — Sharon J. Hill, CRM Media and Policy Strategist
