More than a decade ago, New York State approved a measure to offer tax credits to the film and television industry in an effort to lure film production here. The result was phenomenally successful, according to two Brooklyn lawmakers who are now are urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation they sponsored to extend the same tax break to the music and digitalgame industries.
State Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-Bay Ridge-Southwest Brooklyn) and Assemblymember JosephLentol (D-Greenpoint-Williamsburg-North Brooklyn) held a press conference outside City Hallon July 12 to urge Cuomo to sign their bill, which was approved by both houses of the stateLegislature last month.
The lawmakers were joined by leaders of New York is Music (NYIM), a coalition of 200 music-related organizations, as well as representatives of the digital gaming industry.
The tax credit bill would help revive the recording industry in New York State, according toLentol, who said New York has been steadily losing business to other states due to the high costsof renting studios and other factors.
“We used to take for granted that we were the epicenter of the music industry. We were wrong,”Lentol said. “During the past decade, our state has witnessed a flight of recording studios,technicians, artists and songwriters to states across the country. Unless we want New York’s music economy to continue its slide into mediocrity we must take a stand.”