Senators Introduce American Music Equity Act

For the reason that daybreak of radio, america has been and stays the one main nation on the earth the place terrestrial radio pays no royalties to performers or recorded-music copyright homeowners of the songs it performs — a state of affairs that’s largely because of the highly effective radio foyer’s affect in Congress. Whereas the greater than 8,300 AM and FM stations throughout the nation pay royalties to songwriters and publishers, they’ve by no means paid performers or copyright holders, though streaming providers and satellite tv for pc radio do.

On Thursday morning, Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) launched the bipartisan American Music Equity Act, which goals to rectify that state of affairs by “ensur[ing] artists and music creators obtain honest compensation for using their songs on AM/FM radio. This laws will deliver company radio broadcasters up-to-speed with all different music streaming platforms, which already pay artists for his or her music.”

The bill was introduced into the House of Representatives last year and continues to work its manner by committees.

The announcement continues: “This laws will positively influence artists and the music business at giant by:

The American Music Equity Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the American Affiliation of Unbiased Music (A2IM), the American Federation of Musicians, the Recording Academy, the Recording Business Affiliation of America (RIAA), SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange.

Senator Padilla mentioned, “For too lengthy, our legal guidelines have unfairly denied artists the suitable to obtain honest compensation for his or her exhausting work and expertise on AM/FM broadcasts. California’s artists have performed a pivotal position in enriching and diversifying our nation’s music scene. That’s the reason passing the American Music Equity Act is so necessary. It’s time we deal with our musical artists with the dignity and respect they deserve for the music they produce and we get pleasure from every single day.”

Senator Blackburn added, “From Beale Avenue to Music Row to the hills of East Tennessee, the Volunteer State’s songwriters have undeniably made their mark. Nevertheless, whereas broadcasters demand compensation for the content material they create and distribute, they don’t apply this view to the songwriters, artists, and musicians whose music they play on the radio with out paying royalties. Tennessee’s creators should be compensated for his or her work This laws will make sure that they obtain honest cost and might hold the nice hits coming.”

The invoice is a minimum of partially in response to the Native Radio Freedom Act that Steve Womack (R-AR) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) launched final 12 months, which is championed by the National Association of Broadcasters. That act goals to proceed terrestrial radio’s royalty-free standing, stating that Congress mustn’t impose any new efficiency royalty or different fees which may create financial hardship for domestically owned radio stations.

Whereas nonetheless a robust pressure, it’s no secret that terrestrial radio is quickly shedding viewers to streaming providers, satellite tv for pc radio, podcasts and different broadcasters, and as soon as streaming providers turn into extensively out there in vehicles, that decline is more likely to speed up dramatically. Champions of the Radio Freedom Act are utilizing that risk as an argument for radio to proceed to pay no royalties to performers and copyright holders.