Recording artists want Congress to force radio stations to pay them for their songs
The American Music Fairness Act would ensure performers, not just songwriters, get paid when an AM/FM radio station plays their music.
WASHINGTON — More than 300 recording artists, including some of the biggest names in the music industry, are pressing lawmakers to pass a bill that would require terrestrial radio stations to pay them for the rights to play their songs.
In a letter to congressional leaders obtained by NBC News, music stars like Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Lil Jon, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mariah Carey argue they are missing out on potentially billions of dollars of royalties they feel they are entitled to.
“For decades now, corporate broadcasters have unjustly exploited an antiquated loophole in the law to profit from advertising generated from unlimited use of free music,” the letter reads. “Each year, AM/FM radio stations play nearly a billion songs. And each year, giant radio corporations rake in billions in advertising dollars while refusing to pay a single cent to the artists behind the music.”
The letter calls for swift passage of the American Music Fairness Act, which would create a revenue stream for performers.
Most terrestrial stations subscribe to licensing entities called performing rights organizations that then pay royalties to music publishers and songwriters. Those royalties are not paid to performers, though some performers are also songwriters.
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