Performance Rights Act Back in Congress
The Performance Rights Act, which would create a sound recording performance right for terrestrial radio, was reintroduced to Congress today (2/4). The bill would require radio stations, which already pay royalties to songwriters for broadcasting their music, to also pay the artists and musicians performing the songs, as well owners of the master recordings.
Under the proposed legislation, the parties involved would negotiate rates amongst themselves, or those rates could be set by the Copyright Royalty Board and paid to SoundExchange. The bill also makes accommodations for small broadcasters, public and religious radio stations.
AM and FM radio is the only music platform that does not pay a fair performance right to artists and musicians for the use of their work. Satellite, cable and internet radio compensate artists when they play their music. The Performance Rights Act would bring the United States in line with almost every other nation in the world.
Among those supporting the legislation were Tennesseans Bob Corker (R-TN) in the Senate, and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in the House of Representatives.
When the artists are ready to pay us for playing music based on the sales in our area, which also would include the concerts they perform in our area, then maybe we can talk. The free publicity and exposure these artists receive from our investment is what has made this and their industries grow and prosper. Adding another tax to an already stretched bottom line will only reduce payrolls and eliminate jobs because we all know the advertiser base is not going to step up and pay more just because our costs are higher.
The model is not broke, why are we trying to fix it with misguided legislation from Washington, where socialist agenda continues to march on.
Crazy! I think I’ll go back to programming talk radio!!