Congress is debating whether or not to mandate AM radio in all new automobiles — however broadcasters nonetheless refuse to pay artists after they play recorded music. The American Music Equity Act (AMFA) would lastly require radio stations to pay efficiency royalties, similar to streaming providers already do. The AM Radio in Each Automobile Act would require automakers to incorporate free AM radio in all new vehicles, citing public security wants — however automakers and artists demand that any AM radio mandate embrace honest pay for radio play. Artists, automakers, and advocates are urging lawmakers to cross each the AM Radio in Each Automobile Act and AMFA — to make sure honest compensation for the musicians who energy America’s airwaves. Right here’s why this combat issues, and how one can take motion immediately.
For many years, U.S. AM and FM radio stations have broadcast music recordings with out paying performers a dime. In the meantime, U.S. digital streaming providers, satellite tv for pc radio–and almost each nation on the earth—pay artists when their work is performed.
This gaping loophole is each grotesquely unfair and astonishingly outdated — and Congress now has a uncommon alternative to repair it as soon as and for all.
🎵 The Drawback: Radio’s Free Trip
Altogether, American radio stations generate billions in promoting income largely courtesy of the music they play. However not like Spotify or SiriusXM, terrestrial radio pays nothing to the artists whose recordings entice listeners.
That’s proper: whenever you hear a music on AM or FM radio, the singer, the drummer, and the producer obtain zero compensation. Solely the songwriter will get paid, which is accurately but it surely’s not sufficient—and because of this Huge Radio’s largest lie is “we pay for music.” What ought to occur is radio must provide you with extra money for artists, not anticipate artists and songwriters to divide up what the songwriter will get.
The U.S. is virtually alone on this coverage — authoritarian regimes like North Korea comply with an analogous no-pay mannequin, however each different nation ensures that artists are compensated for his or her recordings on the radio.
🚗 Why Now? The AM Radio Mandate
This combat has been happening for many years, however there’s a brand new twist. Congress is contemplating the AM Radio in Each Automobile Act, which might require automakers to incorporate AM radios in all new vehicles. Whereas this mandate is being promoted as a public security measure, it dangers additional entrenching the unjust Huge Radio system that exploits performers.
Fortunately automakers at the moment are alert to this disparity and are talking out. They argue that if Congress mandates AM radio in vehicles, Congress should additionally be sure that artists are lastly paid when their work is broadcast.
That’s the place the American Music Equity Act (AMFA) is available in. This bipartisan invoice would create a public efficiency proper for sound recordings on terrestrial radio — similar to the one which already exists for digital platforms and in each different nation of the world apart from North Korea.
🗣️ What Artists Are Saying
Our pal Blake Morgan, founding father of the #IRespectMusic marketing campaign, places it bluntly in his enchantment to Congress:
“Broadcasters … have by no means paid a penny to the artists who make your income attainable. We’re writing to ask in your assist to lastly carry an finish to this injustice.”
He’s proper. U.S. broadcasters play over 240 million songs a 12 months — all with out compensating the artists who made them.
And since American radio refuses to pay, different international locations with reciprocal legal guidelines additionally withhold royalties from American performers. As Blake says:
“It’s a de facto world commerce embargo on the USA!”
🏭 What Automakers and musicFIRST Are Saying
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the Zero Emission Transportation Affiliation not too long ago wrote to Congress:
“Congress shouldn’t mandate the usage of an infringing platform that exploits artists by not paying them for his or her work.”
The musicFIRST Coalition that has lead the combat for the AMFA laws to repair artist pay for radio play emphasizes:
“Mandating AM radio with out addressing the efficiency royalty problem would perpetuate an inequity that denies tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} in compensation to numerous recording artists yearly.”
They’re proper. It’s indefensible for Congress to pressure automakers to protect a system that income from music however pays nothing to those that create it.
✅ What You Can Do
📞 We don’t ask you to make these calls fairly often, however that is a type of occasions.
Please name your U.S. Consultant and Senators immediately. They should hear that artists deserve equity. Congress can ship equity by passing each the American Music Equity Act and the AM Radio in Each Automobile Act — however provided that AM radio mandates embrace royalties for the performers who make the music. No musician needs to be exploited for radio income.
Ask them to help BOTH of those payments — collectively:
– American Music Equity Act (AMFA)
– AM Radio in Each Automobile Act — however provided that it consists of efficiency royalties for artists.
discover your members of Congress:
– Go to https://www.home.gov/representatives/find-your-representative to seek out your representatives within the U.S. Home of Representatives
– Go to https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm to seek out your two U.S. Senators.
That’s three calls–Most important telephone numbers:
– U.S. Home of Representatives Switchboard: (202) 225-3121
– U.S. Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Name these predominant numbers and ask to be linked to your members of Congress by title or by your ZIP code.
✉️ Ship an electronic mail to Congress! You can even go to the MusicFirst Coalition Motion Middle and ship an electronic mail to Congress, simply click on right here.
🎶 Equity Is Lengthy Overdue
If Congress goes to mandate AM radio in each automotive, it can not proceed ignoring the rights of the individuals who create the music that powers the airwaves and taking cash from artists world wide.
It’s time to repair this injustice. Let’s respect the music — and the musicians.
Please take motion immediately. Inform them to cross AMFA and be sure that AM radio lastly pays its fair proportion.
