U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) launched the bipartisan American Music Equity Act to make sure artists and music creators are paid for the usage of their songs on AM/FM radio. This laws would deliver company radio broadcasters according to all different music streaming platforms, which already pay artists for his or her music.
“As the guts of nation music and the birthplace of the blues, Tennessee has produced so many songwriters and artists which have undeniably made their mark on historical past, whether or not that be on Beale Road, Music Row, or the hills of East Tennessee,” mentioned Senator Blackburn. “America is the one democratic nation on the planet by which artists usually are not paid for the usage of their music on AM and FM radio. This laws would shut an outdated loophole that has allowed company broadcasters to make the most of artists and their songs for many years.”
“California’s artists enrich our nation’s music scene, however our legal guidelines unfairly deny them the pay they deserve for his or her work on AM/FM radio broadcasts,” mentioned Senator Padilla. “As we have fun the accomplishments of our musical artists on the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles this weekend, we should additionally decide to treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve for the music they produce and we get pleasure from on daily basis.”
“Artists and music creators should be pretty compensated for his or her work,” mentioned Senator Tillis. “For too lengthy, FM and AM radio stations have loved the advantages of taking part in music with out compensating the artists. This commonsense laws makes an necessary step in direction of guaranteeing that our nation’s artists are acknowledged and paid for the worth that they bring about to our airwaves.”
“America’s musical artists enrich our lives, but they’re denied royalties when their music is broadcast on AM/FM radio,” mentioned Senator Booker. “This bipartisan laws will shut a loophole that retains artists and creators from being paid for his or her work, whereas additionally guaranteeing that small and native stations are protected and preserved. Musicians deliver pleasure and vibrancy to our nation, and they need to be compensated for his or her exhausting work.”
Consultant Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is introducing companion laws within the Home of Representatives this week:
“Now could be the time for america to lastly undertake the confirmed world normal of compensating our artists for music broadcast over the radio,” mentioned Consultant Issa. “AMFA represents a finest effort to modernize our system and at last acknowledge and reward the artists for all they’ve given us. After vital progress final Congress, I thank my pal Senator Blackburn for her continued management and sit up for working with my colleagues on either side of the aisle and on each ends of Capitol Hill to make this overdue reform a actuality.”
| AMERICAN MUSIC FAIRNESS ACT: |
- America is the one democratic nation on the planet by which artists usually are not compensated for the usage of their music on AM/FM radio. By requiring broadcast radio firms to pay efficiency royalties to creators for AM/FM radio performs, the American Music Equity Act would shut an antiquated loophole that has allowed company broadcasters to forgo compensating artists for the usage of their music for many years.
- The American Music Equity Act would:
- Require terrestrial radio broadcasters to pay royalties to American music creators once they play their songs;
- Defend small and native stations who qualify for exemptions – particularly those who fall below $1.5 million in annual income and whose mother or father corporations fall below lower than $10 million in annual income general – by permitting them to play limitless music for lower than $500 yearly; and
- Create a good world market that ensures overseas international locations pay U.S. artists for the usage of their songs abroad.
- In recognition of the necessary position of domestically owned radio stations in communities throughout the U.S., the American Music Equity Act additionally consists of sturdy protections for small, school, and non-commercial stations.
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The American Music Equity Act is endorsed by the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, the American Affiliation of Unbiased Music, the MusicFirst Coalition, the Recording Business Affiliation of America, SoundExchange, and the American Federation of Musicians.
“For greater than a century, American artists and producers have been denied the fundamental proper to earn compensation for their very own creation broadcast on AM/FM Radio. The Recording Academy is grateful for the management of Reps. Issa and Nadler and Senators Blackburn and Padilla for introducing the American Music Equity Act, and we urge Congress to lastly pay creators for his or her work.” – Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy
“Just some notes of a beloved music can transport you one million miles away. In style music has helped outline and mirror the tradition by which we reside, talking to our evolving values and shared issues. It’s outrageous that the recording artists, vocalists and musicians who deliver it to life and enrich our lives obtain no compensation from airplay on AM/FM radio. It’s downright un-American to use individuals and never pay them. The AMFA laws will assist shut that loophole and restore equity, in order that artists are paid when their songs are performed on AM/FM radio, simply as they’re in different mediums. Our gratitude to Reps Issa and Nadler and Sens. Padilla and Blackburn for taking management roles on this necessary laws.” – Fran Drescher, President of SAG-AFTRA
“The American Music Equity Act is lengthy overdue. The radio business has no legitimate justification for refusing to compensate the recording artists who type the spine of their enterprise. Our legal guidelines align us with regimes like Iran and North Korea, permitting overseas broadcasters to use American musicians with out paying them a dime. Congress should maintain mega broadcasters accountable to place American musicians first. A2IM commits to working with our congressional champions to get it executed.” – Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, President and CEO of American Affiliation of Unbiased Music
“For too lengthy, large radio corporations have had a strong maintain on Washington, D.C. It’s time for Congress to face up for artists, not large radio corporations, and guarantee working musicians – backup musicians and vocalists who work 9-to-5 jobs to make ends meet – can higher earn a residing. Which means passing the American Music Equity Act and guaranteeing that artists are lastly compensated when their music performs on AM/FM radio.” – Former U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, Co-Chair of the MusicFirst Coalition
“The American Music Equity Act takes a sensible, calibrated strategy in direction of fixing a many years outdated downside within the radio business. When enacted into legislation, AMFA will guarantee recording artists and copyright homeowners are paid pretty for recorded music whatever the expertise used to broadcast it whereas fastidiously defending small and noncommercial stations to protect actually native radio our communities depend on. This sensible, compromise laws has beforehand handed the Home Judiciary Committee with bipartisan assist and we applaud Chairman Issa and his colleagues for working to advance this necessary laws.” – Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Business Affiliation of America
“Radio conglomerates working 1000’s of AM/FM stations throughout the U.S., make billions in income, make use of legions of lobbyists, and spend tens of millions annually to affect lawmakers, all whereas persevering with to refuse to pay the artists whose songs they play on the airwaves. This unfair double normal is the results of a loophole – one that may solely be closed by Congress by passing the American Music Equity Act so artists are paid for the work they do.” – Michael Huppe, President & CEO of SoundExchange
“The American Music Equity Act (AMFA) will repair a damaged and unfair system. Musicians deserve compensation when their work is performed on terrestrial radio. On this concern, america is out of step with the remainder of the free world. AMFA will appropriate that. Thanks, Reps. Issa and Nadler, for recognizing the worth of our work.” – Tino Gagliardi, Worldwide President of the American Federation of Musicians
