The House Judiciary Committee has voted to advance the American Music Fairness Act which, if entered into law, would force radio stations to pay royalties for the music they play and earn millions of advertising dollars from.
To date, since copyright laws have only recognized public performance rights through digital audio transmissions, AM/FM radio stations have been profiting for free from the work of recording artists and all involved in producing music. If passed, the new Act would expand public performance rights for artists to include terrestrial radio stations.
Opponents of the proposed Act fear that the additional royalties will reduce airplay to a limited few artists at the top, and that the imposed fees will jeopardize broadcaster jobs and produce serious challenges in smaller radio markets.
More at: afm.org/what-we-are-doing/american-music-fairness-act/
