Posted by chicagomedia.org on February 25, 2009 at 09:34:42:
Local Radio Freedom Act Adds Co-Sponsors
WASHINGTON -- February 24, 2009: The Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution against performance royalties for radio recently reintroduced in the House, has added 16 new co-sponsors, bringing the total to 126 -- 85 Republicans and 41 Democrats.
The resolution reads, "Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings."
The resolution counters the Performance Rights Act, reintroduced recently in the House and Senate. That bill would for the first time require over-the-air radio to pay performance royalties to labels and artists.
NAB Responds To MusicFIRST Rally For Royalties
In other news, the MusicFIRST Coalition, formed to lobby for royalties, is holding a rally in Washington, DC, today. NAB EVP Dennis Wharton said of the event, "NAB welcomes an honest debate over whether radio stations or the record labels have historically been a 'better friend' to musicians. Since the days of Count Basie, there have been two constants in music: free radio airplay has propelled the financial success of countless performers, and those same artists have been systematically abused by the labels. For RIAA to now use artists as a shield in their quest for a performance tax is utterly cynical and hypocritical."
(Radio Ink)