Posted by chicagomedia.org on March 31, 2009 at 10:34:32:
In Reply to: American Women in Radio & Television Calls Performance Fee Harmful posted by chicagomedia.org on March 31, 2009 at 10:34:00:
Anti-Royalties Bill Introduced In Senate
WASHINGTON -- March 30, 2009: The House's Local Radio Freedom Act now has a companion bill in the Senate, as Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and John Barrasso (R-WY) have introduced a bill by the same name. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also signed on as a co-sponsor. The resolution counters the Performance Rights Act, which would impose performance royalties on broadcast radio.
The Senate 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."
"Broadcasters appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Sens. Lincoln and Barrasso on an issue of critical importance to the survival of free, local radio," said NAB EVP Dennis Wharton. "A performance tax would threaten thousands of American jobs, reduce music diversity, and hamstring a new artist's ability to reach radio's 234 million weekly listeners. RIAA's attempted money-grab would decimate a radio business reeling from the worst advertising recession in decades."
The House version of the Local Radio Freedom Act has more than 150 co-sponsors.
(Radio Ink)