The gang at the musicFIRST coalition isn’t going to like this. The NAB just announced 13 Representatives and three Senators have joined as cosponsors of the resolution that opposes “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act now has 142 cosponsors in the House and 15 in the Senate.
NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith said, “NAB is very thankful for the recognition by Members of Congress of the indispensable role that local radio plays in spurring music creation and promotion. Broadcast radio and the record industry enjoy a long-standing partnership that has propelled countless artists to stardom. We are grateful for the support from lawmakers in rejecting a job-killing performance royalty that would harm a vibrant music economy.”
Adding their support for the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House are Reps. are Mo Brooks (AL-5), Susan Brooks (IN-5), Mike Coffman (CO-6), Charles Dent (PA-15), Kay Granger (TX-12), Trent Kelly (MS-1), Ron Kind (WI-3), Dennis Ross (FL-15), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-9), Mark Walker (NC-6), Rob Wittman (VA-1), John Yarmuth (KY-3), and David Young (IA-3). Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND), James Inhofe (R-OK), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are the new cospsonsors of the Senate resolution.
