WASHINGTON -- June 5, 2008: A hearing has been scheduled for June 11 by the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property on the Performance Rights Act, introduced late last year by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA). The bill -- which has a companion in the Senate, sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) -- would require broadcasters to pay performance royalties to music copyright owners.
The NAB is vigorously opposing what it calls a "performance tax on local radio," and a resolution to block Congress from imposing the royalties has been steadily picking up support in the House since it was introduced in October 2007. An identical Senate resolution was introduced in May.
Witnesses haven't yet been announced for Wednesday's hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m., but it wouldn't be surprising if an artist or two were set to testify.
