As it did with the 114th Congress, the NAB is aggressively pursuing members of the 115th Congress to support the Local Radio Freedom Act, which is legislation opposing new performance royalties on radio stations for playing music. Similar resolutions were introduced in both the House and Senate on Tuesday. Here’s what NAB CEO Gordon Smith said about the activity on the Hill, Tuesday.
NAB CEO Gordon Smith said, “Local radio enjoys a symbiotic relationship with record labels and recording artists that promotes new music discovery, fosters musicians’ careers, and drives music sales. America’s broadcasters are deeply grateful to the scores of lawmakers who recognize radio’s unparalleled role in promoting music. We thank them for standing in opposition to a job-killing performance royalty that would devastate the economics of local radio.”
One hundred and fifteen members of Congress have co-sponsored the resolution. In the 114th Congress, a similar resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate in February 2015. The House resolution was introduced with 94 cosponsors, and eventually gathered 234 signatures. The Senate resolution garnerd 27 signatures.
There has also been legislation discussed, in the previous Congress, which would impose a performance fee on radio stations. We have not heard anything about that in the 115th Congress as of yet.
