Slashdot Mirror


Legislation Would Force Radio Stations To Pay Royalties

Major Blud writes: Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the "Fair Play Fair Pay Act" today that would end regulations that allow terrestrial radio stations to avoid paying royalties to artists and labels. Currently, AM/FM radio stations aren't required to pay royalties to publishers and songwriters. The proposed measure requires stations that earn less than $1 million a year in revenue to pay $500 annually. For nonprofit public, college and other non-commercial broadcasters, the fee would be $100 per year. Religious and talk stations would be exempt from any payments. Larger radio companies like iHeartMedia (858 stations in the U.S.) would have to pay more.

"The current system is antiquated and broken. It pits technologies against each other, and allows certain services to get away with paying little or nothing to artists. For decades, AM/FM radio has used whatever music it wants without paying a cent to the musicians, vocalists, and labels that created it. Satellite radio has paid below market royalties for the music it uses, growing into a multibillion dollar business on the back of an illogical 'grandfathered' royalty standard that is now almost two decades old," said Congressman Nadler.

3 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. Re:ASCAP and BMI by davester666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I reject the very idea that the system could possibly be gamed for the general advantage of the major labels and their most popular bands.

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  2. Re:Should really be named by Froboz23 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Legislation killed the radio star...

    --
    Take off every Sig. For great justice.
  3. Re:ASCAP and BMI by c · · Score: 3, Funny

    Someone needs to come out with a diagram of how, what, and who gets paid in the music business.

    Risky. On one hand, you might just end up with a diagram telling you where the buck stops. On the other hand, you might end up summoning the Elder Gods.

    --
    Log in or piss off.