Issa, Congressional Colleagues Relaunch American Music Fairness Act
Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Courts, Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12), along with bipartisan and bicameral colleagues has reintroduced the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) to ensure that artists and music creators are paid when their songs are played on FM/AM radio. The AMFA will bring radio broadcasters in line with the standard of other platforms that compensates artists when their music is played. Senators Blackburn (R-TN) and Padilla (D-CA) introduced the AMFA in the Senate.
“Now is the time for the United States to finally adopt the proven global standard of compensating our artists for music broadcast over the radio,” said Representative Issa. “AMFA represents a best effort to modernize our system and finally recognize and reward the artists for all they have given us. After significant progress last Congress, I thank my friend Senator Blackburn for her continued leadership and look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and on both ends of Capitol Hill to make this overdue reform a reality.”
“As the heart of country music and the birthplace of the blues, Tennessee has produced so many songwriters and artists that have undeniably made their mark on history, whether that be on Beale Street, Music Row, or the hills of East Tennessee,” said Senator Blackburn. “The United States is the only democratic country in the world in which artists are not paid for the use of their music on AM and FM radio. This legislation would close an outdated loophole that has allowed corporate broadcasters to take advantage of artists and their songs for decades.”
“California’s artists enrich our country’s music scene, but our laws unfairly deny them the pay they deserve for their work on AM/FM radiobroadcasts,” said Senator Padilla. “As we celebrate the accomplishments of our musical artists at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles this weekend, we must also commit to treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve for the music they produce and we enjoy every day.”
Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy: "For more than a century, American artists and producers have been denied the basic right to earn compensation for their own creation broadcast on AM/FM Radio. The Recording Academy is grateful for the leadership of Reps. Issa and Nadler and Senators Blackburn and Padilla for introducing the American Music Fairness Act, and we urge Congress to finally pay creators for their work."
“Just a few notes of a beloved song can transport you a million miles away. Popular music has helped define and reflect the culture in which we live, speaking to our evolving values and shared concerns. It’s outrageous that the recording artists, vocalists and musicians who bring it to life and enrich our lives receive no compensation from airplay on AM/FM radio. It's downright un-American to exploit people and not pay them. The AMFA legislation will help close that loophole and restore fairness, so that artists are paid when their songs are played on AM/FM radio, just as they are in other mediums. Our gratitude to Reps Issa and Nadler and Sens. Padilla and Blackburn for taking leadership roles on this important legislation,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.
"The American Music Fairness Act is long overdue. The radio industry has no valid justification for refusing to compensate the recording artists who form the backbone of their business. Our laws align us with regimes like Iran and North Korea, allowing foreign broadcasters to exploit American musicians without paying them a dime. Congress must hold mega broadcasters accountable to put American musicians first. A2IMcommits to working with our congressional champions to get it done.” -Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE, President and CEO, American Association of Independent Music
"For too long, big radio companies have had a powerful hold on Washington, D.C.,” said former U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, Co-Chair of the Music First Coalition. “It’s time for Congress to stand up for artists, not big radio companies, and ensure working musicians – backup musicians and vocalists who work 9-to-5 jobs to make ends meet – can better earn a living. That means passing the American Music Fairness Act and ensuring that artists are finally compensated when their music plays on AM/FM radio."
“The American Music Fairness Act takes a smart, calibrated approach towards solving a decades old problem in the radio industry. When enacted into law, AMFA will ensure recording artists and copyright owners are paid fairly for recorded music regardless of the technology used to broadcast it while carefully protecting small and noncommercial stations to preserve truly local radio our communities depend upon. This practical, compromise legislation has previously passed the House Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support and we applaud Chairman Issa and his colleagues for working to advance this important legislation,” said Mitch Glazier, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America.
“Radio conglomerates operating thousands of AM/FM stations across the U.S., make billions in profits, employ legions of lobbyists, and spend millions each year to influence lawmakers, all while continuing to refuse to pay the artists whose songs they play on the airwaves," said Sound Exchange CEO and President Michael Huppe.
"This unfair double standard is the result of a loophole –one that can only be closed by Congress by passing the American Music Fairness Act so artists are paid for the work they do.” “The American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) will fix a broken and unfair system. Musicians deserve compensation when their work is played on terrestrial radio. On this issue, the United States is out of step with the rest of the free world. AMFA will correct that. Thank you, Reps. Issa and Nadler, for recognizing the value of our work,” Tino Gagliardi, International President of the American Federation of Musicians.
“The American Music Fairness Act makes our system fairer by paying artists performance royalties for their work. For too long, AM/FM broadcasters have profited from playing music without paying the artists who create it, while digital platforms adopted fair royalty practices. This bipartisan bill levels the playing field and recognizes the value that musicians bring to our culture and economy. The Consumer Technology Association proudly supports this legislation, and we look forward to working with Congress to advance it and support creators in the music industry." –Gary Shapiro, CEO and Vice Chair, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)
“Protecting one’s intellectual property is the signature right of every American who dares to invent,” said Issa. “Every artist who first picked up a drumstick, sang to their mirror, or wrote lyrics from the heart did so because they had a dream and wanted to share it with the world. Let’s achieve this overdue reform.”
Darrell Issa is the Representative of California’s 48th Congressional District, which encompasses the central and eastern parts of San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County, including the communities of Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside, Poway, Temecula, Murrieta, and the mountain and desert areas of the San Diego-Imperial County line. Issa served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2011-2015.
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