MusicFIRST Petitions Congress on Radio Performance Royalty

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2008 - 11:23am.

Washington - The musicFIRST Coalition on Wednesday delivered a letter signed by more than 6,000 recording artists, asking members of Congress to support legislation that would create a performance right royalty and pay artists and record labels when songs are played on terrestrial radio. Those signing the letter to U.S. lawmakers in support of the Performance Rights Act of 2007 included Amy Winehouse, Elton John, Jarvis Cocker and members of bands including Wolfmother, Kings of Convenience and Silverchair.

Radio stations have never paid a performance royalty in the U.S., with the thinking being that radio has traditionally been seen as a promotional medium; Canada and most European nations do pay a radio performance royalty.

"It is ironic that the U.S. government, which proudly fights to protect the rights of artists and musicians in foreign countries, is today failing artists and musicians in its own back yard," the letter states.

"We ask legislators in the U.S. to deliver a fair deal for artists when their music is played on the radio. We do not seek any subsidies or special favours; all we ask for is for fair payment from the people that exploit our work to generate their own successful businesses."