Are ‘Fair Play’ And ‘PROMOTE’ Plans DOA In Congress?

With Capitol Hill set to enjoy a long Memorial Day weekend full of cool temperatures and predictions of rain and thunderstorms, forces other than Mother Nature appear to have put a damper on two pieces of legislation that would institute a “tax” on the airplay of recorded music for radio stations across the U.S.

As of Thursday morning (5/25), five additional House of Representatives members have joined as co-sponsors of the bipartisan “Local Radio Freedom Act,” a resolution that opposes “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations.

Adding their support for the Local Radio Freedom Act in the House are Reps. John Culberson (Tex.), Ben Ray Lujan (N. Mex.), Devin Nunes (Calif.-22), Bill Posey (Fla.-8) and Pete Roskam (Ill.-6).

The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA) now has 185 co-sponsors in the House and 22 in the Senate.

Reps. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) are the principal co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res. 13) in the House of Representatives.

Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced a companion resolution in the Senate (S. Con. Res. 6).

RBR + TVBR RELATED READS:

PROMOTE Act Co-Sponsor’s Motivation: Fairness

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In an exclusive interview with RBR + TVBR, Rep. Ted Deutch explains why he has emerged as a key member of Congress on the issue of performance rights and radio’s “fair share” — something many industry leaders have assailed as a “tax on radio.”

Two Congressman Seek To Upend Radio Royalties

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House legislation introduced Wednesday would allow performing artists to opt out of having their music played on the radio if the performing artist is not being paid an agreed-upon performance royalty. We’ve got an RBR + TVBR OBSERVATION on the “PROMOTE Act” everyone needs to read.