American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) gave the Senate Judiciary Committee a thumbs up for moving the Performance Rights Act on to the Senate Floor.
“Today’s action by the Senate Judiciary Committee is an important step forward in our fight to establish a performance right for artists to be paid when the music they create is played over terrestrial radio,” said AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon. “Songwriters and music publishers have always had this right, and the recording artists and musicians who bring songs to life deserve equal rights for their creative contributions and their work.”
The group thanked members who journeyed to Capitol Hill to work for passage of the measure, including will.i.am, Sheryl Crow, George Clinton, Bob Bailey, Dan Navarro, Judy Collins, Lyle Lovett, Alice Peacock, Ray Benson, Sam Moore, Martha Reeves, Duke Fakir, Dionne Warwick, Sheila E. and others.
RBR-TVBR observation: If we were members of AFTRA, we’d want to know why the record labels – the same people we had to battle tooth and nail to get a fair shake – are walking away with half of the PRA proceeds even though they never played or sang a note. Their only performance ability worthy of note is their uncanny talent for butting their way to the front of the line whenever the cash is being handed out.
Also, why does it favor unemployment for the AFTRA members who work at many of the radio stations which would be bankrupted if PRA passes? That seems like a really strange stance for a union.
