A New Radio Royalty Bill Seeks ‘Fairness’ For Recording Artists

If at first you don’t succeed … then dust yourself off and try again.”

Those are the lyrics to Aaliyah’s early 2000 chart-topper “Try Again,” the first single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on airplay. Without radio, would it have been a hit? Would Aaliyah’s place in the annals of rock ‘n’ hip-hop history be sealed?

The argument that Radio cements the success of recording artists continues to be debated, as does the belief by recording industry advocates that the artist isn’t getting its fair share of the royalties they deserve from the airplay of their songs. Numerous attempts at giving singers and musicians more money from Radio have come and gone in the last five years.

The latest effort, which takes a novel scaled royalty payment approach, has just been introduced in Congress. It’s a bipartisan bill from two Members who’ve tried before, and now seek support of what they’re calling the “American Music Fairness Act.”