The “American Music Fairness Act,” reintroduced in Congress 17 months ago after failed past attempts at its passage, has been sputtering through both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate since Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) brought H.R. 791 and S.253 to life … until this week.
On Tuesday, the House version of a bill that would impose new royalty fees on radio saw the addition of three co-sponsors, thanks to fresh lobbying from musicFIRST. This made Wednesday afternoon’s appearance on Capitol Hill by Curtis LeGeyt even more essential for AM and FM radio, as the NAB President/CEO defended the medium’s unique qualities at a House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee hearing focused on “radio, music and copyrights.”
Who called for the hearing says it all. The Subcommittee’s Chair is Rep. Issa.
