WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan coalition of 21 senators led by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) has introduced a resolution opposing “any new performance fee, tax, royalty or other charge” on local broadcast radio stations.
Introducing the Senate’s companion to the newest iteration of the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA) — the all-important pledge from Members of Congress to block any potential legislation that would impose new performance fees on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, namely the “American Music Fairness Act.”
“America’s hometown broadcasters are grateful for the strong support of the LRFA in Congress, and we thank Sens. Hassan and Barrasso for leading the charge on this issue in the Senate,” NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said in response to the Senate action. “A new job-crushing performance fee on local radio stations would hurt stations’ ability to provide their free, essential service in communities across the country. We appreciate the more than 170 members of Congress that are standing alongside broadcast radio and our tens of millions of listeners by signing onto this critical resolution this year.”
Hasson commented, “Granite Staters regularly tune in to their local radio station to catch up on the news around the state, listen to music and stories, and get weather and emergency alerts. I am glad to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting listeners and broadcasters alike. We will keep working to ensure that our local radio stations are able to continue providing vital information and entertainment to communities across our country.”
Barrasso added, “People across Wyoming depend on local radio stations for timely information, news and programming that have a direct impact on their lives. For more than 80 years, radio stations and the recording industry have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship: free airplay for free promotion. If forced to pay a performance royalty, broadcasters will have to make cuts to important programing in order to make ends meet. I’m proud to join Senator Hassan in reintroducing our bipartisan legislation to block any new performance tax on broadcasters across the country.”
The Local Radio Freedom Act’s 21 Senate co-sponsors are:
John Barrasso (R-WY)
Mike Braun (R-IN)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Steve Daines (R-MT)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Angus King (I-ME)
Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Todd Young (R-IN)
Reps. Steve Womack and Kathy Castorare the lead cosponsors of a companion resolution in the House.
Recently adding their support for the LRFA in the House are Mark Alford (R-MO-4), Jack Bergman (R-MI-1), Neal Dunn (R-FL-2), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-7), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-9), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Bob Good (R-VA-5), David Joyce (R-OH-14), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-8), Frank Lucas (R-OK-3), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO-3), Max Miller (R-OH-7), Alex Mooney (R-WV-2), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-1), Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), Mike Rogers (R-AL-3), David Rouzer (R-NC-7), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD-2), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), Daniel Webster (R-FL-11), Joe Wilson (R-SC-2) and Rudy Yakym (R-IN-2).
