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Performance Rights Act passed
On Sunday, I wrote to you about an important legislative vote taking place today. The House Judiciary Committee voted on The Performance Rights Act, a bill that would close the “corporate radio loophole” and allow artists to be compensated when their recordings are played on terrestrial radio, just as they are on Internet and satellite radio.
There was a great deal of pressure from the broadcaster lobby to kill this bill, but they were no match for you. Thanks in large part to the thousands of calls and emails you generated in the past three days, the Committee voted in favor of the legislation.
In other words, we won.
There is still a long road ahead to turn this bill into law, and we will be calling on you for help again. But know that your efforts carried the day in the House of Representatives.
On to the Senate!
Kind regards,
Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy
If you’re not sure what the Performance Rights Act is, you can catch up here and here. Basically, every time a terrestrial radio station plays a Sinatra song in the US, the guy who wrote it gets paid, but the Frank estate gets nothing. Will Smith gets money for each syndication of Fresh Prince but not for Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It.
Bono says:
“While we have many friends at radio, and appreciate the many things that radio has done for our band over the years, we believe it’s only fair that when radio makes money by playing a recording artist’s music and selling advertising, the recording artist should be compensated just as songwriters are already. This is a principle accepted by radio broadcasters in virtually every country in the world. The music business is in a state of freefall at the moment, and while, thankfully, this no longer really affects us - there are many young recording artists out there who can no longer earn a living from the sale of their music, or from touring or selling merchandise…yet they remain a vital part of radio playlists throughout the USA. They should not be denied their fair share. In this time of so much positive change coming from Washington, we hope this bill will be embraced and become the law.”
It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s a good start.
