US Bill On Radio Music Royalties Gets Key Backing

The US Performance Rights Act got support from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California) and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D, Illinois) last week. The Performance Rights Act seeks to equalise the rights to compensation between performers of sound recordings and terrestrial broadcasters, according to the Act summary.

Musicians, artists and right holders would be paid when their music is played on radio stations.

According to the musicFIRST Coalition, statements of support for musician royalties also came from the Obama Administration [pdf], as well as support for a performance right royalty from Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, it also gained support from individuals and groups such as the Progress and Freedom Foundation.

Copy of Pelosi’s remarks at a recent event called GRAMMYs on the Hill (music lobby day in Washington DC aiming to advance the rights of music makers) here.