Radio Stations 'Best Friend of the Artists' in Fair Play Fair Pay Act Debate, NAB Says

Opponents of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act (HR-1733) “have chosen to stand by hometown radio stations against the giant recording labels,” NAB said Thursday in a statement responding to the Alliance for Community Media, National Federation of Community Broadcasters and other independent broadcaster stakeholders’ endorsement of the bill (see 1605110059). HR-1733 would require most terrestrial radio stations to begin paying performance royalties and would require digital broadcasters to begin paying royalties for pre-1972 sound recordings. The bill includes a carve-out that would cap performance royalty payouts at a maximum of $500 per year for commercial stations with less than $1 million in annual revenue and $100 per year for college and public broadcasting stations. “We value our relationship with musicians,” NAB said. “Hometown radio stations are sustaining legacy artists and launching the careers of new artists. By contrast, many artists are suing their recording labels for royalties that they are owed. We believe radio stations are the best friend of the artists.”