Should Radio Stations Have to Pay Performers for Airing Songs?
Should Radio Stations Have to Pay Performers for Airing Songs? Sunday July 26, 2009 That’s the question soon to be in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. On August 4, a hearing will be held on a bill that would mandate that radio stations pay performers when their songs are aired on the radio. According to variety.com: “The House Judiciary Committee passed a similar bill to levy a royalty on radio stations on a 21-9 vote in May. That bill includes a tiered system based on the revenue of stations and whether it is a commercial or public broadcaster. AM and FM stations pay songwriters and publishers when their music is played, but not performers.” Radio stations already pay royalties to organizations like ASCAP and BMI which collect money and distribute it to composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers. Stations have often argued that the exposure on radio is payment enough to artists who b
