What is happening in Congress with the broadcast performance royalties debate?
Congress has began legislative efforts to end the long-standing exemption of traditional over-the-air broadcasters to air music without paying royalty fees to performing artists. NPR believes a royalty for public radio is unnecessary and that pending legislation must be amended to reflect the following unique aspects of our public service: * The non-commercial nature of public broadcasting helps to define how we operate and what we can/cannot do. * The promotional value of broadcasting music at public radio stations is increasing, not decreasing as may be the case elsewhere in free radio. * Public radio has preserved and enhanced the archetypal musical formats For more information NPR’s efforts to protect the needs of public radio, please contact Michael Riksen at 202.513.2741.
