MusicFIRST Members Urge House, Senate Judiciary to Prioritize Fair Play, Fair Pay Act

RIAA, the Recording Academy, SoundExchange and other musicFIRST Coalition members jointly urged the House and Senate Judiciary committees to prioritize music licensing issues as the committees move forward on copyright law revamp legislation. House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., repeatedly signaled this year he's very interested in pursuing music licensing legislation, while noting lack of consensus (see 1702010069, 1703030059 and 1705020057). The musicFIRST members pointed to the Fair Play Fair Pay Act (HR-1836) as legislation they “stand united behind.” The bill, reintroduced in March, would require most terrestrial radio stations to begin paying performance royalties. HR-1836 and previous legislation to enact a terrestrial performance right have been lightning rods for broadcaster criticism and are seen as among the most controversial music licensing proposals under consideration (see 1702020064 and 1703030059). “There is clear momentum for reaching a solution to the inequities that exist today by establishing a right to compensation for all music creators and technology-neutral rules for music services,” the musicFIRST members said in a Thursday letter. “The U.S. stands alongside just few other countries, including China, Iran and North Korea, in not recognizing a performance right for music creators."