LeGeyt Wants Broadcasters to Lobby Lawmakers on Performance Royalty

Broadcasters need to lobby their lawmakers and explain the “devastating impact” a performance royalty would have on radio stations, said NAB President Curtis LeGeyt in a blog post Tuesday opposing the American Music Fairness Act (see 2202020070). A performance fee would hurt broadcasters’ ability to pay employees and invest in new equipment, LeGeyt said. “For small-market broadcasters, having to pay even a $500 performance royalty could mean cutting live coverage of high school basketball games,” the blog post said. Performance royalty advocates argued that every other medium has to pay royalties to performers, and radio broadcasters in most other countries pay performance royalties.