FSF Urges Passage of Radio Royalty Bill

Congress should pass legislation that would require radio stations to pay performance royalties for radio airplay to owners of sound recordings, the Free State Foundation said Monday (see 2108120059). The House Judiciary Committee passed the American Music Fairness Act (HR-4130) Wednesday by voice vote. FSF noted the bill would subject radio stations to the same royalty obligations as satellite radio and music streaming services: It would also “enable sound recording owners to begin receiving from foreign radio stations public performance royalties that have long been withheld because of the shortcomings of U.S. copyright law.” Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., introduced companion legislation in the Senate.