Despite a near-majority of House members on record as opposing the creation of a performance royalty placed on radio stations, the National Association of Broadcasters says it expects a bill that would do just that will move forward in the coming weeks. The NAB says it expects House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to bring up for a vote the American Music Fairness Act (H.R. 4130) and by its headcount, there are enough supporters of the proposal on the Committee for the bill to advance to the full House for consideration.
Nadler, a longtime supporter of a performance right for AM/FM airplay, held a hearing on the bill last month. If adopted, the American Music Fairness Act would create a performance right on AM/FM airplay, with rates that would be set for most stations by the Copyright Royalty Board. The main target is larger radio groups. Stations that fall under $1.5 million in annual revenue and whose parent companies make less than $10 million in annual revenue would pay $500 per year in performance royalties. And even smaller stations – those with less than $100,000 per year in revenue – would pay ten dollars a year.
