Radio Royalty Fading Into The Distance
• The unwelcome concept of music radio stations having to pay performance royalties has taken a major step back from the brink, as a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives now supports the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA). The LRFA, which signals members of Congress’ opposition to imposing new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 225 cosponsors in the House. There are 24 cosponsors in the Senate.
This development comes as positive news for local broadcasters, as NAB President & CEO Curtis LeGeyt commented, “This milestone demonstrates policymakers’ recognition of the vital service that free, local radio provides to their constituents: a lifeline in times of crisis and a connection to the community that cannot be replicated. We thank these 225 members of the House for their unwavering support, helping to safeguard the future of local broadcasting and our commitment to serving the public.”
Last week, over 550 broadcasters from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to meet with their lawmakers to discuss Broadcasters’ Policy Agenda for the remainder of the 118th Congress including the Local Radio Freedom Act. Reps. Steve Womack (R-AR-3) and Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) are the lead cosponsors of the LRFA in the House. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Barrasso (R-WY) are the lead cosponsors of a companion resolution in the Senate.
The full list of House co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act can be found here.
