SoundExchange applauds greater than 300 main recording artists asking lawmakers to move the American Music Equity Act
On World Radio Day, R&B Icons Boyz II Males ship letter signed by Aerosmith, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Jelly Roll, Lil Jon, Mariah Carey, Miranda Lambert, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, Reba, Stevie Nicks, and others, plus sit down for an unique interview about AMFA with NBC’s “At this time” morning present
SoundExchange, an unabashed supporter of artist rights and equity for all creators throughout the music business, is celebrating yesterday’s supply to the U.S. Congress of a letter signed by greater than 300 recording artists supporting passage of the bipartisan American Music Equity Act (AMFA).
Legendary, 19-time platinum-selling, four-time GRAMMY® -winning R&B group Boyz II Males was available in Washington, D.C., to fulfill with lawmakers and ship the letter – which calls for legislators take motion to require broadcasting firms compensate recording artists for the usage of their music on AM/FM radio – on World Radio Day.
Whereas on Capitol Hill, Boys II Males members Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris sat down with NBC’s Ryan Nobles for an unique interview about AMFA and the necessity to pay artists when their music is performed on AM/FM radio.
That interview is slated to air subsequent week on NBC’s “At this time” morning present.
Artists spanning eras and genres which have signed on to the letter that Boyz II Males shared with lawmakers embody Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Becky G, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Carole King, Celine Dion, Darius Rucker, David Foster, Elvis Costello, Gene Simmons, George Strait, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, Jewel, Joan Jett, Josh Groban, Lil Jon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mariah Carey, Matchbox Twenty, Miranda Lambert, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, Reba, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, TLC, Prepare, Weezer and extra.
View the total textual content of the letter and all of its signatories at musicfirstcoalition.org.
The members of Boyz II Males met with key lawmakers on Capitol Hill, together with Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson (R-LA), Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Majority Chief Steve Scalise (R-LA), to debate the essential want for AMFA laws.
“We’re thrilled and humbled by the outpouring of help AMFA has garnered amongst recording artists who acknowledge the inequities of legal guidelines that enable company broadcasters to make billions in promoting revenues whereas not paying a dime to those that make the music,” mentioned SoundExchange President & CEO, Michael Huppe. “It’s notably poignant that Boyz II Males members Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris delivered this letter to Congress on World Radio Day – as a result of radio’s enduring enchantment is one thing to be celebrated, however not on the expense of the hard-working professionals who create the sounds that fill the audio system. Artists should be compensated pretty for his or her work and AMFA will make that occur.”
“We’re proud to be on Capitol Hill at the moment assembly with lawmakers and asking them to move the American Music Equity Act,” mentioned Boyz II Males members Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris. “This is a matter about proper and improper. Artists – together with background vocalists and musicians – work exhausting to create music that brings pleasure to tens of millions. It’s outrageous that large radio corporations are capable of make billions of {dollars} annually in advertisements whereas denying royalties to the performers whose music attracts listeners within the first place. We hope that Congress will take heed to the voices of artists and move this invoice.”
“At this time, the neighborhood of music artists is talking with one voice,” added LeAnn Rimes. “Performers spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years engaged on the songs that make up the soundtracks of our lives. They need to be rewarded for that work by the radio firms that play their songs on the air.”
“Once I was beginning out, radio provided free promotion for artists who had been seeking to make it,” added Carly Simon. “That’s not the case. Within the digital age, fewer and fewer Individuals are discovering new music on the radio. As a substitute, AM/FM is making billions of {dollars} annually in advert income with out compensating the artists whose songs they play. This wants to finish. I’m proud that so many artists are talking out at the moment in favor of the American Music Equity Act.”
AMFA Background
The American Music Equity Act (S.326/H.R.861) is bipartisan laws that can require large radio corporations to pay artists for enjoying their music on the air whereas defending small, native radio broadcasters.
It was reintroduced within the U.S. Senate final week by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and within the U.S. Home by U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Mark Inexperienced (R-TN), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA).
AMFA gives a balanced resolution that ensures music creators are paid for his or her work when it’s performed on AM/FM radio whereas additionally defending small, native broadcasters.
Underneath the invoice, practically two-thirds of radio stations would pay $500 or much less for limitless music a 12 months.
The bipartisan laws enjoys help from a various coalition of artists, broadcasters, labels, and music lovers:
- Broadcasters, such because the Alliance for Group Media, Widespread Frequency, Media Alliance, the Nationwide Federation of Group Broadcasters (NFCB), Prometheus Radio Venture, and REC Networks – which signify a broad coalition of neighborhood broadcasters – additionally help the American Music Equity Act.
- All the recorded music business – artists, main labels, impartial labels, unions and commerce affiliation.
- Each Democratic and Republican administration since President Carter has supported a efficiency proper for sound recordings within the U.S.
- Individuals help passing a regulation to present artists efficiency royalties for AM/FM radio performs by a 4:1 ratio.