Boyz II Men Deliver Letter Signed By More Than 300 Major Recording Artists to Capitol Hill Lawmakers Asking for Passage of American Music Fairness Act

Boyz II Men Deliver Letter Signed By More Than 300 Major Recording Artists to Capitol Hill Lawmakers Asking for Passage of American Music Fairness Act

Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Lil Jon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mariah Carey, Miranda Lambert, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, Reba, Stevie Nicks, and more leading effort to close 100-year loophole, finally require big radio companies to pay artists for their music

Today’s meetings fall on 14th Annual World Radio Day, which commemorates importance of radio in fostering change around the globe 

WASHINGTON D.C. (February 13, 2025) – Boyz II Men – the 19-time Platinum-selling, 4-time Grammy Award-winning R&B group that first rose to prominence with their chart-topping 1992 single End of the Road – will visit Capitol Hill today for meetings with top lawmakers on the American Music Fairness Act (S.326/H.R.861), bipartisan legislation that will require big radio companies to pay artists for playing their music on the air while protecting small, local radio broadcasters. The group is meeting with lawmakers on World Radio Day, which the United Nations General Assembly first recognized in 2012 to celebrate in providing fact-based information and raising listeners’ voices in communities across the world. 

Artists of all different eras, genres, and styles have signed on to a letter that Boyz II Men is sharing today with lawmakers, including 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, Train, Weezer and more.

“We’re proud to be on Capitol Hill today meeting with lawmakers and asking them to pass the American Music Fairness Act,” said Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris. “This is an issue about right and wrong. Artists – including background vocalists and musicians – work hard to create music that brings joy to millions. It’s outrageous that big radio companies are able to make billions of dollars each year in ads while denying royalties to the performers whose music attracts listeners in the first place. We hope that Congress will listen to the voices of artists and pass this bill.”

During their time on Capitol Hill today, Boyz II Men is meeting with key lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).

“Today, the community of music artists is speaking with one voice,” added LeAnn Rimes. “Performers spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years working on the songs that make up the soundtracks of our lives. They should be rewarded for that work by the radio corporations that play their songs on the air.”

The American Music Fairness Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and in the U.S. House by U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Mark Green (R-TN), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA). Country music icon Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke that has left him unable to perform, testified last June about how the American Music Fairness Act will make a difference in the lives of artists during a House Intellectual Property Subcommittee hearing.

“When I was starting out, radio offered free promotion for artists who were looking to make it,” added Carly Simon. “That’s no longer the case. In the digital age, fewer and fewer Americans are discovering new music on the radio. Instead, AM/FM is making billions of dollars each year in ad revenue without compensating the artists whose songs they play. This needs to end. I’m proud that so many artists are speaking out today in favor of the American Music Fairness Act.”

The American Music Fairness Act offers a balanced solution that ensures music creators are paid for their work when it’s played on AM/FM radio while also protecting small, local broadcasters.  Under the bill, nearly two-thirds of radio stations would pay $500 or less for unlimited music a year.  The bipartisan legislation enjoys support from a diverse coalition of artists, broadcasters, labels, and music lovers:

• Broadcasters, such as the Alliance for Community Media, Common Frequency, Media Alliance, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), Prometheus Radio Project, and REC Networks – which represent a broad coalition of community broadcasters – also support the American Music Fairness Act.
• The entire recorded music industry – artists, major labels, independent labels, unions and trade association.
• Every Democratic and Republican administration since President Carter has supported a performance right for sound recordings in the U.S.
• Americans support passing a law to give artists performance royalties for AM/FM radio plays by a 4:1 ratio.

The full text of the letter delivered to lawmakers today is embedded below.

——————

February 13, 2025 

Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Leader Thune, and Leader Schumer:

Music creators work incredibly hard to make the sound recordings we all know, love, and value.  However, the U.S. continues to be the only democratic nation in the world where artists like us are not paid when our music is played on AM/FM radio. Thankfully, there is legislation to right this injustice that has robbed us from being paid on terrestrial radio for decades. We urge you to join us in the fight to compensate music creators by supporting and passing the American Music Fairness Act. 

The American Music Fairness Act would require U.S. broadcasters to finally pay for our music when it’s played on AM/FM radio. This bipartisan bill merely asks radio broadcasters to play by the same rules as digital platforms, streaming services, and others who already pay artists when they play our music. While the bill requires corporate radio giants to pay artists their fair share, it protects truly small broadcasters by allowing them to play unlimited music for $1.37 a day.  

For decades now, corporate broadcasters have unjustly exploited an antiquated loophole in the law to profit from advertising generated from unlimited use of free music. Each year, AM/FM radio stations play nearly a billion songs. And each year, giant radio corporations rake in billions in advertising dollars while refusing to pay a single cent to the artists behind the music that attracts their advertisers in the first place and makes their entire business model possible. 

This inequity not only harms American artists at home, but it also hurts us abroad. Most foreign countries withhold payments to us when our songs are played in their countries, simply because the U.S. doesn’t have a performance royalty. This leaves the U.S. in the dubious company of North Korea, Cuba, and Iran as among the only nations that refuse to pay artists for their work. This amounts to nearly $300 million every year in lost income for American artists like us. By supporting the American Music Fairness Act, you can ensure that this money flows back to the United States. 

We’re not alone in our call for fairness. Every president since Jimmy Carter has advocated for artists to be paid for AM/FM radio plays. And an overwhelming majority of Americans stand with us on this issue. A recent national poll commissioned by the musicFirst Coalition — the voice for fairness and equity for music creators — found that 73% of Americans believe it’s unfair that artists don’t get paid when their songs are played on the radio. And by a 6-1 margin Americans support Congress addressing this injustice by passing legislation such as the American Music Fairness Act.   

It’s time for our nation to align with the rest of the developed world and ensure that hard-working music artists are paid fairly. 

We appreciate your support and consideration of this much-needed legislation. We look forward to working with you and your staff to ensure that American artists are finally paid for their work.  

Sincerely,

38 Special

ABBA

Add-2

Aerosmith

Aimee Mann

Alabama

Alanis Morissette

All-4-One

Allison Russell

Aloe Blacc

Amy Grant

Ann Wilson (Heart)

Armani White

Autumn Rowe

Bacilos

Barbra Streisand

Barrie

Barry Gibb (Bee Gees)

Barry Manilow

Becky G

Beeb Birtles (Little River Band)

Bel Biv DeVoe

Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go’s)

Ben Fuller

Big Time Rush

Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)

Billy Idol

Billy Porter

Billy Ray Cyrus

Black Stone Cherry

Black Thought

Blake Morgan

Blessing Offor

Blondie

Bob Gaudio (The Four Seasons)

Bobby Z (Prince & The Revolution)

Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Tyler

Bootsy Collins

Boyz II Men

Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)

Bre Kennedy

Bryan Adams

Cade Thompson

Carla Redding (Otis Redding Estate)

Carly Simon

Carole King

Carter Faith

Cassadee Pope

Casting Crowns

Celine Dion

Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go’s)

Chris Isaak

Chris LeDoux Estate

Chromeo

Clint Black

Colin Hay

Common

Cowboy Junkies

Crystal Waters

Cyndi Lauper

Darius Rucker

Darrell Brown

Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC)

Dave Koz

Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum)

David Byrne

David Foster

David Kushner

David Leonard

David Pack (Ambrosia)

De La Soul

Deana Carter

Debbie Gibson

Deborah Cox

Dee Snider (Twisted Sister)

Def Leppard

Deon Cole

Diamond Rio

Dionne Warwick

DJ Jazzy Jeff

DJ Spinderella

Don McLean

Dropkick Murphys

Duane Allen (Oak Ridge Boys)

Duke Fakir Estate (The Four Tops)

Duran Duran

Eddie Money Estate

Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery Gentry)

Edwin McCain

Elsten Torres

Elvis Costello

Emiliano Torres (Xperimento)

Eric Johnson

Eric Roberson

Ethan Tasch

Exile

Fitz & The Tantrums

Fonseca

Foreigner

Frank Sinatra Estate

Frankie Valli

Gavin DeGraw

Gavin Rossdale (Bush)

GAYLE

Gene Simmons (KISS)

Genevieve Goings

George Strait

Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s)

Gloria Estefan

Graham Nash

Greensky Bluegrass

Guy Clark

Halestorm

Hanson

Harry Belafonte Estate

Henry Weck (Brownsville Station)

Hootie & The Blowfish

Howard Jones

Huey Lewis

Hunter Hayes

If Not For Me

1. Ivy

Jackson Browne

Jake Scott

James Taylor

Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Go’s)

Jason Aldean

Jason Mraz

Jefferson Starship

Jelly Roll

Jerry Cantrell

Jesse Colin Young

Jewel

Jimmy Jam

Joan Jett

Joe Perry (Aerosmith)

Joe Satriani

Joe Sirois (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones)

Joey Kramer (Aerosmith)

John Denver Estate

JoJo

JoJo Siwa

Jon Secada

Jonatha Brooke

Josh Groban

Josh Turner

Josie Dunn

Julia Michaels

Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)

Julian Lennon

JVKE

Kate Hudson

Katharine McPhee

Kathy Valentine (The Go Go’s)

Katy Nichole

KB

Kenny Loggins

Kenzie

Kevin Bacon (The Bacon Brothers)

Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon)

Kool & The Gang

KT Tunstall

Kylie Morgan

Lalah Hathaway

Lasso

LeAnn Rimes

Leanna Crawford

Lee Ann Womack

Lee Brice

Lee Greenwood

Lil Jon

Lin Manuel-Miranda

Lisa Loeb

Living Colour

Lord Finesse

Lorrie Morgan

Maggie Rose

Maiamouna “Mu Mu Fresh” Youseff

Marc Cohn

Margaret Cho

Marger

Mariah Carey

Marshmello

Martha Reeves

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Master P

Matchbox Twenty

Max Roach Estate

Max Weinberg (E Street Band)

MC Lyte

Mehro

Melissa Etheridge

Melle Mel

Menudo

Merck Mercuriadis (Hipgnosis Songs)

MercyMe

Michael Bacon (The Bacon Brothers)

Michael Franti

Michael Penn

Mick Fleetwood

Midland

Mike Love (The Beach Boys)

Miranda Lambert

Mýa

Nancy Wilson (Heart)

Neal Francis

Ned LeDoux

NeedToBreathe

Neil Sedaka

New Kids on the Block

Nile Rodgers

Noel Schajris

ODESZA

OK Go

OMAS

Ozzy Osbourne

P!nk

Papa Roach

Parker McCollum

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

Patty Loveless

Paul Stanley (KISS)

Paulina Rubio

Pentatonix

Peter Frampton

Phillip Phillips

Plain White T’s

Questlove

R.E.M.

Rachel Platten

Raheem DeVaughn

Randy Jackson

Randy Rogers

Randy Travis

Reba

Rench (Gangstagrass)

René Moore (René & Angela)

Richard Marx

Rick Springfield

Rickey Minor

Ricky Skaggs

Rosanne Cash

Ryan Cabrera

Sadie Jean

Salt-N-Pepa

Sam Martinez

Sam Moore

Sammy Hagar

Sara Bareilles

Sara Evans

Sarah McLachlan

Saweetie

Scott Ian (Anthrax)

Scotty McCreery

Seal

Sheila E.

Sheryl Crow

Simple Plan

Skylar Astin

Smokey Robinson

Sofia Carson

Steve Earle

Steve Miller

Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil

Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)

Stevie Nicks

Sugar Ray

Suzanne Vega

TALK

Tarrey Torrae

Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Taylor Dayne

Terry Hunter

The Afters

The B-52’s

The Go-Go’s 

The Heavy Heavy

The Lumineers

The Roots

They Might Be Giants

Tina Sinatra

TLC

Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Tori Amos

Tori Kelly

Trace Adkins

Train

Trip Lee

Twila Paris

Valentina D’Achille

Vanessa Carlton

Verdine White (Earth Wind & Fire)

Victoria Canal

Village People

Vince Gill

Walker Hayes

We Are Messengers

We the Kings

Weezer

Whodini

Wynonna Judd

X

Yellowcard

Yola

Yolanda Adams

———————–

musicFIRST works to ensure music creators get fair pay for their work on all platforms and wherever and however it is played. We rally the people and organizations who make and love music to end the broken status quo that allows AM/FM to use any song ever recorded without paying its performers a dime. And to stand up for fair pay on digital radio — and whatever comes next.