As World Music Day is celebrated around the globe, the U.S. remains the only democratic country that refuses to provide fair pay for AM/FM radio plays
Washington, DC, June 21, 2023 – Amid World Music Day celebrations, Senator Mark Pryor, Co-Chairman of the musicFIRST Coalition, issued the following statement:
“As World Music Day is celebrated across the globe, we can’t help but be reminded of the fact that hardworking music artists have never received a dime for the use of their songs on the radio here in the United States. This unjust status quo differentiates our country from every other democratic nation on earth, all of which already pay artists for the use of their music on terrestrial radio.
Big Radio has steadfastly refused to do the right thing and pay performers for decades now, despite the fact that music artists, community broadcasters, and the American public all support fair pay for radio plays. Just as a homebuilder pays for the concrete that forms the foundation of a house, Big Radio should pay for the music that forms the very foundation of their business. It’s time Congress holds these greedy corporations accountable by passing the bipartisan, bicameral American Music Fairness Act. This common sense piece of legislation would ensure artists are compensated for the use of their work and protect small radio stations by providing them with predictable and affordable access to unlimited music.
We value the music that serves as the soundtrack to our lives not just on World Music Day, but every day of the year. By passing AMFA, we can finally do right by the artists who make it possible.”
###
About musicFIRST
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.
Get Involved!
Contact your Members of Congress and tell them you stand against Big Radio.
Contact congress