Radio has collected value from music for decades without paying the performers behind the recordings, and musicFIRST is calling that gap what it is: a loophole that should end now. For publishers, songwriters, artists, and rights holders, the fight over the American Music Fairness Act is about whether terrestrial radio continues to benefit from music without compensating the people who recorded it.
Why musicFIRST says the current system is unfair
According to musicFIRST, the U.S. is the only democratic country where AM/FM radio does not pay performers when their recordings are played on the air. The group says that AM/FM stations in the United States have long paid songwriters and publishers, but not the performers, musicians, producers, or record labels behind the sound recordings themselves.
musicFIRST argues that this arrangement is a loophole, not a law worth keeping. The group’s message is direct: artists deserve to be paid when billion-dollar radio companies profit from their work.
The bill would extend payment to terrestrial radio
The bipartisan American Music Fairness Act would require terrestrial radio broadcasters to pay artists for the use of their recordings, bringing radio in line with streaming services, satellite radio, and digital platforms that already pay for recorded music. The source also says the bill includes protections for small and local broadcasters and public radio.
For rights holders, the measure is framed as a basic fairness issue tied to how recorded music is used and monetized. musicFIRST is asking supporters to sign the letter calling for passage of the bill.
What to watch next
The key development to watch is whether support for the American Music Fairness Act continues to build around musicFIRST’s push. The source points to the bill’s protections for small and local broadcasters and public radio as part of the effort to advance the measure while addressing concerns from those sectors.
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