Music Industry Lobbies Congress On Royalties

More than 200 musicians and songwriters lobbied Congress on Thursday to pass legislation that would make terrestrial radio broadcasters pay performance royalties when their songs are aired.

The proposal, co-sponsored by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Brentwood, is a priority for the Recording Academy, whose members say such a law would bring the U.S. more into line with the rest of the world, keep pace with changes in the technology of music consumption and fairly compensate artists whenever AM or FM radio plays their songs.

 

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.(Photo: Samuel M. Simpkins / File / The Tennessean)

 “Their product is still being used as a product that an entity profits from — they’re making money on it — but the individual that created that product doesn’t get any share of that,” Blackburn said Thursday.

Blackburn and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., are sponsoring the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, which would end the practice among AM and FM radio stations of not paying royalties to artists and labels, based on the premise that radio play is a form of promotion and drives record sales.

Producing Can Really Give A Person A Reputation...

Rick Rubin has been producing for over 3 decades. With each decade of work, he has put out chart-topping recordings!

A few days ago, Rubin was honored by the Recording Academy of Producers and Engineers as part of Grammy Week. To commemorate his honor, Rolling Stone Magazine put together an article, featuring  21 of his most remarkable songs. Along with the "soundtrack" to his life, the article talks about Rubin's decision to  leave New York  for California, and make producing albums a career. Read the article and listen to the legendary songs here!