WASHINGTON, DC -- The Local Radio Freedom Act, introduced in late October by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Conaway (R-TX) is now backed by 127 members of the House of Representatives.
"Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings," read House Concurrent Resolution 244.
Eight lawmakers recently added their support for the Local Radio Freedom Act, including Reps. Nancy Boyda (D-KS), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Phil Hare (D-IL), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Steve Kagen (D-WI), Rick Larsen (D-WA), John Lewis (D-GA) and David Scott (D-GA). As of December 18, the following 127 lawmakers have expressed support for the resolution.
| Aderholt,
Robert (R-AL) Akin, Todd (R-MO) Arcuri, Mike (D-NY) Barrett, Gresham (R-SC) Barrow, John (D-GA) Bean, Melissa (D-IL) Berry, Marion (D-AR) Bishop, Rob (R-UT) Bishop, Sanford (D-GA) Bonner, Jo (R-AL) Boozman, John (R-AR) Boswell, Leonard (D-IA) Boyda, Nancy (D-KS) Braley, Bruce (D-IA) Broun, Paul (R-GA) Brown, Henry (R-SC) Burton, Dan (R-IN) Calvert, Ken (R-CA) Camp, Dave (R-MI) Campbell, John (R-CA) Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA) Carnahan, Russ (D-MO) Carter, John A. (R-TX) Castle, Michael (R-DE) Chabot, Steven (R-OH) Clay, William Lacy (D-MO) Cleaver, Emmanuel (D-MO) Cole, Tom (R-OK) Conaway, Mike (R-TX) Cramer, Bud (D-AL) Crenshaw, Ander (R-FL) Davis, Geoff (R-KY) Dent, Charles W. (R-PA) Donnelly, Joe (D-IN) Edwards, Chet (D-TX) Ellsworth, Brad (D-IN) Emerson, Jo Ann (R-MO) Everett, Terry (R-AL) Foxx, Virginia (R-NC) Franks, Trent (R-AZ) Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) Gillibrand, Kirsten (D-NY) Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) Goode, Virgil H., Jr. (R-VA) Granger, Kay (R-TX) Graves, Sam (R-MO) Green, Al (D-TX) Green, Gene (D-TX) Hall, Ralph (R-TX) Hare, Phil (D-IL) Hayes, Robin (R-NC) Hoekstra, Pete (R-MI) Hulshof, Kenny (R-MO) Johnson, Eddie B. (D-TX) Johnson, Sam (R-TX) Johnson, Tim (R-IL) Jones, Stephanie Tubbs (D-OH) Jones, Walter B. (R-NC) Jordan, Jim (R-OH) Kagan, Steve (D-WI) Kind, Ron (D-WI) Kingston, Jack (R-GA) Lampson, Nick (D-TX) |
Larsen,
Rick (D-WA) Latham, Tom (R-IA) LaTourette, Steve (R-OH) Lewis, John (D-GA) Lewis, Ron (R-KY) LoBiondo, Frank (R-NJ) Loebsack, Dave (D-IA) Manzullo, Donald A. (R-IL) Matsui, Doris (D-CA) McHenry, Patrick T. (R-NC) McHugh, John (R-NY) McIntyre, Mike (D-NC) McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA) Mica, John (R-FL) Michaud, Mike (D-ME) Miller, Candice (R-MI) Moore, Dennis (D-KS) Moran, Jerry (R-KS) Murphy, Chris (D-CT) Myrick, Sue (R-NC) Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) Oberstar, James (D-MN) Ortiz, Solomon (D-TX) Paul, Ron (R-TX) Pearce, Stevan (R-NM) Pence, Mike (R-IN) Petri, Tom (R-WI) Poe, Ted (R-TX) Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) Price, Tom (R-GA) Rahall, Nick (D-WV) Ramstad, Jim (R-MN) Rehberg, Dennis (R-MT) Rogers, Harold (R-KY) Rogers, Mike D. (R-AL) Rogers, Mike J. (R-MI) Ross, Mike (D-AR) Ruppersberger, Dutch (D-MD) Ryan, Tim (D-OH) Scott, David (D-GA) Sessions, Pete (R-TX) Shuler, Heath (D-NC) Shuster, Bill (R-PA) Simpson, Mike (R-ID) Sires, Albio (D-NJ) Souder, Mark E. (R-IN) Space, Zack (D-OH) Spratt, John (D-SC) Stupak, Bart (D-MI) Sullivan, John (R-OK) Thompson, Mike (D-CA) Tiahrt, Todd (R-KS) Tiberi, Pat (R-OH) Turner, Michael R. (R-OH) Walberg, Tim (R-MI) Walsh, Jim (R-NY) Westmoreland, Lynn (R-GA) Whitfield, Ed (R-KY) Wicker, Roger F. (R-MS) Wilson, Charlie (D-OH) Wilson, Joe (R-SC) Wynn, Al (D-MD) Young, Don (R-AK) |
On numerous occasions, both record label executives and artists have recognized the promotional value of free radio airplay. Such statements include:
|
"Country radio, thank you so much for being our mouthpiece. You know what we do means nothing if it never gets played, and no one gets to hear it." -- Rascal
Flatts, Vocal Group of the Year, Country Music Awards, 2007 --
Taylor Swift, Horizon Award (for best new artist), Country Music Awards,
2007 "I have yet to see the big reaction you want to see to a hit until it goes on the radio. I'm a big, big fan of radio." --Richard Palmese, Executive Vice President of Promotion, RCA, 2007 "Radio has proven itself time and time again to be the biggest vehicle to expose new music." -- Ken Lane, Senior Vice President for Promotion, Island Def Jam Music Group, 2005 "It is clearly the number one way that we're getting our music exposed. Nothing else affects retail sales the way terrestrial radio does." --Tom Biery, Senior Vice President for Promotion, Warner Bros. Records, 2005 "That's the most important thing for a label, getting your records played." -- Eddie Daye, recording artist, 2003 "Radio helped me a lot. That's the audience. I can't see them, but I know they're there. I can't reach out and touch them with my hand, but I know they're there." -- B.B. King, recording artist, 2002 "If a song's not on the radio, it'll never sell." -- Mark Wright, Senior Vice President, MCA Records, 2001 "Air play is king. They play the record, it sells. If they don't, it's dead in the water." -- Jim Mazza, President, Dreamcatcher Entertainment, 1999 "I am so grateful to radio. Their support has truly changed my life, and I hope they know how appreciative I am for that." -- Jo Dee Messina, recording artist, 1999 |
About
NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates
on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations
and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications
Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
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