The American Music Fairness Act (AMFA): Hugh Stephens Blog
The American Music Fairness Act (AMFA): A Better and Fairer Solution for Performers than Seeking “National Treatment”
From the title of this draft legislation, introduced into the US House of Representatives in late June, you can surmise that something is unfair about music in America. What is unfair–from the perspective of performers and record labels–is that US terrestrial radio stations are not required to pay royalties to performers or labels for playing recorded music on air. Online broadcasters and streaming services do, but not over-the-air AM/FM radio stations. Terrestrial stations do, however, pay royalties to composers and songwriters for music played on air, but not to performers. Why is this, and what is the justification for this free-ride on the work of others?
-Hugh Stephens
