Media Institute opposes Performance Rights Act
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 in News
The Media Institute, a non-profit foundation dedicated to researching the effects of communication policy issues, opposes the Performance Rights Act. The institute’s latest report titled “Performance Fees on Radio Stations: A Debacle Waiting To Happen,” details the effects of the proposed law and how it would specifically damage minority-owned and local broadcasters. FMQB reports:
Black and Hispanic stations would bear the brunt of compulsory performance fees for sound recordings, and the loss of such stations would be particularly acute for Black and Hispanic communities where local radio stations are “a primary venue for the expression of minority and ethnic viewpoints,” the paper states.
The report concludes that the Performance Rights Act…
“would most likely reduce diversity, and thus run contrary to Congress’s long-standing goal of enhancing media diversity. The economic and diversity impacts would be especially harsh on minority-owned radio stations, the outlets least able to tolerate additional burdens. Record companies should not try to kill the ‘golden goose’ of radio broadcasting in an effort to boost their bottom lines. Free music for free airplay has stood the test of time. It’s an arrangement that is not broken, and does not need to be fixed.”
Senate Letter Opposes Performance Rights Act
Posted on 21. Oct, 2009 in News
Senators Blance Lincoln (D-AR) and John Barrasso (R-WY) sent a letter today to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) andMinority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opposing the Performance Rights Act. The PRA passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.
“By many estimations, passage of this legislation would result in potentially billions of dollars flowing from local broadcasters to the recording industry and would have a devastating impact on the local radio broadcasting system as we know it,” Sens. Lincoln and Barrasso wrote.
The Senators said that imposing a fee on local broadcasters would “fundamentally change free radio,” and that many music stations would be forced to flip to talk formats rather than paying fees to air music. “At the end of the day, this will result in less music being played on the radio,” they wrote.
Lincoln and Barrasso concluded by saying, ”This legislation clearly evokes strong opposition that transcends party affiliation. As leaders of our two parties, we ask that you oppose any effort to move this bill, either as a stand alone measure or as part of a broader legislative package.”
Source: FMQB
