[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 14 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 14

                Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2009

  Mrs. Lincoln (for herself and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
                Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.

Whereas the United States enjoys broadcasting and sound recording industries 
        that are the envy of the world, due to the symbiotic relationship that 
        has existed among these industries for many decades;
Whereas, for more than 80 years, Congress has rejected repeated calls by the 
        recording industry to impose a performance fee on local radio stations 
        for simply playing music on the radio and upsetting the mutually 
        beneficial relationship between local radio and the recording industry;
Whereas local radio stations provide free publicity and promotion to the 
        recording industry and performers of music in the form of radio air 
        play, interviews with performers, introduction of new performers, 
        concert promotions, and publicity that promotes the sale of music, 
        concert tickets, ring tones, music videos, and associated merchandise;
Whereas Congress found that ``the sale of many sound recordings and the careers 
        of many performers benefited considerably from airplay and other 
        promotional activities provided by both noncommercial and advertiser-
        supported, free over-the-air broadcasting'';
Whereas local radio broadcasters provide tens of thousands of hours of essential 
        local news and weather information during times of national emergencies 
        and natural disasters, such as September 11th and Hurricanes Katrina and 
        Rita, as well as public affairs programming, sports, and hundreds of 
        millions of dollars of time for public service announcements and local 
        fund raising efforts for worthy charitable causes, all of which are 
        jeopardized if local radio stations are forced to divert revenues to pay 
        for a new performance fee;
Whereas there are many thousands of local radio stations that will suffer severe 
        economic hardship if any new performance fee is imposed, as will many 
        other small businesses that play music including bars, restaurants, 
        retail establishments, sports and other entertainment venues, shopping 
        centers, and transportation facilities; and
Whereas the hardship that would result from a new performance fee would hurt 
        American businesses, and ultimately the American consumers who rely on 
        local radio for news, weather, and entertainment, and such a performance 
        fee is not justified when the current system has produced the most 
        prolific and innovative broadcasting, music, and sound recording 
        industries in the world: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That 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.
                                 <all>