[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Tillis, and Mrs. 
        Feinstein):
  S. 253. A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to provide fair 
treatment of radio stations and artists for the use of sound 
recordings, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the 
bipartisan American Music Fairness Act, which I have reintroduced with 
Senator Blackburn today.
  Artists pour their heart and soul into the music we enjoy. 
Unfortunately, our current copyright laws do not adequately reflect the 
value of what they have produced.
  Currently, the United States is the only democratic country in the 
world in which artists are not compensated for the use of their music 
on AM/FM radio.
  By requiring broadcast radio corporations to pay performance 
royalties to creators for AM/FM radio plays, the American Music 
Fairness Act would close an antiquated loophole in our copyright law 
which has prevented artists from receiving compensation for the use of 
their music for far too long.
  This royalty stream would be particularly meaningful for the 
thousands of working-class artists who are a critical part of our 
country's vibrant music industry.
  Additionally, when American-made music is played overseas, other 
countries collect royalties for American artists and producers but 
never pay those royalties to our artists because we do not reciprocate. 
This inequity costs the American economy and artists more than $200 
million each year. This is a serious injustice considering that America 
is the origin of so much of the music listened to around the world.
  So it is time, once and for all, to create a regime that is platform 
neutral and which respects the hard work and dignity of our artists.
  But I also want to be clear about something. I am a huge fan of and 
true believer in the importance of local radio to the music industry 
and to communities all across the United States that rely on radio to 
receive timely and relevant news, entertainment, and emergency response 
information. The American Music Fairness Act recognizes and 
acknowledges the important role that locally owned radio stations play 
by including protections for small, college, and noncommercial 
stations.
  I want to thank Senator Blackburn for introducing this bill with me, 
and I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting the thousands of 
artists across this country who create the music that contributes to 
the soundtrack of our lives.
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