URE Supports the American Music Fairness Act
The United States stands alone among democratic nations in failing to pay artists and musicians when their music is played on AM/FM radio. Shockingly, it shares this practice with only a few countries, including North Korea and Iran, in withholding performance royalties from musicians.
For too long, AM/FM radio stations — many controlled by a handful of massive media conglomerates — have been allowed to avoid paying performers when their music is played. While corporate broadcasters rake in billions from advertising, the musicians whose talent drives it all receive nothing in return for their efforts. This injustice needs to end.
The partnership between Universal Royalty Exchange and South Africa’s Imbokodo Performance Rights exemplifies the kind of global collaboration that supports the goals of the American Music Fairness Act. By working to level the playing field for artists in both the U.S. and South Africa, Universal Royalty Exchange offers South African and American artists valuable services such as booking, film and television synchronization, and catalog management opportunities.
Additionally, URE Foundation promotes South African and American cultural exchange through music. The goal of the Foundation is to provide meaningful opportunities for our members to expand their experiences and repertoire through mutual understanding, appreciation, and collaboration. URE Foundation will provide a platform that not only supports artistic growth but also cultural exchange and economic development.
Congress should pass the American Music Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Ted Deutch and Darrell Issa. This legislation aims to fix the broken system, ensuring that artists, session musicians, and vocalists are fairly compensated when their music airs on AM/FM radio. Because everyone deserves to be paid for their hard work.
The American Music Fairness Act will:
- Guarantee performers are compensated when their songs are performed on terrestrial radio.
- Level the playing field across music platforms by including terrestrial radio in the existing music royalty laws.
- Ensure equal treatment for all music platforms and establish fair market value for performance royalties by incorporating terrestrial radio broadcasts into the current provisions of Section 114(d)(1) of Title 17 of the U.S. Code.
- Protect small and local radio stations, offering exemptions for stations with less than $1.5 million in annual revenue, allowing them to pay just $500 annually for unlimited music.
- Exempt public, college, and other noncommercial stations, with super-small stations paying just $100 a year.
- Support American artists internationally, recognizing their performance rights when foreign stations play their music.
- Safeguard songwriters and publishers, ensuring this law won’t affect their existing royalties or rights.