Issue Position: The Performance Rights Act

Issue Position

As Chair of the Entertainment Industries Caucus, I have worked hard to ensure that all artists are justly compensated for their work. Unfortunately, a major loophole continues to exist in U.S. copyright
law that allows broadcast radio to profit from the work of musicians played over the airwaves without providing the musicians any compensation whatsoever. Shamefully, the United States remains the only developed nation to not protect musicians in this regard. Also, because the United States does not require U.S. radio broadcasters to compensate foreign performers when they play their sound recordings, reciprocity allows foreign broadcasters to deny paying U.S. performers when they play their works in their countries. U.S. artists lose millions in potential foreign performance royalties because of our failure to update our copyright laws. That is why I have repeatedly joined with my colleagues to introduce the Performance Rights Act. The bill would simply ensure that musicians receive just compensation when a radio station airs their music. I will continue working with my colleagues to make sure that musicians can rightfully earn a living from the music they create. Everyone in this country should be compensated when someone profits
from their product.

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