AM Radio must pay artists it’s fair share, says Chris Castle

AM and all US broadcast radio plays music without paying the performing artists. Congress can fix it with a new law already under consideration and many are demanding action. AM Radio must pay it’s fair share, writes Chris Castle.

AM Radio must pay artists it’s fair share

Op-ed by CHRIS CASTLE via Music Tech Policy

Congress is debating whether to mandate AM radio in all new vehicles — but broadcasters still refuse to pay artists when they play recorded music. The American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) would finally require radio stations to pay performance royalties, just like streaming services already do. The AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act would require automakers to include free AM radio in all new cars, citing public safety needs — but automakers and artists demand that any AM radio mandate include fair pay for radio play. Artists, automakers, and advocates are urging lawmakers to pass both the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act and AMFA — to ensure fair compensation for the musicians who power America’s airwaves. Here’s why this fight matters, and how you can take action today.

For decades, U.S. AM and FM radio stations have broadcast music recordings without paying performers a dime. Meanwhile, U.S. digital streaming services, satellite radio–and nearly every country in the world—pay artists when their work is played.

This gaping loophole is both grotesquely unfair and astonishingly outdated — and Congress now has a rare opportunity to fix it once and for all.

The Problem: Radio’s Free Ride

Altogether, American radio stations generate billions in advertising revenue largely courtesy of the music they play. But unlike Spotify or SiriusXM, terrestrial radio pays nothing to the artists whose recordings attract listeners.

That’s right: when you hear a song on AM or FM radio, the singer, the drummer, and the producer receive zero compensation. Only the songwriter gets paid, which is as it should be but it’s not enough—and this is why Big Radio’s biggest lie is “we pay for music.”  What should happen is radio needs to come up with additional cash for artists, not expect artists and songwriters to divide up what the songwriter gets.

The U.S. is practically alone in this policy — authoritarian regimes like North Korea follow a similar no-pay model, but every other country ensures that artists are compensated for their recordings on the radio.

Why Now? The AM Radio Mandate

This fight has been going on for decades, but there’s a new twist.  Congress is considering the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act, which would require automakers to include AM radios in all new cars. While this mandate is being promoted as a public safety measure, it risks further entrenching the unjust Big Radio system that exploits performers.

Thankfully automakers are now alert to this disparity and are speaking out. They argue that if Congress mandates AM radio in cars, Congress must also ensure that artists are finally paid when their work is broadcast.

That’s where the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) comes in. This bipartisan bill would create a public performance right for sound recordings on terrestrial radio — just like the one that already exists for digital platforms and in every other country of the world except for North Korea.

What Artists Are Saying

Our friend Blake Morgan, founder of the #IRespectMusic campaign, puts it bluntly in his appeal to Congress:

“Broadcasters … have never paid a penny to the artists who make your profits possible. We are writing to ask for your help to finally bring an end to this injustice.”

He’s right. U.S. broadcasters play over 240 million songs a year — all without compensating the artists who made them.

And because American radio refuses to pay, other countries with reciprocal laws also withhold royalties from American performers. As Blake says:

“It’s a de facto global trade embargo on the USA!”

What Automakers and musicFIRST Are Saying

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the Zero Emission Transportation Association recently wrote to Congress:

“Congress should not mandate the use of an infringing platform that exploits artists by not paying them for their work.”

The musicFIRST Coalition that has lead the fight for the AMFA legislation to fix artist pay for radio play emphasizes:

“Mandating AM radio without addressing the performance royalty issue would perpetuate an inequity that denies hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to countless recording artists every year.”

They’re right. It is indefensible for Congress to force automakers to preserve a system that profits from music but pays nothing to those who create it.

What You Can Do

We don’t ask you to make these calls very often, but this is one of those times.  

Please call your U.S. Representative and Senators today.  They need to hear that artists deserve fairness.  Congress can deliver fairness by passing both the American Music Fairness Act and the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act — but only if AM radio mandates include royalties for the performers who make the music. No musician should be exploited for radio profits.

Ask them to support BOTH of these bills — together:

– American Music Fairness Act (AMFA)
– AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act — but only if it includes performance royalties for artists.

How to find your members of Congress:

– Go to https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative  to find your representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives

– Go to https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm  to find your two U.S. Senators.

That’s three calls–Main phone numbers:

– U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard: (202) 225-3121
– U.S. Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Call these main numbers and ask to be connected to your members of Congress by name or by your ZIP code.

Send an email to Congress!  You can also go to the MusicFirst Coalition Action Center and send an email to Congress, just click here.

Fairness Is Long Overdue

If Congress is going to mandate AM radio in every car, it cannot continue ignoring the rights of the people who create the music that powers the airwaves and taking money from artists around the world.

It’s time to fix this injustice. Let’s respect the music — and the musicians.

Please take action today. Tell them to pass AMFA and ensure that AM radio finally pays its fair share.