During our recent zoom calls with members of the New York Delegation, we have expressed our strong opposition to the so-called American Music Fairness Act (H.R. 4130). This bill would impose “performance fees” on local stations. At the same time, we urged members of Congress to support the Local Radio Freedom Act (House Con. Res. 33) which opposes the imposition of such fees.
It has become evident that there will be an attempt to move the American Music Fairness Act (H.R. 4130) through the House Judiciary Committee. In an effort to convince Congress not to go forward with the bill, NAB has prepared issue advertisements on this subject. In a notice to stations< NAB stated:
“The NAB Radio Board of Directors has unanimously approved an on-air campaign to fight against the imposition of new performance fees on local radio, and we need your help.
NAB is asking radio stations to air spots opposing performance fee legislation as often as possible starting immediately and through the August Congressional recess, which ends September 6.
The record labels are aggressively pushing the so-called American Fairness Music Act (AMFA) – legislation that would funnel resources away from local radio stations and into their own pockets. We expect the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by longtime performance tax proponent Jerry Nadler (NY-10), to consider and most likely pass this bill out of committee in the coming weeks.
To stop the bill from going further than this committee, we are urging every station to join us in this campaign. NAB has also cultivated strong opposition to a performance tax in Congress: more than 230 members of Congress are cosponsoring the Local Radio Freedom Act – a bill that opposes a performance tax on local stations.
The :30 spots, available in English and Spanish, include a call to action for listeners to make their voice heard with Congress. NAB is also providing scripts, talking points and digital assets to help stations voice radio’s opposition to the AMFA and its harmful impact on listeners.
Because this is an issue ad, the Federal Communications Commission requires your station to fill out a PB-19 form and place it in your station’s political file within 24 hours or one business day. Please make this a priority.”
We strongly support this effort and urge you to run these spots.
The following members of the New York Congressional delegation support the Local Radio Freedom Act. Please thank them.
- Andrew Garbarino [R-NY-2]
- Chris Jacobs, Chris [R-NY-27]
- John Katko [R-NY-24]
- Nicole Malliotakis [R-NY-11]
- Gregory Meeks, [D-NY-5]
- Tom Reed [R-NY-23]
- Elise Stefanik [R-NY-21]
- Claudia Tenney, [R-NY-22]
- Lee Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY-1]
The following members of the New York Congressional Delegation have co-sponsored the American Music Fairness Act (H.R. 4130), which would impose a performance fee on local radio.
- Jamal Bowman [D-NY-16]
- Adriano Espaillat [D-NY-13]
- Brian Higgins [D-NY-26]
- Gregory Meeks [D-NY-5]
- Jerry Nadler [D-NY-10]
- Thomas Suozzi [D-NY-3]
NYSBA will continue to work the New York delegation to oppose the so-called American Music Fairness Act.
For more information and to download the radio spots from NAB click HERE.
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