Support Public Performance Rights

Tell Your Legislators to Support the Performance Rights Act

Join with AFTRA recording artists, singers, broadcasters, and performers in supporting legislation to assure that recording artists receive compensation when their performances are played on over-the-air radio.

It's the Performance Rights Act -- S. 2500 and H.R. 4789 -- and it will grant a long-overdue performance right to performers when their music is played on the radio.

The AFTRA Broadcasters' Caucus supports this legislation: "Recording artists, singers, and musicians deserve to be fairly compensated when the sound recordings they create are broadcast over the air on terrestrial radio."

It's time that recording artists and singers are recognized and compensated for the hard work and for the contribution to making this country's music industry -- and broadcasting industry -- the strongest in the world.

Send a message today to your Senators and Representative asking for their support of The Performance Rights Act!

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Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to ask for your support on "The Performance Rights Act" -- S. 2500 and H.R. 4789. It's legislation that grants a long-overdue performance right to performers when their music is played on the radio.  Radio broadcasters in this country have built a multi-billion dollar industry by attracting their audience -- and, in turn, paying advertisers -- through the lure of music without paying one cent to the artists, musicians, and recording owners who created it.  While songwriters are justly compensated when their compositions are played over the air, the law denies the same right to those who bring the songs to life.

The Performance Rights Act will finally correct this blatant inequity.

Broadcast radio's complete exemption from paying artists, musicians, and recording owners is particularly egregious given the fact that every other radio platform -- including satellite, Internet, and cable -- does pay.  In addition, broadcasters in every other developed country pay performers and recording owners when they play their music on the air.  The U.S. stands among nations such as China, North Korea, and Iran in not compensating those who bring the music to life.  And, because of our policy, foreign countries do not pay U.S. performers and recording owners when they play their music.  Considering American music constitutes 30-50% of music worldwide, millions of dollars are being lost due to our country's arbitrary broadcaster exemption.

I hope you will support The Performance Rights Act to bring our law up to par with all the other developed nations.  It is finally time to recognize and appropriately compensate those who make our country's music -- and broadcasting -- industry the most vibrant in the world.  Thank you -- and if you have already agreed to be a co-sponsor on the bill, thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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