*Legendary R&B group Boyz II Men visited Capitol Hill on World Radio Day to rally support for the American Music Fairness Act (H.R. 861/S. 326). This bipartisan bill aims to ensure that artists receive compensation when their music is played on AM/FM radio, while still protecting small, local broadcasters, according to the press release.
During their visit, Boyz II Men delivered a letter signed by over 300 artists, including Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Aerosmith, urging lawmakers to pass the legislation. The bill proposes that major radio companies pay royalties to artists while allowing smaller stations to continue accessing music at an affordable rate.
“We’re proud to be on Capitol Hill today meeting with lawmakers and asking them to pass the American Music Fairness Act,” said Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris.
“This is an issue about right and wrong. Artists – including background vocalists and musicians – work hard to create music that brings joy to millions. It’s outrageous that big radio companies are able to make billions of dollars each year in ads while denying royalties to the performers whose music attracts listeners in the first place. We hope that Congress will listen to the voices of artists and pass this bill,” they added.
Per the release, artists of all different eras, genres, and styles have signed on to a letter, including Barbra Streisand, Becky G, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Carole King, Darius Rucker, David Foster, Elvis Costello, Gene Simmons, George Strait, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, Jewel, Joan Jett, Josh Groban, Lil Jon, Mariah Carey, Matchbox Twenty, Miranda Lambert, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, Reba, Sheryl Crow, TLC, Train, Weezer and more.
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The American Music Fairness Act was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Marsha Blackburn, Alex Padilla, Thom Tillis, and Cory Booker, and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Darrell Issa, Jerry Nadler, Mark Green, Tom McClintock, and Ted Lieu. This bipartisan effort aims to ensure fair compensation for artists when their music is played on traditional radio.
“Performers spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years working on the songs that make up the soundtracks of our lives. They should be rewarded for that work by the radio corporations that play their songs on the air,” said singer LeAnn Rimes.
“Today, the community of music artists is speaking with one voice,” she added.
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