WASHINGTON, DC -- NAB released a statement today in response to a press release issued by the musicFIRST Coalition, an organization backed by the Recording Industry Association of America. In their release, musicFIRST, which is seeking legislation in Congress that would require local radio stations to begin paying a new fee for music aired free to listeners, attempted to trivialize the cost-burden of the new fee on small market radio stations.
Responding to musicFIRST, NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton issued the following statement:
"NAB is delighted by the growing bipartisan opposition in Congress to RIAA's attempted fleecing of America's hometown radio stations. Five thousand dollars may not sound like a lot of money to a fat-cat foreign record label mogul from Paris, France. But in Paris, Texas, a $5,000 loss in revenue could threaten a station's ability to carry AMBER Alerts, emergency weather warnings, and high school football games."
NAB
announced
earlier today that nine additional lawmakers, including House Ways
and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (NY-15), have signed on to
a bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives resolution opposing the introduction
of "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge"
on local radio stations. The growing chorus of support for The Local Radio
Freedom Act now stands at 158.
About
NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association
for America's broadcasters. As the voice of more than 8,300 radio and
television stations, NAB advances their interests in legislative, regulatory
and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables
broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses
and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.