The record label-pushed performance tax poses a tremendous threat to the radio industry and the communities we serve. Across the country, local radio stations support 106,000 jobs; provide billions of dollars to the nonprofit community in terms of free airtime, disaster relief and cash donations; and share critical news and weather information – all for free.

Radio has a voice that must be heard by federal legislators. The Free Radio Alliance can help at the 2009 NAB Show. Visit the Alliance in the Radio Exhibit hall at booth N6538. You will find everything you need to quickly contact your member of Congress, tell them to oppose the performance tax and ask for their support of the Local Radio Freedom Act. It has never been so easy to help protect the future of the industry. Don’t miss out. Stop by booth N6538 anytime this week.

During these difficult economic times, the cost of a performance fee would be devastating to local radio stations across the country. A tax could cause many stations to switch to a talk-only format or shut down entirely. An attempt to cover even a portion of the proposed tax could threaten jobs and may result in loss of diversity in both programming and ownership - not to mention drastic cuts to the charitable support local stations give to the nonprofit community.

Ironically, the performance tax legislation ultimately harms the people it is allegedly trying to help – the smaller artists trying to make a name for themselves. Radio stations will not be able to take the same chances on new music; every spin of a song, every second of airtime will need to have a demonstrated return for the station, which could mean less listener choice and variety. The people that will reap the most reward from the legislation are known, established and already extremely profitable artists and the foreign-owned record labels – all at the expense of local communities across the U.S.

Visit the Free Radio Alliance at the NAB Show at booth N6538 to make your voice heard, or visit www.FreeRadioAlliance.org.