Additional lawmakers have thrown their support behind a bipartisan resolution opposing "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local radio stations. Their support follows Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee vote approving a bill that would levy hundreds of millions of new fees on America's local radio stations for music aired free to listeners. Fifty percent of the new fee would go directly to the record label companies, three out of four of which reside outside the United States.
"Day by day, opposition to the RIAA's money grab from free local radio continues to grow," said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. "On behalf of our 235 million weekly listeners, NAB salutes those members of Congress who understand the crippling impact that a performance tax would have on music diversity and local charities supported by America's hometown radio stations."
Reps. Robert Brady (PA-1), Mark Kirk (IL-10), Howard McKeon (CA-25) and George Radanovich (CA-19) have all added their support to H. Con. Res. 49, the Local Radio Freedom Act.
The bipartisan House resolution now has 200 cosponsors.
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