Support the Performance Rights Act Today (AFTRA E action)

[Omaha Steve]

For decades, AM and FM broadcasters have enjoyed an exemption from current copyright law which requires satellite radio, cable radio channels, and Internet webcasts to pay a royalty for the use of music.

The Performance Rights Act, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 848) and U.S. Senate (S. 379), would correct a loophole in the copyright law by removing the broadcaster exemption to assure that all platforms are treated equally and that radio stations are paying a performance royalty to artists.

We need your help now more than ever to pass the Performance Rights Act. Please take a few minutes to contact your representative and let him or her know that you support fair pay for air play.

Take action here: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/performancerights/

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Congressperson
Your Senators

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: I Support the Perfromance Rights Act

Dear ,

I am writing to ask your support for the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848 in the House and S. 379 in the Senate), which would ensure AM and FM radio fairly compensate artists when their performances are broadcast over the air.

The Performance Rights Act provides a fundamental right to musicians, performers, and sound recording copyright owners who deserve to be compensated for terrestrial radio play. For 80 years, over-the-air radio stations have been using the music of recording artists and owners to build their listener base and advertising revenue, without compensating the creators. Corporate radio is the only music platform that enjoys this exception. Satellite, cable, and internet radio all compensate artists and performers for the use of music. This legislation is a balanced bill that is fair to artists and small and noncommercial broadcasters.

Over-the-air radio broadcasters should be subject to the same system already established for other types of radio that appropriately compensate musicians, artists, and owners of recordings. With your support of the Performance Rights Act, we can finally give artists the rights they deserve. Please co-sponsor this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Your name.

Take action here: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/performancerights/