Los Angeles and New York (October 27, 2011) —- The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) alerted members of their respective unions about SiriusXM’s “direct license” deal, which would set up independent labels to pay a performer’s share to the copyright owner – the independent record label – rather than the performer.
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The Performance Rights Act (S. 379) was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. This legislation ensures that for the first time musicians will receive royalties when their songs are played over terrestrial AM/FM radio, just as they now receive royalties when their songs are played on satellite, internet, and cable radio.

While AFM strongly supports the Chairman’s efforts to see that network neutrality regulations are passed by the FCC, AFM hopes that the Chairman will also focus on the need to address Internet piracy. It is important to AFM that the FCC not unintentionally limit the ability of ISPs, content creators or the federal government to protect copyrighted content traversing the Internet.

“Protecting copyrighted content is not antithetical to network neutrality and ensuring that the Internet remains open, neutral and free. AFM hopes to work with the Commission to see that both principles are enshrined in their regulations.”

Washington, D.C. – Today the House Judiciary Committee approved the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848). The Bill will close a loophole in copyright law that allows music radio stations to earn billions of dollars each year without compensating the artists, musicians and rights holders who record the music and bring listeners to the stations.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) will fly in from across the country to Washington on Tuesday to lobby Congress for a full performance right in sound recordings broadcast over AM/FM radio. They will lobby members of both the House and Senate from their home states, asking for support of the Performance Rights Act, H.R. 848 and S.379 (formerly H.R. 4789 and S.2500).

Artists and musicians are compensated when their music is played on satellite, cable and internet radio. Due to a loophole in copyright law, AM and FM radio receives a free pass to broadcast the performances of every artist and musician every day without providing fair compensation.

“In these troubled economic times, it is more important than ever that the U.S. government take meaningful steps to ensure that the most competitive parts of the U.S. economy—those that contribute to positive balance of trade payments—can effectively compete in global markets without facing unfair competition…Unfortunately, the piracy of America’s creative genius by certain elements in other countries—particularly Internet-driven infringements—are drawing us towards life without music. Or perhaps more accurately, life without the capacity to sustain the livelihoods of those Americans who earn a living through the creation of music.”

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), in support of the concept of network “net” neutrality, has joined Future of Music Coalition’s Rock the Net campaign and Free Press’ Internet for Everyone initiative. The Internet allows music and musicians to flourish and must be kept open and neutral. At the same time, the music that is carried over the Internet must be protected from copyright infringement.

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is disappointed by the Federal Communications Commission’s recent decision to open the television “white spaces” – the frequencies in between television stations – for use by unlicensed, mobile Internet devices. The final order has not yet been released, however, it is reported that the decision relies on unproven, unreliable technology to ensure that these devices do not interfere with wireless microphones.

Artists representing over 15 countries petitioned Congress to close a loophole in U.S. law and grant artists, musicians and record labels a right to be compensated when their music is played on FM and AM radio. No other free-market nation in Europe or North America fails to pay broadcast royalties to artists and performers.
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Ever since sound recordings were made part of copyright law in 1972, AFM has been trying to get a royalty for performers when music is played on over-the-air AM/FM radio.