Copyright: Artists must be paid royalties for music played on AM/FM radio
This Act mandates that traditional terrestrial radio stations (AM/FM) must pay performance royalties to artists and record labels for playing their sound recordings. This change ensures musicians receive compensation for public radio broadcasts, a right previously limited mostly to digital services. To protect small businesses, the law sets very low, fixed annual fees for small local broadcasters.
Key points
Music artists and labels will now receive royalties when their sound recordings are played on traditional AM/FM radio.
Small local radio stations (revenue under $1.5 million) qualify for special, low fixed annual fees ranging from $10 to $500.
The law explicitly confirms that royalties paid to songwriters (for the composition itself) are not negatively affected by these changes.
Expired
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