Free Radio Alliance Blasts 'Fair Play' Performance Tax Legislation

Free Radio Alliance Fights Back

FREE RADIO ALLIANCE, a coalition of 1,000 U.S. radio stations, has criticized today's performance tax legislation introduced by Rep. JERROLD NADLER (D-NY) (NET NEWS, 4/13), with spokesperson PEGGY BINZEL issuing the following statement:

“The FREE RADIO ALLIANCE and other members will fight the multinational record labels’ latest attempt to persuade CONGRESS to impose hundreds of millions in new fees on radio stations across AMERICA.  The music industry spent the better part of a year trying to achieve consensus on copyright law reforms.  In the end, what they came up with is more of the same.  The performance tax legislation introduced by Rep. NADLER is mostly a patchwork of past proposals, which have failed to pass CONGRESS previously. It’s ironic that the only thing the music industry seems to be able to agree upon is taking more money from others, like radio stations, for themselves.  The music industry should get its own house in order instead of looking to radio stations and, consequently, the listeners they serve for a new pot of money.

“The FREE RADIO ALLIANCE will remind policymakers that consumers lose if they get less for free. This is more than a fight between two industries.  It’s also a fight for consumers, communities and towns across AMERICA who benefit from access to free local radio.”

« see more Net News