Pols Ask NAB, musicFIRST To Negotiate Perf Royalty; NAB Agrees To Talk ... To Congress

They'll Talk The Talk, But Who'll Walk The Walk?

House Judiciary Committee Chairman JOHN CONYERS (D-MI) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT) have sent letters to the two parties debating the need for a performance royalty, asking them to negotiate some kind of an agreement. In its response, the NAB said it was willing to meet with any and all members of Congress over the issue, but refrained from agreeing to negotiate any sort of performance royalty.

THEHILL.COM reports that the letter, which wants negotiations to run from NOV. 17th to DEC. 1st, was also signed by Sen. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT) and by Reps. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R-WI), DARRELL ISSA (R-CA) and HOWARD BERMAN (D-CA).

NAB is willing to talk with members of Congress on this issue ... We would hope that any discussions would also include the nearly 300 members of Congress who oppose the RIAA-backed bill.

"We request that your organizations, as representatives of the stakeholders most affected by the provisions of this legislation, enter into negotiations before this legislation is considered on the floor of either House. The negotiated resolution will be considered by Congress as it takes up passage of this Act," they wrote. "With your good faith participation, we are confident that an acceptable and mutually beneficial resolution to this longstanding disagreement can be found," 

However, the NAB didn't share that confidence. NAB EVP DENNIS WHARTON issued the following statement: "NAB is of course willing to talk with members of Congress on this issue and any issue that could negatively impact the ability of free and local hometown radio stations to serve our listeners. We would hope that any discussions would also include the nearly 300 members of Congress who oppose the RIAA-backed bill."

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