SoundExchange Praises Congressman Watt's Plan to Introduce a Performance Rights Bill

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Mel Watt (D-NC), Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, announced his intent to introduce a bill that would require AM/FM radio broadcasters to pay recording artists and labels for the use of their songs played over-the-air. 

"SoundExchange praises Congressman Watt for his leadership on behalf of music creators – particularly his continued effort to address the glaring lack of a sound recording performance right for AM/FM radio," said SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe.

"Congressman Watt has been a long-time champion for musicians' rights, and a true believer in the value music brings to our daily lives. Corporate radio – which earns $15 billion in annual revenue – doesn't pay a cent to the recording artists and labels who create the art that 'draws the crowd' to their airwaves. We are thankful for the Congressman's actions to remedy this injustice," he said.

About SoundExchange
SoundExchange is the nonprofit performance rights organization representing the entire recorded music industry. The organization collects statutory royalties on behalf of recording artists and master rights owners for the use of their content from satellite radio, Internet radio, cable TV music channels and other services that stream sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board, created by Congress, has entrusted SoundExchange as the only entity in the United States to collect and distribute these digital performance royalties from more than 2,000 services. SoundExchange has paid out more than $1.5 billion in royalties since its inception. For more information, visit www.SoundExchange.com or www.facebook.com/soundexchange.

SOURCE SoundExchange