Bill > S326

This bill aims to update music copyright laws by creating a performance right for sound recordings on terrestrial (traditional AM/FM) radio broadcasts, which currently do not require payment to artists and record labels. The bill establishes a tiered royalty system for radio stations based on their annual revenue, with small broadcasters paying reduced rates: stations earning less than $100,000 annually would pay just $10 per year, public broadcasting stations earning between $100,000-$1.5 million would pay $100 annually, and other stations in that revenue range would pay $500 annually. The legislation ensures that stations meeting specific revenue thresholds can benefit from these lower rates, and requires stations to provide annual certification of their eligibility. The bill also specifies that when transmitting services have direct licenses with copyright owners, 50% of those royalties must be paid to a collective organization for distribution to featured and non-featured artists. Importantly, the bill includes a provision ensuring that the new requirements do not negatively impact songwriter performance rights or royalties, and directs Copyright Royalty Judges to consider whether radio play promotes or potentially substitutes for music sales when determining royalty rates. The overall goal is to create a more equitable system for compensating musicians and recording artists when their music is played on traditional radio.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/326/all-info