February 02, 2010

By By Ed Christman, N.Y.

In a move to highlight the fight to win payments for performers, musicians and master rights owners from terrestrial radio broadcasts of music, a group of artists signed a "Grammy Week" statement encouraging Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act.

So far, the National Assn. of Broadcasters has been opposing the bill, as it has every time this legislation has emerged over the last 50 years.

According to a press release put out by the musicFirst coalition, the statement endorse the concept of artists and musicians being compensated when their music is used by radio.

"We support the Performance Rights Act because it is fair to radio and fair to artists," the statement reads. "We encourage the radio industry to work with the music community and Congress to pass The Performance Rights Act."

Artists who signed the statement during Grammy Week in January 2010 include: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Stephen Stills, Kenny Aronoff, Sheryl Crow, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phil Soussan, Jackson Browne, Don Was, Dave Matthews, Josh Groban, Travis Barker, Andrea Bocelli, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, Will.i.am and Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, Drake, Mary J. Blige, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and David Foster, according to the musicFirst release.

At the behest of Congressional leaders, musicFIRST is negotiating with the National Association of Broadcasters in a settlement attempt to at creating a radio performance right, as contained in the U.S. House of Representatives Bill H.R. 848 and the U.S. Senate bill S. 379.

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