Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
This bill (American Music Fairness Act) amends Title 17 to create a public performance right for sound recordings for terrestrial (non‑subscription) broadcast radio and to fold those transmissions into the section 114 statutory licensing regime. It defines “audio transmission,” requires expedited Copyright Royalty Judges proceedings to set rates effective through 2028 with five‑year repeats, and establishes low flat annual royalties for qualifying small broadcasters.
Progressives emphasize correcting artist payment inequities and labor fairness
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly drafted substantive statute that directly amends Title 17 to create and regulate a new/expanded public performance right for sound recordings, with concrete small-broadcaster provisions and procedural directions for the Copyright Royalty Judges; it couples detailed statutory text with appropriate delegations for administration.
This bill (American Music Fairness Act) amends Title 17 to create a public performance right for sound recordings for terrestrial (non‑subscription) broadcast radio and to fold those transmissions into the section 114 statutory licensing regime.
It defines “audio transmission,” requires expedited Copyright Royalty Judges proceedings to set rates effective through 2028 with five‑year repeats, and establishes low flat annual royalties for qualifying small broadcasters.
The bill also prescribes how payments from direct licenses must be shared with the statutory collective, preserves songwriters’ public performance rights, and instructs judges to consider promotional value when setting rates.
Technically narrow but economically consequential; strong, organized opposition from affected industries makes enactment unlikely absent major stakeholder compromise.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly drafted substantive statute that directly amends Title 17 to create and regulate a new/expanded public performance right for sound recordings, with concrete small-broadcaster provisions and procedural directions for the Copyright Royalty Judges; it couples detailed statutory text with appropriate delegations for administration.
Progressives emphasize correcting artist payment inequities and labor fairness
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize correcting artist payment inequities and labor fairness
Generally favorable: the bill extends pay-for-play to recording artists and small broadcasters receive protections.
Supporters will view this as correcting a longstanding inequity where recording artists received no terrestrial radio performance royalties.
They may still watch for distribution rules favoring labels over individual artists.
Cautiously supportive if implemented to limit disruption to local radio and the broader market.
The bill balances artist compensation with explicit protections for small broadcasters, but it places complexity on rate‑setting and compliance.
A pragmatic centrist will focus on the details of rate proceedings, timing, and administrative burdens.
Likely opposed: the bill creates a new federal performance right and imposes new costs on terrestrial broadcasters.
Even with small‑station caps, conservatives view this as federal expansion into a sector historically exempt from recording‑artist royalties, risking localism and increased regulation.
They will prioritize protecting broadcasters and limiting federal intervention.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Technically narrow but economically consequential; strong, organized opposition from affected industries makes enactment unlikely absent major stakeholder compromise.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize correcting artist payment inequities and labor fairness
Technically narrow but economically consequential; strong, organized opposition from affected industries makes enactment unlikely absent ma…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a clearly drafted substantive statute that directly amends Title 17 to create and regulate a new/expanded public performance right for sound recordings, with concr…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.