Mayors Support Artist Compensation for AM/FM Radio Plays
Adopted at the 92nd Annual Meeting in 2024
WHEREAS, American music creators are a cherished national resource. They create the most popular music in the world and continually innovate to create new sounds. From Jazz to Country
to Hip Hop to Rock & Roll to the Blues, American artists define what music is played globally; and
WHEREAS, despite their contributions, for nearly a century performing artists have not received compensation when their music is played on AM/FM radio. While songwriters are paid a royalty, artists have never been paid a performance royalty for AM/FM radio plays; and
WHEREAS, artists receiving a performance royalty when their music is played on AM/FM radio would ensure that they can make a living wage to support their families and enable artist
communities to flourish in our cities, towns, and neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, artists lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars in overseas royalties which would be taxable income for the United States, because countries such as France use the lack of a paid performance right in the United States to justify not paying American artists; and
WHEREAS, there is legislation before Congress to address the issue of the lack of artist compensation for AM/FM radio plays. The American Music Fairness Act strikes a balance that
looks out for both working artists and small radio stations that help our communities thrive. The legislation looks out for local mom-and-pop stations by capping what they would have to pay for the rights to play unlimited music to as little as $10 to $500 a year; and
WHEREAS, the United States' failure to pay artists puts the country in the dubious company of a small group of nations – including Iran and North Korea – that refuse to pay AM/FM
performance royalties; and
WHEREAS, Americans strongly support artists being paid for work. Tens of thousands of Americans - from music makers to music lovers to those who represent community and local radio stations - have rallied to the cause of artists being paid an AM/FM performance right.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The United States Conference of Mayors supports the artist communities
that make our cities and towns vibrant, draw visitors to our venues, entertain our citizens, and create economic activity that benefits creators, other businesses, and residents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The United States Conference of Mayors supports the goals of the American Music Fairness Act to respect artists and music creators for their work and
compensate them when their music is played on AM/FM radio.