In an attempt to lobby lawmakers to pass legislation that would finally allow recording artists to get paid when their work gets played on the radio, Boyz II Men took to Capitol Hill last week.
On February 13, the iconic rhythm and blues/pop group was at the Capitol for World Radio Day where the trio pushed for Congress to pass the American Music Fairness Act, a bill that if enacted would require radio companies to pay artists for the use of their recordings on the radio.
In a statement, the group said “This is an issue about right and wrong. Artists — including background vocalists and musicians — work hard to create music that brings joy to millions.” “It’s outrageous that big radio companies are able to make billions of dollars each year in ads while denying royalties to the performers whose music attracts listeners in the first place. We hope that Congress will listen to the voices of artists and pass this bill.”
For decades now, artists and industry advocates have been pushing for reform to get paid for radio play as the current system only allows the songwriters in receive royalties from airplay, and not the artists who perform the composition. The United States is one of the few countries where stations don’t pay royalties to the artists.
In 2024, Country music icon, Randy Travis advocated for the AMFA before Congress while Master P wrote an opinion piece for Rolling Stone were he stated “me and my fellow artists who made those songs have never gotten a single penny for our performances” on radio.
Not the only musicians pushing lawmakers, some 300 other artists including Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Weezer, Carole King, Randy Travis, and Ozzy Osbourne signed a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, that read:
“For decades now, corporate broadcasters have unjustly exploited an antiquated loophole in the
law to profit from advertising generated from unlimited use of free music.” “Each year, AM/FM radio stations play nearly a billion songs. And each year, giant radio corporations rake in billions in advertising dollars while refusing to pay a single cent to the artists behind the music that attracts their advertisers in the first place and makes their entire business model possible.”
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Lunchbox LP from Culver City, CA, USA