The Hill News

Last fall, radio broadcasters slyly avoided bipartisan legislation requiring radio stations to pay for the music they used by seeking a mandate on FM tuners and antennas in all cell phones. While not one member of Congress supported the silly idea, the resulting confusion and pending congressional business left the performance royalty legislation for the next Congress. This Congress, two legislators have begun the effort to right the wrongful harm to the music industry.
 
Last week, Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-Calif.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Anna Eshoo, (D-Calif.), a member of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, introduced a resolution titled the “Creativity and Innovation Resolution.” The Issa-Eshoo resolution protects “creativity and innovation” across two fronts: first, by urging broadcasters to begin paying royalties to recording studios and artists. And second, by opposing efforts to mandate FM tuners in cell phones.

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