Musicians seek royalties from broadcast radio

Sheryl Crow, will.i.am, Herbie Hancock and other entertainers on Tuesday urged Congress to force radio stations to pay performers when their music is broadcast. Satellite radio, Internet radio and cable TV music channels already pay fees to performers and musicians, along with songwriter royalties. AM and FM radio stations pay royalties just to songwriters. People deserve to be paid when somebody else uses their property," jazz pianist Hancock said. He and the other musicians, including singers Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle, appeared at a news conference on Capitol Hill on behalf of the musicFIRST Coalition. The group is pushing legislation that would require radio stations to pay musicians royalties similar to those paid to songwriters. The National Association of Broadcasters, which opposes the measure, said a fee would put thousands of radio jobs at risk. The association contends that stations drive listeners to buy music and concert tickets.