NAB Hits Airwaves With Case Against Radio Royalties

The National Association of Broadcasters ratcheted up the war Tuesday on a potential radio performance royalties bill. As Congress reconvenes following a two-week break, the NAB welcomed members back by buying radio airtime on a pair of influential stations in the nation's capital to drum up support for its anti-Performance Rights Act campaign. Billed as "Don't Feed the Fat Cat," the 60-second spot goes was placed on Bonneville International's WTOP and Citadel's WMAL. WTOP is a ratings leader and was, according to BIAfn measurements, the sixth-largest revenue generating radio station in America in 2008. Meanwhile, NAB said it has picked up the support of another 15 lawmakers who have signed on to The Local Radio Freedom Act, a nonbinding shout-out by Congress in opposition to efforts to pass the musician-performer-backed legislation. The NAB reports that the effort now has 173 signors.