Congress escalates battle over radio royalties

Members of Congress, already bruised by the struggles over the health care overhaul, had better get ready for another bitter fight, this time over the future of the music business. Record companies and radio stations are battling over a legislative proposal, called the Performance Rights Act, that would require broadcasters to pay royalties to air recorded music. A showdown appears inevitable, possibly by year's end, after the Senate Judiciary Committee cleared the bill last week. The House Judiciary Committee approved a similar bill in May. That's the furthest advocates of the proposal have gotten after decades of attempts to change the law. If the bill passes, it could force stations to pay about $500 million a year — some estimates go as high as $1 billion. The actual amount would be determined by the federal Copyright Royalty Board. Prospects for a compromise look bleak.