Radio stations would pay for music under House bill

Radio stations may have to start paying musicians to play their songs. Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) introduced a bill that would require radio broadcasters to negotiate with musicians for the rights to play their songs.

Rep. Watt’s bill – which he called the free market solution – was applauded by members of the music industry and decried by broadcasters. Rep. Watt’s bill would do away with the compulsory license that requires musicians to make their work available. Instead, musicians and platforms – including AM/FM stations – would negotiate through SoundExchange, a performance royalty non-profit that facilitates those kinds of negotiations. The National Association of Broadcasters said it “respectfully opposes” Rep. Watt’s bill and supports “market-based negotiations like the recent Warner Music-Clear Channel accord.”