| Local Radio Freedom Act Adds More Support 4/23/09 |
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RadioInk.com: WASHINGTON -- April 23, 2009: Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and a well known civil rights advocate, is one of five more members of the House who have signed on to the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing performance royalties on local radio. The other new co-signers are Reps. Betsy Markey (D-CO), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Larry Kissell (D-NC), and Pete Olson (R-TX). The resolution now has the support of 178 House members.
The Local Radio Freedom Act counters the Performance Right Act, now before the House and Senate, which would for the first time impose performance royalties on U.S. broadcast radio. An identical anti-royalties resolution has been introduced in the Senate.
NAB EVP Dennis Wharton said, "Local radio stations are deeply appreciative of the growing opposition in Congress to the mindless and misguided record-label campaign to decimate the music industry's greatest promotional partner -- free and local radio."
Earlier this week, the NAB unveiled a 60-second radio spot headed "Don't Feed the Fat Cat," opposing the performance royalty. The spot and more info are available at the NAB advocacy site www.noperformancetax.org.
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