The topic is a contentious one in the music industry -- a recent push to pay artists for music that is broadcast over AM and FM radio. But the mob scene outside the hearing room was a bit unexpected. The line stretched all the way down the hallway.

There was a great deal of hand-shaking and back-patting, with industry executives and lobbyists presumably swapping stories about where they will be vacationing when Congress adjourns for August.

A flurry of representatives with the musicFirst coalition handed out big olive green buttons to anyone with a free hand. The pins championed their cause better than a press release ever could. They read: "I support a performance right now."

The National Association of Broadcasters, which opposes changes to the provision of copyright law, were buttonless. Perhaps they'll think of another gimmick to spread the word.

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