Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Radio Royalty Critics Gain Steam

A non-binding resolution opposing legislation that would end a long-standing royalty exemption granted to AM and FM radio has gained majority support in the House. The measure, which was sponsored by Texas Reps. Gene Green, a Democrat, and Republican Mike Conaway, had 219 cosponsors as of Tuesday, aides said. The latest additions that put it over the 50 percent mark were Reps. Ron Kind, D-Wis.; Bob Inglis, R-S.C.; Dale Kildee, D-Mich.; Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla.; Leonard Lance, R-N.J.; Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.; Harry Teague, D-N.M.; Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M.; Ed Royce, R-Calif.; and Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa. In the 110th Congress, Green's resolution gathered more than 220 backers.

"This is our base whip list," Green said in a recent interview. "This is nonbinding but if someone signs on and votes another way, they'd have to explain that to a lot of constituents." If the House royalty bill, which is sponsored by Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and has already cleared his committee, makes it onto the floor, Green said he hopes he will have enough supporters to vote it down. News of the mounting opposition came as Conyers hosted a town hall meeting in Detroit aimed at drumming up support for his bill, which would give a boost to performers and record labels. Minority owned Radio One, which has several stations in the Motor City has panned the measure, arguing it could put some broadcasters out of business.

Meanwhile, the MusicFirst Coalition, which supports the Conyers bill, circulated an annotated side-by-side comparison [PDF] of the legislation and Green's resolution on Monday in an attempt to debunk critics' claims. A number of changes were made during House Judiciary Committee deliberations that proponents believe would lessen the burden on small and medium-sized stations as well as minority broadcasters.