Music Industry, Broadcasters Meet For Talks
Music industry officials and broadcasting representatives were expected to meet Tuesday afternoon to begin negotiations called for by key members of Congress over legislation that would require AM and FM radio stations to pay a new fee to performers and record labels. House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., and Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and other key lawmakers have requested that music and broadcasting executives come together on Capitol Hill to begin two weeks of negotiations on the issue.
Music industry representatives expected at the talks included Mitch Bainwol, president of the Recording Industry Association of America as well as officials from the American Federation of Musicians, the American Association of Independent Music, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, according to Martin Machowsky, a spokesman for the MusicFIRST coalition, which supports the radio royalty legislation. "We're pleased the discussion is happening," Machowsky said. "We're hopeful that they will be productive but that remains to be seen." He said he also expected some lawmakers and congressional staff to attend the talks.
National Association of Broadcasters spokesman Dennis Wharton said NAB Board Chairman Steve Newberry and NAB Radio Board Chairman Charles Warfield attended the talks for the broadcasters along with officials from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and the Hispanic Broadcasters Association. "We are not characterizing (the talks) as negotiations," Wharton said, saying NAB officials agreed to attend the meeting out of deference to the lawmakers. "We hope to explain the devastating consequences of the legislation if passed." Meanwhile, NAB ran ads in two Capitol Hill publications Tuesday thanking the 252 House lawmakers and 27 U.S. senators for signing on to the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing the radio royalty legislation.
By Juliana Gruenwald
Categories:
Intellectual Property
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