The members of legendary Grammy Award-winning R&B group Boyz II Males visited Capitol Hill on Thursday to satisfy with lawmakers and ship a letter on behalf of and signed by over 300 artists requesting passage of the American Music Equity Act, in line with a press launch shared with TheGrio.
In line with the American Federation of Musicians, the invoice, H.R. 861/S. 326, would guarantee artists are paid at any time when their songs are performed on AM/FM radio stations (terrestrial radio). It might additionally require solely smaller radio stations (these whose income and whose dad or mum corporations fall under a sure threshold) to entry limitless music for lower than $2 a day, amongst different issues.
Boyz II Males, comprised of Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Nathan Morris (no relation), are set to satisfy with Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., Home Democratic chief Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Republican Majority chief Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.
“This is a matter about proper and incorrect. Artists – together with background vocalists and musicians – work onerous to create music that brings pleasure to tens of millions. It’s outrageous that huge radio corporations are capable of make billions of {dollars} annually in adverts whereas denying royalties to the performers whose music attracts listeners within the first place. We hope that Congress will take heed to the voices of artists and cross this invoice,” mentioned the group in a press release.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers launched the American Music Equity Act within the Home and Senate, demonstrating that the difficulty transcends the standard political divide in Washington, D.C.
The invoice has the assist of assorted teams and coalitions, from artists, musicians, main and impartial labels, and unions to broadcast organizations just like the Alliance for Group Media and the Nationwide Federation of Group Broadcasters. Over 300 artists have signed on to the letter delivered by the group ranging in style, type and period, together with Celine Dion, Carly Simon, George Strait, Cyndi Lauper, Gene Simmons, TLC, Kool & The Gang, Lord Finesse, Mariah Carey, Pink Yolanda Adams and MC Lyte, amongst many others.
“Performers spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years engaged on the songs that make up the soundtracks of our lives. They need to be rewarded for that work by the radio companies that play their songs on the air,” mentioned singer LeAnn Rimes.
She shared, “As we speak, the group of music artists is talking with one voice.”
