Active Legislation – 119th Congress
American Music Fairness Act
Closing the AM/FM radio loophole so performers and producers are finally paid when their music is broadcast. The only major music platform that doesn't compensate creators is terrestrial radio
Why AM/FM Radio Must Pay Music Creators
Key facts
Status
Active in 199th Congress
Annual cost to U.S. artists
$200M+ in lost overseas royalties
Small broadcaster protection
As low as $10/year
Countries without performance right
U.S., China, North Korea, Iran
Related legislation
Music Modernization Act (2018)
Traditional AM/FM radio broadcasts music to generate billions in advertising revenue, yet it is the only major music platform in the United States that does not compensate performers and producers for using their sound recordings. Internet radio, satellite radio, cable radio, and streaming services all pay royalties to artists. Terrestrial radio does not.
This disparity costs American artists more than $200 million annually in overseas royalties alone, because most other countries will not pay U.S. artists when their music is played abroad since the U.S. does not recognize a reciprocal performance right.
The American Music Fairness Act would create parity across all music platforms, requiring AM/FM broadcasters to compensate artists at fair market rates. The bill includes protections for small and community broadcasters, with special exemptions that allow qualifying stations to pay as little as $10 per year.
What The Bill Does
AMFA establishes a public performance right for sound recordings on terrestrial radio, meaning artists would be compensated whenever their music is broadcast on AM/FM. It also unlocks hundreds of millions of dollars in overseas royalties that are currently collected but never paid to American artists.
Who Supports the American Music Fairness Act
In December 2025, rock icon Gene Simmons testified before the U.S. Senate in support of the American Music Fairness Act, calling the current system an injustice against music creators. The bill has strong bipartisan support and continues to gain co-sponsors in both chambers of Congress.