House Majority+40 Support Airplay Royalty Opposition

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House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) are the latest House co-sponsors of a bipartisan Congressional resolution opposing a royalty fee on free local radio airplay. The Local Radio Freedom Act is now backed by 258 House lawmakers, 40 more than a House majority.

Underscoring the importance of radio airplay, recording artist Chris Brown recently recorded an online audio message essentially begging his fans to keep him relevant with radio airplay. "Some radio station's aren't playing my records," Brown told his fans in the audio message. "They're not being as supportive, and I wouldn't expect them too. My singing, my music, it's all great, and I do it for y'all, and I do it for the love and everything else, but it won't be possible if I'm not relevant on the radio."

On Thursday (3-11), a lawsuit filed by Pink Floyd against their London-based record label, EMI Group, over online royalty payments and the sale of single tracks came to an end. According to news reports, a court decision will prevent EMI from selling single downloads from the band's albums. The outcome of the royalty issue was delivered in private after EMI submitted an application citing commercial confidentiality, according to The Financial Times.

Pink Floyd is the latest group in a long line of musicians who have filed lawsuits against their record label to recoup allegedly unpaid royalties, including the Beatles, Cher, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and the estates of Count Basie and Benny Goodman.