Letter Urges Senators to Support the Local Radio Freedom Act

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, August 2, 2022

U.S. Congress

A letter from two Senators is urging colleagues to co-sponsor the Local Radio Freedom Act, which opposes "any new performance fee, tax, royalty or other charge" on local broadcast radio stations. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Barrasso (R-WY) wrote that 27 Senators have co-sponsored the bill, and that sponsoring it "would show your support for the important local news, reporting and public safety functions that free, local radio stations in your state provide to your constituents."

Heinrich and Barrasso also wrote that in supporting the bill, "the Senate reaffirms its long-held support for maintaining well-resourced, financially stable local radio stations so that they can continue to be the local, trustworthy and timely First Informers upon which our constituents rely," and warn that if a performance royalty is instituted, "such fees will contribute to upending the mutually beneficial economic relationship that has existed for nearly a century, whereby artists and record labels receive valuable free promotion of their music through free airplay on local radio stations."

The Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA) also has 208 co-sponsors in the House.