Pelosi Supports Performer’s Radio Royalties for Artists and Labels
Performance rights advocates in Washington seeking royalties from terrestrial radio stations for music artists and labels added a House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a powerful ally to their roster of supporters.
Speaking last week to the Recording Academy’s “GRAMMY on the Hill” event, Speaker Pelosi voiced her support of performers’ rights.
“You have an army of advocates standing by your side – from both parties – on Capitol Hill. Whether it’s Chairman Howard Berman; or ‘GRAMMY on the Hill’ award winners Senator Durbin and Congressman Issa; or artists leading the charge – the rights of performers are not forgotten,” said Pelosi.
Speaker Pelosi’s endorsement, which came shortly after the Obama adminstration’s endorsement of PRA, also got the attention of the Performance Rights Act’s opponents in the broadcast industry. Speaking with nationally-syndicated radio host Tom Joyner and co-host Roland Martin, Pelosi explained:
“There has to be a fair way to deal with this, because many of these performers are women, are minorities, are people coming in to it. The ones who need this the most are not the most successful and wealthy among them, they are the people starting out in it.”
For Speaker Pelosi’s full comments, visit: http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1634