TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Feb 7, 2025

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators — including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina. and Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey — have introduced the American Music Fairness Act, a bill that would ensure artists and music creators are paid when their songs are played on AM/FM radio, the Tennessean reports. The legislation would require traditional radio stations to pay royalties to American musicians for on-air plays, though the exact payment amounts have not yet been established. Smaller stations, as well as college and non-commercial stations, would be exempt from full payments and instead pay a smaller annual fee for unlimited music use.