* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
esolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Welch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
In Opposition to Federal Legislation - S. 379/H.R. 848 - Performance Rights Act
FOR the purpose of expressing opposition to the Performance Rights Act that would make radio stations pay royalties to all artists and musicians who participated in the recording of a song when the song is played on AM and FM radio, requesting the Honorable Members of the Maryland Delegation to the 111th Congress to oppose the legislation, and respectfully urging the President of the United States to veto the legislation should Congress adopt any provision of the Performance Rights Act.
body
Recitals
The Performance Rights Act, if passed, would require radio stations to pay a fee to everyone who performs on a recording, from the composer to the artist or artists, to the background musicians and singers, and to the person or company that owns the copyright to the song. Satellite radio, internet radio, and cable TV music channels currently pay fees to performers and songwriters. AM and FM radio stations, however, pay royalties only to the songwriters – not the performers.
In presenting the legislation to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, which has reported the bill favorably, the sponsor stated, in part : “ ...the current situation is not fair to recording artists, musicians or the recording labels. When we hear a song on the r...
Click here for full text