Boyz II Men Lead Over 300 Artists in Push for the American Music Fairness Act on Capitol Hill
Music Icons Urge Lawmakers to Close a Century-Old Loophole That Denies Artists Royalties from Radio Airplay
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Feb. 13, 2025 – Legendary R&B group Boyz II Men is taking the fight for music industry fairness to Capitol Hill today, delivering a letter signed by more than 300 major recording artists to lawmakers, urging the passage of the American Music Fairness Act (S.326/H.R.861).
The bipartisan legislation aims to require major radio companies to pay artists when their songs are played on AM/FM radio, while still protecting small, local broadcasters. The effort, backed by icons such as Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, P!nk, Ozzy Osbourne, Reba, and Stevie Nicks, seeks to close a 100-year-old loophole that has long prevented musicians from earning performance royalties from terrestrial radio.
The advocacy push coincides with the 14th Annual World Radio Day, an occasion established by the United Nations in 2012 to highlight radio’s role in fostering communication and change around the world.
Artists Demand Fair Compensation
Speaking on behalf of their fellow artists, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanyá Morris of Boyz II Men emphasized the fundamental issue at hand.
“This is about fairness. Artists, musicians, and background vocalists work tirelessly to create the music that radio stations profit from. It’s unacceptable that massive radio corporations can generate billions in advertising revenue while refusing to pay the people responsible for the music they broadcast,” the group stated. “Congress must act now to ensure that artists are properly compensated.”
As part of today’s advocacy efforts, Boyz II Men are meeting with top lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).
Fellow Grammy-winning artist LeAnn Rimes also spoke out in support of the legislation, saying, “Musicians dedicate their lives to creating songs that become the soundtracks of people’s lives. It’s time they get the recognition and financial support they deserve when their music is played on the radio.”
A Bipartisan Legislative Push
The American Music Fairness Act was introduced in the Senate by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), while its House version was put forward by Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Mark Green (R-TN), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA).
Country music legend Randy Travis, who has been unable to perform since suffering a stroke, previously testified before Congress about the importance of the bill, emphasizing how it would provide financial security for artists whose music remains in rotation long after they’ve left the stage.
Carly Simon, another supporter of the legislation, highlighted how times have changed. “There was a time when radio exposure helped up-and-coming artists build careers. But in today’s digital age, discovery happens online, not through AM/FM radio. Meanwhile, radio stations continue making billions from music they don’t pay for. That’s unfair, and it has to stop.”
A Balanced Solution for Artists and Broadcasters
The American Music Fairness Act provides a compromise that benefits both artists and small broadcasters. Under its terms, nearly two-thirds of radio stations would pay no more than $500 per year for unlimited music usage—ensuring that independent and community broadcasters are not burdened by excessive costs.
The bill has received support from a broad coalition of artists, broadcasters, record labels, unions, and advocacy organizations, including:
*Community media organizations, such as the Alliance for Community Media, Common Frequency, Media Alliance, and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters
*The entire recorded music industry, from major labels to independent artists and unions
*Every U.S. presidential administration since Jimmy Carter, which has supported performance rights for artists on terrestrial radio
A recent poll conducted by the musicFIRST Coalition found that 73% of Americans believe it is unfair that artists are not paid for radio airplay, with a 6-to-1 majority supporting legislation to correct this long-standing injustice.
The Fight for Music Fairness
Currently, the U.S. remains one of the few countries in the world—alongside North Korea, Cuba, and Iran—that does not pay performance royalties to artists for AM/FM radio plays. This discrepancy costs American musicians an estimated $300 million annually in lost international royalties, as foreign countries withhold payments to U.S. artists due to the lack of reciprocity.
By passing the American Music Fairness Act, Congress can ensure that artists are finally paid for the music that fuels the radio industry’s success while maintaining fair terms for small broadcasters.
“It’s time for the U.S. to catch up with the rest of the world,” the letter delivered to lawmakers states. “Hard-working artists deserve to be compensated fairly for their work.”
With momentum growing on Capitol Hill, today’s advocacy efforts mark a critical step in the fight to bring long-overdue fairness to the music industry.
