A concurrent resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 9 Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 29, 2021 Mr. HEINRICH (for himself, Mr. BARRASSO, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. TESTER, Mr. DAINES, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. ERNST, and Mr. CRAPO) submitted the fol- lowing concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act. Whereas the United States enjoys broadcasting and sound re- cording industries that are the envy of the world due to the symbiotic relationship that has existed among these industries for many decades; Whereas, for nearly a century, Congress has rejected re- peated calls by the recording industry to impose a per- formance fee on local radio stations for simply playing music on the radio, as such a fee would upset the mutu- ally beneficial relationship between local radio and the re- cording industry; Whereas local radio stations provide free publicity and pro- motion to the recording industry and performers of music in the form of radio airplay, interviews with performers, VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Apr 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC9.IS SC9 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •SCON 9 IS introduction of new performers, concert promotions, and publicity that promotes the sale of music, concert tickets, ring tones, music videos, and associated merchandise; Whereas committees in the Senate and the House of Rep- resentatives have previously reported that ‘‘the sale of many sound recordings and the careers of many per- formers have benefitted considerably from airplay and other promotional activities provided by both noncommer- cial and advertiser-supported, free over-the-air broad- casting’’; Whereas local radio broadcasters provide tens of thousands of hours of essential local news and weather information during times of national emergencies and natural disas- ters, as well as public affairs programming, sports, and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of time for public service announcements and local fund raising efforts for worthy charitable causes, all of which are jeopardized if local radio stations are forced to divert revenues to pay for a new performance fee; Whereas there are many thousands of local radio stations that will suffer severe economic hardship if any new per- formance fee is imposed, as will many other small busi- nesses that play music, including bars, restaurants, retail establishments, sports and other entertainment venues, shopping centers, and transportation facilities; and Whereas the hardship that would result from a new perform- ance fee would hurt businesses in the United States and ultimately the consumers in the United States who rely on local radio for news, weather, and entertainment, and such a performance fee is not justified when the current system has produced the most prolific and innovative VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Apr 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC9.IS SC9 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •SCON 9 IS broadcasting, music, and sound recording industries in the world: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 1 concurring), That Congress should not impose any new 2 performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge— 3 (1) relating to the public performance of sound 4 recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting 5 sound recordings over the air; or 6 (2) on any business for the public performance 7 of sound recordings on a local radio station broad- 8 cast over the air. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Apr 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SC9.IS SC9 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS