Congressman Cohen Questions Experts at Judiciary Committee Hearing on the American Music Fairness Act

Press Release

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today questioned expert witnesses at a hearing entitled "Respecting Artists with the American Music Fairness Act."

Congressman Cohen is a co-sponsor of H.R. 4130, the American Music Fairness Act, which would establish a terrestrial broadcast performance right for artists when their recordings are played on AM/FM radio. Currently, terrestrial broadcasters pay no performance royalties to the artists who make and produce the songs played on their radio platforms, unlike their satellite broadcasting and internet streaming counterparts.

In his questions to witnesses, Congressman Cohen said he was proud to have Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, a sound engineer, producer, musician, and owner of Royal Studios in Memphis, on the panel. Congressman Cohen inquired into what this new and long overdue revenue stream under the American Music Fairness Act would mean for artists, backing musicians, and producers, as well as why artists have gone uncompensated by terrestrial broadcasters for so long.

See Congressman Cohen's entire line of questioning here.

Besides Mitchell, today's hearing witnesses were:

Gloria Estefan, Singer, Songwriter, Musician, and Recording Artist;
Curtis LeGeyt, President and CEO, National Association of Broadcasters;
Barry Massarsky, Partner and Co-Leader, Music Economics and Valuation Services Practice, Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC; and
Dave Pomeroy, President, Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257.

Source