Bill Text: NJ SR61 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes Congress to pass concurrent resolutions S. Con. Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 49 supporting the "Local Radio Freedom Act" which opposes the imposition of a performance fee on local radio stations.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-10 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [SR61 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR61-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Kyrillos
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes Congress to pass concurrent resolutions S. Con. Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 49 supporting the "Local Radio Freedom Act" which opposes the imposition of a performance fee on local radio stations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution memorializing the United States Congress to pass concurrent resolutions S. Con. Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 49 supporting the "Local Radio Freedom Act" which opposes the imposition of a performance fee on local radio stations.
Whereas, For more than 80 years, radio and the recording industry have enjoyed a mutually beneficial working relationship that has sustained businesses on both sides, that relationship being free play for free promotion; and
Whereas, Radio's free promotion of artists translates to as much as $2.4 billion annually in music sales for record labels and artists, and this statistic does not even include the enormous revenues the recording industry receives from concerts and merchandising; and
Whereas, Record labels-like many businesses-are struggling in this economy, since they have failed to adapt to the digital age, and find their business model is broken, and now they want to impose a performance fee on local radio stations to subsidize their losses; and
Whereas, A performance fee would threaten the local radio stations that communities depend on and would financially constrain stations, stifle new artists, and harm the listening public who rely on free local radio; and
Whereas, Revenues generated from the performance fee would flow out of our community and into the pockets of the major record labels, of which three out of the four are foreign-owned; and
Whereas, The record labels would like the public to think this is all about compensating the artists, but in truth the record labels would get at least 50 percent of the proceeds from a fee imposed on local radio stations; and
Whereas, There are currently two bills pending in the U.S. Congress that would levy a performance fee on local radio stations - H.R.848, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14) and S.379, sponsored by Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (VT); and
Whereas, concurrent resolutions have been introduced in the Senate and House opposing the performance fee in support of local radio, with Sens. Blanche L. Lincoln (AR) and John Barrasso (WY) introducing S. Con. Res. 14, and Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Mike Conaway (TX-11) introducing H. Con. Res. 49; and
Whereas, Both concurrent resolutions, which support the "Local Radio Freedom Act," resolve "that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings"; and
Whereas, It is the duty of this House to serve the interests of the citizens of this State by urging Congress to pass concurrent resolutions S. Con. Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 49 supporting the "Local Radio Freedom Act" which opposes the imposition of a performance fee on local radio stations; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House memorializes the United States Congress to pass concurrent resolutions S. Con. Res. 14 and H. Con. Res. 49 supporting the "Local Radio Freedom Act" which opposes the imposition of a performance fee on local radio stations.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested to by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution memorializes the United States Congress to pass concurrent resolutions S. Con. Res. 14 (sponsored by Sens. Blanche L. Lincoln (AR) and John Barrasso (WY)) and H. Con. Res. 49 (sponsored by Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Michael K. Conaway (TX-11)) supporting the "Local Radio Freedom Act" which opposes the imposition of a performance fee on local radio stations. The Congressional resolutions resolve "that Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge relating to the public performance of sound recordings on a local radio station for broadcasting sound recordings over-the-air, or on any business for such public performance of sound recordings."
There are currently two bills pending in the U.S. Congress, known as the "Performance Rights Act," that would levy a performance fee on local radio - H.R.848, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14) and S.379, sponsored by Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (VT). If enacted, such performance fee would threaten the local radio stations that communities depend on and would financially hamstring stations, stifle new artists, and harm the listening public who rely on free local radio.
