> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.drewshannon.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# What Do You Think: Should Radio Stations Pay For Performance Rights?
- URL: https://www.drewshannon.net/what-do-you-think-should-radio-stations-pay-for-performance-rights/
- Published: 2010-03-11T21:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2010-03-11T21:00:00.000Z
- Author: Drew Shannon
- Tags: #import-tumblr-2026-08-27, link

Daniel Indiviglio from *The Atlantic* just postedan a column called, “[Should Radio Stations Pay For Performance Rights](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/03/should-radio-stations-pay-for-performance-rights/37329/?ref=drewshannon.net)?”, about a proposed piece of legislation that would require broadcast radio stations to start paying royalties to musical performers every time their song is played, and the debate is quickly heating up. Although terrestrial (AM/FM) radio stations have long paid royalties to the copyright holders, the idea that *performers* should also be paid, is a new one. Whether or not the proposed tax is good or bad for the radio stations, labels, and artists is up for debate, the crux of the debate hinges on the following:

> *“Radio says that the relationship that exists in its current form is perfectly fair: stations can play whatever music they want without compensating the performer, because she benefits through the publicity. Now, people will go out and buy her album or go to her concerts. While a benefit definitely exists there, it’s a little hard to see why radio stations should be able to keep the profit off advertising dollars based on listeners enjoying a product performed by artists who they aren’t giving a cut.”*

This is no doubt a complicated issue, and I can hardly wrap my brain around all the legalese. One the one hand, online and satellite radio stations are already paying performance royalties (a move that almost put Pandora out of business before lower rates were negotiated), which compensates session musicians, among others. Why not make broadcast radio do the same? Understandably, artists are learning to find new ways to be compensated for their work. On the other hand, could this potentially put radio stations out of business or force them to change to talk formats, accelerating the movement of music out of the public consciousness? Radio has long been one of the best promotional tools for the music business, and looking at things now, it’s hard to believe that there was once a time when the music business paid radio stations to play their music (payola anyone?). Other articles on the subject Forbes - [Radio Royalties Fight Heats Up In Washington](http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/08/radio-internet-royalties-business-beltway-radio.html?ref=drewshannon.net) New York Times - [Dispute Heats Up Over Proposed New Fees for Playing Songs on the Radio](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/business/media/08royalty.html?ref=drewshannon.net) **What do you think? Should traditional radio stations be forced to pay royalties to music performers for playing their songs on the air? Let me know in the comments.**