PRIA Logo™
119-hr-861119th CongressWALLET

American Music Fairness Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

Introduced

Summary

A new federal performance right for audio transmissions of sound recordings. It would fold terrestrial radio into a licensing and royalty framework and reset how royalties are set and shared across artists, songwriters, and broadcasters.

Show full summary
  • Artists and songwriters: Would create an affirmative performance right for audio-only sound recordings so featured and nonfeatured artists receive royalty revenue from transmissions, while explicitly preserving songwriters' existing public-performance rights.
  • Small terrestrial broadcasters: Would get tiered, protective fees that start as low as $10 per year for the smallest stations and are available to stations with prior-year revenue under $1.5 million and owners with aggregate revenue limits.
  • Licensing and rate process: When a direct license covers transmissions the transmitting entity would pay 50% of total royalties to the designated collective, and Copyright Royalty Judges would run expedited rate proceedings and then repeat them every five years while weighing radio's promotional value when setting rates.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New royalties for radio and streams

This bill would create a public performance right when sound recordings are sent by audio transmission. It would cover digital and analog audio, including AM/FM radio, but not video. The Copyright Royalty Judges would set rates soon after enactment, effective from that date through December 31, 2028, and repeat every five years. First payments would not come due until the Judges set the initial payment dates. Judges would weigh market and programming facts, like whether airplay replaces or promotes music sales. If a direct license covers transmissions that would otherwise be under the statutory license, the transmitter would send 50% of those royalties to the designated collective for artist payouts.

Flat royalty fees for small stations

If enacted, qualifying AM/FM stations would pay a flat yearly royalty. Stations under $100,000 in prior-year revenue would pay $10. Public stations with $100,000 to under $1,500,000 would pay $100. Non‑public stations in that range would pay $500. The owner’s total related-company revenue must be under $10,000,000 last year. You would need to certify to the designated nonprofit by January 31 each year. Revenue must follow GAAP and be allocated reasonably among affiliated stations.

Songwriter royalties stay the same

If enacted, this would not cut or change public performance rights for songwriters. It would not reduce royalties owed to owners of musical works.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48]

CA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/31/2025

  • Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/31/2025

  • Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/31/2025

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/31/2025

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/4/2025

  • Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/4/2025

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/18/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 6/2/2025

  • Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2026

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/23/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation