Boyz II Men, accompanied by over 300 major recording artists, delivered a pivotal letter to Capitol Hill lawmakers advocating for the American Music Fairness Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to ensure artists receive fair compensation when their music is played on AM/FM radio.

Key signatories include Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, P!nk, and numerous other influential artists across various genres. The group met with top lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

The American Music Fairness Act would:

• Require U.S. broadcasters to pay artists for AM/FM radio plays
• Protect small broadcasters by capping fees at $500 annually
• Recover approximately $300 million in foreign royalties currently withheld
• Bring the U.S. in line with other democratic nations' music compensation practices

Under current law, the United States remains one of the few nations, alongside North Korea, Cuba, and Iran, that doesn't require radio stations to pay performance royalties. Despite AM/FM radio stations playing nearly a billion songs annually and generating billions in advertising revenue, artists receive no compensation for airplay.

The legislation has gained strong public support, with 73% of Americans believing the current system is unfair. The bill was introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan group including Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The initiative has received endorsements from:

• Alliance for Community Media
• National Federation of Community Broadcasters
• Prometheus Radio Project
• REC Networks
• Multiple broadcasting organizations

Every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter has supported establishing performance royalties for radio plays, highlighting the longstanding nature of this issue. The legislation aims to modernize music compensation while protecting small broadcasters' ability to continue operating.

For a complete list of the over 300 artists who signed the letter, please refer to the official document submitted to Congress.

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