# Plain Language Summary: Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act

This resolution is Congress saying it won't create a new fee that radio stations would have to pay whenever they play music on the air. Right now, radio stations don't pay a performance fee to recording artists or music labels just for broadcasting their songs—they only pay fees to songwriters and composers. This resolution expresses support for keeping that system the same and opposing any new charges that would require local radio stations to pay recording companies every time a song plays.

The main argument behind this resolution is that local radio stations already help the music industry in valuable ways. When a radio station plays a song, it's essentially giving free advertising to the artist and the record label. That airplay helps sell concert tickets, music downloads, merchandise, and builds fans' interest in new artists. The resolution argues this promotional benefit is worth more than any performance fee would be, and that the current arrangement has worked well for decades.

The resolution also emphasizes what local radio stations do for their communities beyond playing music. Radio stations provide emergency alerts during natural disasters, broadcast local news and weather, air public service announcements, and donate airtime to charities and local fundraising efforts. The concern is that if radio stations had to pay new performance fees to music labels, they'd have less money to spend on these community services. Small businesses like restaurants, bars, and retail shops that play music would face similar new costs, which could affect their operations and ultimately raise prices for consumers.

This is a statement of congressional intent rather than a law that changes anything immediately. It's essentially Congress saying "we don't think radio stations should have to pay new performance fees," but it doesn't prevent future Congress members from changing their minds or passing actual legislation that would impose such fees.

Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.

Castor, Kathy

 <p>This concurrent resolution declares 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.</p>