American Music Fairness Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-4130
Sponsor: Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
Introduced: 2021-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Art, artists, authorship
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Intellectual property
Licensing and registrations
Music
Small business
Sound recording
Telecommunication rates and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: 

American Music Fairness Act

 
This bill establishes that the copyright holder of a sound recording shall have the exclusive right to perform the sound recording through an audio transmission and addresses other related issues. (Currently, the public performance right only covers performances through a digital audio transmission in certain instances, which means that nonsubscription terrestrial radio stations generally do not have to secure a license to publicly perform a copyright-protected sound recording.)
 
Under the bill, a nonsubscription broadcast transmission must have a license to publicly perform such sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board must periodically determine the royalty rates for such a license. When determining the rates, the board must base its decision on certain information presented by the parties, including the radio stations' effect on other streams of revenue related to the sound recordings. 
 
Terrestrial broadcast stations (and the owners of such stations) that fall below certain revenue thresholds may pay certain flat fees, instead of the board-established rate, for a license to publicly perform copyright-protected sound recordings.

action_date: 2022-12-30
text: 

American Music Fairness Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes that the copyright holder of a sound recording shall have the exclusive right to perform the sound recording through an audio transmission and addresses other related issues. (Currently, the public performance right only covers performances through a digital audio transmission in certain instances, which means that nonsubscription terrestrial radio stations generally do not have to secure a license to publicly perform a copyright-protected sound recording.)
 
Under the bill, a nonsubscription broadcast transmission must have a license to publicly perform such sound recordings. The Copyright Royalty Board must periodically determine the royalty rates for such a license. When determining the rates, the board must base its decision on certain information presented by the parties, including the radio stations' effect on other streams of revenue related to the sound recordings. 
 
Terrestrial broadcast stations (and the owners of such stations) that fall below certain revenue thresholds may pay certain flat fees, instead of the board-established rate, for a license to publicly perform copyright-protected sound recordings.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-30
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 509.
action_date: 2022-12-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-693.
action_date: 2022-12-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-693.
action_date: 2022-12-07
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2022-12-07
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-11-16
text: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Nadler asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 4130, a bill originally introduced by Representative Deutch, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-06-24
text: Introduced in House