This concurrent resolution, titled Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act, says Congress should not impose any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge for playing sound recordings on local over-the-air radio stations. It also says Congress should not impose such a fee on businesses that play local radio broadcasts. The resolution lists reasons for this stance, including that local radio gives free promotion to performers and recordings, provides local news, weather, public service announcements, and emergency information, and that many small radio stations and other businesses could face economic hardship if a new fee were imposed. The resolution was introduced in the Senate on March 3, 2025, referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and sponsored by Senator John Barrasso and other Senators.
The resolution expresses that Congress should not create new charges tied to the public performance of sound recordings on local over-the-air radio. If lawmakers follow this statement, local radio stations and businesses that play local radio would not be required to pay the kinds of new fees or royalties the resolution opposes. The text emphasizes potential impacts on local news, emergency broadcasts, and promotional airplay for musicians.
No publicly available information on specific costs, budget estimates, or economic modeling is included in the resolution text or the provided metadata.
The resolution says proponents believe the current system creates a mutually beneficial relationship between local radio and the recording industry. It argues that local radio provides free publicity and promotion for artists and recordings, delivers essential local news, weather, and emergency information, and that imposing new fees would cause severe economic hardship for many local stations and other small businesses that play radio.
No publicly available information in the resolution text or provided metadata describes opponents' views or arguments in favor of imposing a new performance fee.