Boyz II Men took their fight for fair compensation to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to pass the American Music Fairness Act. Backed by a letter signed by more than 300 artists, the legendary R&B group met with key congressional leaders to demand long-overdue royalties for musicians whose work fuels the radio industry’s profits.
The letter, delivered to lawmakers, carries signatures from artists across generations and genres, including Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Becky G, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Carole King, Celine Dion, Darius Rucker, David Foster, Elvis Costello, Gene Simmons, George Strait, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, Jewel, Joan Jett, Josh Groban, Lil Jon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mariah Carey, Matchbox Twenty, Miranda Lambert, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, TLC, Train, and Weezer.
“We’re proud to be here, meeting with lawmakers and advocating for change,” said Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris. “Artists and musicians work tirelessly to create music that brings people joy. It’s unacceptable that major radio corporations generate billions in ad revenue while refusing to pay the performers who make their business possible. Congress must act.”
The group met with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise to push for reform. The bill, introduced in the Senate by Marsha Blackburn, Alex Padilla, Thom Tillis, and Cory Booker and in the House by Darrell Issa, Jerry Nadler, Mark Green, Tom McClintock, and Ted Lieu, aims to close a loophole that has long allowed corporate radio to withhold payments from artists.
Randy Travis, who can no longer perform after a stroke, testified last year before the House Intellectual Property Subcommittee about the bill’s impact on artists’ livelihoods. Others have also voiced support. Carly Simon, a signatory, emphasized how radio’s role has changed. “Radio once provided exposure for new artists, but that’s no longer the case. Now, AM/FM stations make billions in ad revenue without paying the musicians whose work draws in listeners. That must change.”
The legislation offers a fair compromise. Nearly two-thirds of radio stations would pay just $500 annually for unlimited music use. The bill has broad bipartisan backing and support from organizations like the Alliance for Community Media, Common Frequency, Media Alliance, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Prometheus Radio Project, and REC Networks.
Boyz II Men’s letter calls out the United States’ failure to pay artists for AM/FM radio plays, placing it alongside North Korea, Cuba, and Iran as one of the only nations withholding royalties. This outdated policy costs American musicians nearly $300 million annually in lost international revenue.
For decades, corporate broadcasters have exploited a legal loophole to profit while artists remain unpaid. Every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter has supported performance royalties. A recent poll from the musicFirst Coalition found that 73% of Americans agree artists should be paid when their songs air on the radio.
Boyz II Men’s message is clear: it’s time for Congress to correct this injustice and bring the U.S. in line with the rest of the world.
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