-- 14 more lawmakers back radio;
RIAA opposition now four lawmakers shy of a House majority --

WASHINGTON, DC -- A bipartisan group of 214 House lawmakers, just four lawmakers shy of a House majority, is now on record in opposition to a record label-led effort to begin charging local radio stations a new fee for music aired free to listeners. The mounting opposition comes just weeks after the House Judiciary Committee voted 21-9 in favor of a bill that would levy a new tax on radio stations for music airplay. If enacted, the legislation would direct 50 percent of the new fee to the record label companies. Three of the four largest labels -- EMI, Sony Music and Universal Music -- are based outside the United States.

Adding their support to The Local Radio Freedom Act, a Congressional counter-measure aimed at thwarting the label-sought fees, are Reps. Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Leonard Lance (NJ-7), Shelley Berkley (NV-1), Gus Bilirakis (FL-9), Dale Kildee (MI-5), Jean Schmidt (OH-2), Christopher Smith (NJ-4), Brian Bilbray (CA-50), John Sarbanes (MD-3), Vern Buchanan (FL-13), David Price (NC-4), Ike Skelton (MO-4), Harry Teague (NM-2) and Phil Roe (TN-1). The 14 new co-sponsors of the resolution, which opposes "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local radio stations, brings the total co-sponsors to 214 House members.

"As opposition to the multinational record labels nears a House majority, lawmakers are growing acutely aware of this bill's negative impact on both musicians and the millions of listeners to America's hometown radio stations," said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. "Local radio remains an unparalleled provider of free promotion for recording artists, as well as a trusted friend to charities across America. Funneling money from local radio to the foreign record labels will only hurt community-based organizations that rely on broadcasters in times of need."

The Local Radio Freedom Act, unveiled at a February Capitol Hill event hosted by the Free Radio Alliance, was introduced by Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) and Mike Conaway (TX-11). In March, an identical resolution was introduced in the Senate (S. Con. Res. 14) by Sens. Blanche Lincoln (AR) and John Barrasso (WY).

"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," reads The Local Radio Freedom Act.

The bipartisan House resolution now has 214 cosponsors. For a complete list of sponsors, view the entire article at www.noperformancetax.org.