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Gene Simmons appeared before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property on Tuesday (December 9) to argue that recording artists deserve to be paid when their songs are played on AM/FM radio. The KISS bassist urged lawmakers to support the American Music Fairness Act, legislation that would require major radio broadcasters to compensate performers, background musicians, and vocalists for airplay — something that is not required under current U.S. law.
Calling the situation “an injustice,” Simmons noted that iconic artists throughout history never received a cent for terrestrial radio play. He pointed to Bing Crosby’s perennial hit “White Christmas” as an example, explaining that everyone involved in airing the song — from radio staff to advertisers — earned money except the performer whose voice made the recording famous. Simmons said the same was true for legends like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.
The bill would exempt small and community radio stations with limited revenue while placing compensation requirements on large corporate broadcasters. Simmons framed the issue as one of fairness and even patriotism, insisting it was long overdue and warning that with AI evolving quickly, the industry must update outdated systems before they fall further behind.
He also expressed confidence that President Donald Trump would sign the bill should it pass.
Not everyone at the hearing agreed. Henry Hinton, CEO of Inner Banks Media, argued that radio outlets already face heavy costs, pointing to the royalties stations pay to songwriter organizations like ASCAP and SoundExchange. He warned that additional fees could overwhelm local broadcasters.
Simmons’ testimony followed his receipt of a Kennedy Center Honors medal recognizing his influence in music. He was joined at the hearing by SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe, who also voiced strong support for the bill. Huppe emphasized that, unlike AM/FM radio, every major digital platform — from Spotify to Apple Music to TikTok — already pays performers when their songs are streamed. He noted that administrations from both political parties over the last 50 years have endorsed similar compensation reforms.
SOURCE: News Nation