Every day, 173 million Americans rely on radio to entertain them.  All for free.

Combined, Americans own more than 1 billion radios, and there’s usually one nearby you — wherever you are. That’s why, in a crisis, Americans turn to radio for help.  

Radio doesn’t only help the community, it helps artists, providing them with the exposure and free promotion that have been launching mega-stars for years.  The record labels that represent these artists have also benefited through record sales and concert promotions.

But in recent years, the international record labels have struggled to adapt to a new digital world. Now, the record labels are asking Congress to impose a new tax on local radio stations; though the tax is limited to radio today, the recording industry will eventually press for the tax to be placed on all venues that play recorded music, such as restaurants, bars and retail stores.  In the July 31 hearing, Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters expressed her view that all commercial entities should be subject to a performance tax. Some press and analyst reports claim this tax could mean an extra $2 billion to $7 billion dollars each year into the pockets of record label executives.

Keep radio in your community free and strong. Oppose a new tax on free radio.