Legislative Update - January 2008

New Performance Rights Act Introduced

In the coming session of Congress there will be an effort to pass H.R. 4789 (Performance Rights Act), which will create a public performance right in sound recordings, which record companies and artists feel should be enacted. While we at ASCAP are sympathetic to the artists, we are very anxious to assure that it is written in a way that will not adversely affect the performance income of songwriters and composers. Moreover, we believe that it must also address other important concerns of songwriters.

H. Con. Res. 244 was created for Broadcasters who oppose H.R. 4789. This resolution, written using standard broadcaster arguments for avoiding payments to artists, is simply a device to encourage opposition to the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 4789).

The struggle over this legislation is likely to take a considerable amount of time and energy, and ASCAP will be closely involved in order to protect the interests of its members and all songwriters and publishers.