Just weeks after iHeart was discovered paying Ted Cruz's PAC $630,000 for his podcast, the company is returning to Congress to capitalize on its investment.
Today (April 30), Congress will convene a hearing to mandate car companies to include AM radio in every new car, all without compensating artists for their creations!
Corporate radio giants, like iHeart, annually splurge millions of dollars on Washington lobbyists and campaign contributions to thwart the passage of the American Music Fairness Act, which aims to remunerate artists for their music. AM radio broadcasts over 240 million songs each year, yet artists receive no compensation for their work!
While iHeart argues against Congressional mandates to pay artists for their music, they readily advocate for mandates to ensure the perpetuation of AM radio in cars. For iHeart and others, ensuring their profits from AM/FM radio remains untouched is paramount, but compensating artists for their creations seems less pressing.
Artists deserve fair compensation for their music aired on AM/FM radio.