The Local Radio Freedom Act is gaining more support in the U.S. House of Representatives, as nearly half of all members have now signed as co-sponsors. The resolution, introduced in late October by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX) and Mike Conaway (R-TX), opposes the idea of levying a fee on radio broadcasters for the music they play. Support for the resolution now stands at 201 members.

"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 House Concurrent Resolution 244. Recent co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act include Reps. Peter J. Roskam (R-IL), Phil English (R-PA), Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Jason Altmire (D-PA), John Kline (R-MN), Thomas Reynolds (R-NY) and many others.

Conversely, many artists have rallied in favor of the performance right, saying that they are being denied payments in the U.S. that they receive in most other countries. In February, more than 6,000 artists from more than 15 countries delivered a petition to Congress urging the prompt enactment of the legislation. Artists from Australia, Argentina, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico and more signed the petition and added their names to a coalition within the U.S. music community – the musicFIRST Coalition – which advocates the change in U.S. policy.