Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and John Barrasso (R-WY) have sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) expressing opposition to the Performance Rights Act, which was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday, October 15. "By many estimations, passage of this legislation would result in potentially billions of dollars flowing from local broadcasters to the recording industry and would have a devastating impact on the local radio broadcasting system as we know it," Sens. Lincoln and Barrasso wrote.

They went on to point out the dire economic times that the radio industry has been facing. "The economic challenges facing the radio industry are daunting, but an even graver threat to free radio's future in currently being pushed in the form of new performance fees," they wrote. "We believe that artists and their labels are currently more than fairly compensated by local radio stations in the form of free and unparalleled promotion." 

The Senators said that imposing a fee on local broadcasters would "fundamentally change free radio," and that many music stations would be forced to flip to talk formats rather than paying fees to air music. "At the end of the day, this will result in less music being played on the radio," they wrote.

Lincoln and Barrasso concluded by saying, "This legislation clearly evokes strong opposition that transcends party affiliation. As leaders of our two parties, we ask that you oppose any effort to move this bill, either as a stand alone measure or as part of a broader legislative package."

Lincoln and Barrasso are original co-sponsors of the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing the Performance Rights Act, which has gained bipartisan support from 26 U.S. Senators and 251 House lawmakers.