Boyz II Men & 300 Artists Unite for Music Fairness Act 🎶

Boyz II Men took their campaign for fair compensation to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to endorse the American Music Fairness Act. Supported by a letter featuring the signatures of over 300 artists, the iconic R&B group met with influential congressional leaders to advocate for long-overdue royalties owed to musicians whose works drive the profitability of the radio industry.

The letter, which was presented to lawmakers, includes the signatures of artists across various generations and genres, such as Aerosmith, Barbra Streisand, Becky G, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Carole King, Celine Dion, Darius Rucker, David Foster, Elvis Costello, Gene Simmons, George Strait, Gloria Estefan, James Taylor, Jewel, Joan Jett, Josh Groban, Lil Jon, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mariah Carey, Matchbox Twenty, Miranda Lambert, Ozzy Osbourne, P!nk, Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, TLC, Train, and Weezer.

“We’re honored to be here, speaking with lawmakers and advocating for necessary change,” said Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris. “Artists and musicians dedicate themselves to creating music that brings joy to people. It is unacceptable that major radio corporations earn billions from advertising revenue while refusing to compensate the artists who make their business viable. Congress must take action.”

The group met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise to urge for reform. The bill, which was introduced in the Senate by Marsha Blackburn, Alex Padilla, Thom Tillis, and Cory Booker, and in the House by Darrell Issa, Jerry Nadler, Mark Green, Tom McClintock, and Ted Lieu, seeks to address a loophole that has permitted corporate radio to deny payments to artists.

Randy Travis, who can no longer perform due to a stroke, testified last year before the House Intellectual Property Subcommittee about how the bill would affect artists’ livelihoods. Others have also shown support. Carly Simon, a signatory, highlighted the evolution of radio’s role. “Radio once provided exposure for emerging artists, but that’s no longer the reality. Nowadays, AM/FM stations accrue billions in ad revenue without compensating the musicians whose talent attracts listeners. This needs to change.”

The proposed legislation represents a reasonable solution. Nearly two-thirds of radio stations would only be required to pay $500 per year for limitless music usage. The bill enjoys widespread bipartisan support, as well as backing from organizations including the Alliance for Community Media, Common Frequency, Media Alliance, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Prometheus Radio Project, and REC Networks.

Boyz II Men’s letter highlights the United States’ failure to provide compensation to artists for AM/FM radio plays, putting it in the same company as North Korea, Cuba, and Iran as one of the few countries not paying royalties. This outdated policy results in an estimated $300 million loss in international revenue for American musicians each year.

For decades, corporate broadcasters have taken advantage of a legal loophole to profit while artists go unpaid. Every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter has supported performance royalties. A recent survey from the musicFirst Coalition revealed that 73% of Americans believe artists should be compensated when their songs are played on the radio.

Boyz II Men’s message is unequivocal: it’s time for Congress to remedy this injustice and bring the U.S. in line with the rest of the world.