The US Music Industry's Long-Running Radio Pay Dispute: Why Artists Still Get Screwed
The United States is the only major music market where artists don't receive payment when their songs are played on FM/AM radio. This peculiar situation has its roots in outdated laws, which have shaped American radio for over a century.
Michael Huppe, CEO of SoundExchange, joins host Kristin Robinson to unpack the complex history of radio, from payola scandals that once marred the industry to the rise of consolidation and the decline of tastemaker status in the streaming era. With AI-generated radio personalities and data-driven decisions on the horizon, the future of radio looks uncertain.
Despite its waning popularity, with around 8 out of 10 Americans tuning in to AM or FM radio each week, according to Pew Research, the industry still faces a significant issue: artists not receiving fair compensation for their music being played on terrestrial radio. This is a far cry from the past, when artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles commanded exorbitant fees for airplay.
Huppe breaks down how satellite and online radio have changed the game, with platforms like Sirius XM offering targeted stations that cater to specific niches. However, this shift has also led to a decline in revenue for traditional terrestrial radio.
One key player in addressing this issue is SoundExchange, an organization dedicated to collecting royalties on behalf of artists in the US music industry. Huppe's efforts aim to promote fairness and transparency, particularly through initiatives like the American Music Fairness Act.
The conversation delves into the complexities of the modern music landscape, where streaming services have dominated the airwaves. As radio listeners increasingly turn to apps and online platforms, it remains to be seen whether traditional terrestrial radio can reclaim its place in the industry.
With AI-generated content on the rise, one thing is clear: the future of radio will require innovative solutions to stay relevant. Will SoundExchange's efforts yield significant changes? Only time will tell, but for now, artists continue to miss out on fair compensation for their music being played on terrestrial radio.
The United States is the only major music market where artists don't receive payment when their songs are played on FM/AM radio. This peculiar situation has its roots in outdated laws, which have shaped American radio for over a century.
Michael Huppe, CEO of SoundExchange, joins host Kristin Robinson to unpack the complex history of radio, from payola scandals that once marred the industry to the rise of consolidation and the decline of tastemaker status in the streaming era. With AI-generated radio personalities and data-driven decisions on the horizon, the future of radio looks uncertain.
Despite its waning popularity, with around 8 out of 10 Americans tuning in to AM or FM radio each week, according to Pew Research, the industry still faces a significant issue: artists not receiving fair compensation for their music being played on terrestrial radio. This is a far cry from the past, when artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles commanded exorbitant fees for airplay.
Huppe breaks down how satellite and online radio have changed the game, with platforms like Sirius XM offering targeted stations that cater to specific niches. However, this shift has also led to a decline in revenue for traditional terrestrial radio.
One key player in addressing this issue is SoundExchange, an organization dedicated to collecting royalties on behalf of artists in the US music industry. Huppe's efforts aim to promote fairness and transparency, particularly through initiatives like the American Music Fairness Act.
The conversation delves into the complexities of the modern music landscape, where streaming services have dominated the airwaves. As radio listeners increasingly turn to apps and online platforms, it remains to be seen whether traditional terrestrial radio can reclaim its place in the industry.
With AI-generated content on the rise, one thing is clear: the future of radio will require innovative solutions to stay relevant. Will SoundExchange's efforts yield significant changes? Only time will tell, but for now, artists continue to miss out on fair compensation for their music being played on terrestrial radio.
soundexchange is tryin tho but its just not enough to combat the decline of terrestrial radio...and now theres ai generated content comin in and its like wut is happenin to music as we know it? anyway, artists deserve better than some scraps from the radio industry...like elvis presley used to make bank off airplay lol.
. Makes no sense to me. Even with AI-generated content coming in, traditional radio needs to figure out how to make it work for creators, not just corporate interests 
.
. I mean, the US is the only major market where artists don't get paid when their songs are played? That's just outdated and unfair. And it's not like they're playing their music on some obscure pirate station - these are popular artists who should be getting fair compensation for their work.
. And with AI-generated content on the rise, I'm not sure traditional radio can even compete anymore 
. It's time for some innovative solutions that put artists first 
.
soundexchange is trying to help tho so props to them for promoting fairness and transparency 
like his efforts are for the win and all but idk how much of a difference it'll make cuz atm streaming services are still killing traditional radio 
anyway AI-generated radio personalities can't save terrestrial radio from its own demise lol
. SoundExchange is trying to shake things up, but it's a tough nut to crack. I'm all for promoting fairness and transparency, but we need to see some real changes before artists can start feeling confident about their royalties 
- think about it, who's profiting from this stuff? 
. SoundExchange is trying to make a difference, but it feels like just another band-aid solution 
. We need some real change here 
!
But seriously, it's time for change. The American Music Fairness Act is a step in the right direction, so fingers crossed!