Gene Simmons Talks American Music Fairness Act
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Bloomberg Audio Studios. Podcasts. Radio. News. We zero in specifically on the connection between Washington and the music industry. Regulation. And I'll point you no further. Then an op-ed in the Washington Post, the headline, Congress, I have a plea for you. It was written by Gene Simmons. Yes, that Gene Simmons, who was on stage at the Kennedy Center last weekend, the Kennedy Center Awards. You saw him in the Oval Office with Donald Trump. And you also saw him testifying on Capitol Hill yesterday before the Judiciary Committee for something called the AMFA Act. This is about music fairness, royalties. Listen to what he said.
How do we dare come in second to Russia, an alleged country led by a despot, when they do a better job of paying our king of rock and roll, and we're going to stand by and not pay today's artists and fans? future artists because let's face it our children are tomorrow's stars it got to change this now for our children and our children's children and i know you will the president will sign this once all you guys respectfully get your act together and put this across the board let's do the right thing god bless america
He's talking about the American Music Fairness Act's proposed legislation that may or may not get a floor vote. But of course, with the support of the president, that would go a long way. It's got the support of Gene Simmons, and he's with us right now in studio. You spent the week in Washington. Thanks for making us part of it.
Well, it's my pleasure. And people are shocked. I'll try to encapsulate what all this is for. I know that's a big word like gymnasium. Look, I don't care what kind of music you listen to, but the American music, let's just stop at that point. American music means we created and invented the music of planet Earth. Rock and roll, blues, jazz, hip hop, country and western, all invented and created here. Our stars are the stars of planet Earth. You can go to Africa and hear, you ain't nothing but a, no matter where you go. Every Christmas, everywhere around the world, people listen to Bing Crosby, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. written by Irving Berlin. The astonishing, stunning, and shameful fact is that no matter who you hear on AM and FM radio, they're getting zero pennies for the airplay.
So let's play a game. Who's your favorite recording artist? Kiss. No, come on. Somebody from the past, present, or future.
All right, Jimi Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix has never in his entire career or now ever gotten paid a single penny when his music is played on AM and FM radio. The stunning fact is that the Russians and some other countries actually do pay performing artists on radio.
Mm-hmm.
land radio, AM, FM, and Americans do not. And this has got to change and should change. Look, I make a living and people of my age who've climbed the mountain, clawed and scratched their way to the top, we're blessed by the American dream because it is alive and I'm living proof of it. So I make a living, but the new artists, every penny counts. And the fact that they can be played on radio and not even make one penny for their performance is criminal as far as I'm concerned.
So this is surprising to a lot of people. We're on the radio right now. You see that big radio mic in front of you? It's such a good radio show, Gene. They put it on TV.
What is the American Music Fairness Act and why is it important?
And I've been knocking around the radio business for a minute. We hear about BMI and ASCAP fees. Has this always been the case, or was it simply an exchange? You play my music for exposure, for publicity, and I sell tickets and I sell albums, and that's now out of balance.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–4:30
2
What is the American Music Fairness Act and why is it important?
4:30–12:06
3
How does Gene Simmons describe the current state of artist compensation?
12:06–15:06
4
Why are artists not paid for their music on AM and FM radio?
15:06–16:06
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Bloomberg Talks
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