Gene Simmons Advocates for Artist Royalties in Radio Airplay at Senate Hearing
Gene Simmons, the bassist of the rock band Kiss, testified before a Senate subcommittee to advocate for the American Music Fairness Act. This proposed legislation aims to ensure that artists receive royalties when their music is played on the radio. Currently, only songwriters are compensated for radio airplay in the U.S., leaving performers without payment. Simmons highlighted the disparity by noting that iconic artists like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley never received royalties for their radio performances. He argued that the U.S. lags behind other countries, such as Russia and China, which compensate both songwriters and performers. The hearing also featured Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange, who supported the bill, and Henry Hinton, a broadcaster who opposed it, citing economic concerns for local radio stations. 
