US EditionGene Simmons Testifies on Bill to Pay Artists for Radio Play: ‘If You Are Against This Bill, You Are Un-American’
Gene Simmons testified for the American Music Fairness Act to require radio companies to pay artists for sound recordings, addressing a decades-old royalty gap affecting young performers.
- On Dec. 9, Gene Simmons, co-founder and bass player of KISS, testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, calling artist pay under the American Music Fairness Act a matter of patriotism and saying, `If you are against this bill, you are un-American.`
- Longstanding rules leave radio paying performance rights organizations but not record labels and performing artists for over‑the‑air plays, prompting the American Music Fairness Act to require payment by radio stations.
- During Tuesday's hearing, Sen. Marsha Blackburn told Henry Hinton his station is `causing harm` to musicians, while Simmons traded barbs with broadcasters.
- Chairman Darrell Issa , subcommittee chairman, warned lawmakers had grown impatient, signaling Congress could intervene more harshly, while Sen. Adam Schiff acknowledged broadcasters' financial pressures as Michael Huppe urged senators to reject broadcasters' longstanding talking points.
- Proponents say the measure would send new revenue to young performing artists, while opponents argue local broadcasters face competition from streaming services that recoup costs through subscriptions.
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Kiss bassist Gene Simmons says music artists are treated 'worse than slaves' because radio doesn't pay them
The 2025 Kennedy Center honoree spoke at a Senate subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C.Ethan Miller/Getty Gene Simmons is slamming radioKiss bassist and frontman Gene Simmons wants to feel more love from the radio — in his bank account.While the group's songs, such as "Rock and Roll All Night" and "I Was Made for Lovin' You," still receive airplay, the artists aren't compensated for it.Simmons spoke in support of changing that Tuesday when he…
With US radio stations making $14 billion, it’s time for them to stop robbing musicians, says Gene Simmons
It was Gene Simmons’ turn yesterday to tell US Congress why American radio stations should finally start paying royalties to artists and record labels, rather than continuing to exploit a rather large and lucrative loophole in US copyright law. Unlike most countries, US law does not provide the owners of sound recording copyrights with control over the conventional broadcast of their music, meaning American AM/FM radio stations do not need licen…
In an angry statement to the Senate, Gene Simmons denounced the US radio rights system as "inhumane", claiming that legends such as Elvis and Sinatra "were never paid a dollar" for their performances.
Michael Huppe & Gene Simmons Testify Before Congress For American Music Fairness Act
Yesterday (Dec. 9), Gene Simmons and SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe appeared [...] The post Michael Huppe & Gene Simmons Testify Before Congress For American Music Fairness Act appeared first on MusicRow.com.
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