Radio companies could pay as much as $500 million a year in royalties to record labels and artists if new legistlation is passed. Artists such as Bono and Tony Bennett spoke out in favor of the bill at a recent Congressional briefing. Radio already pays out millions of dollars to songwriters and publishers.

Radio companies argue that they are already promoting and marketing artists for the labels by playing their music. Others say music promotes radio these days since people learn about music from so many different sources.

Shouldn’t radio pay performance royalties? Absolutely. Songwriters get paid and the one singing the song should get paid.