The AM in Every Vehicle Act has been removed from the federal government funding bill, following opposition from musicians and the musicFirst Coalition. The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about fair compensation for artists in radio broadcasting.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) lobbied extensively for the bill's inclusion, spending over $3 million in their efforts. However, musicians advocated that the bill should only pass alongside the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), which would require radio companies to pay artists royalties for song plays on AM/FM radio.

Key points about the situation:

• The United States remains one of the few industrialized nations not paying artists for AM/FM radio plays
• AM radio plays approximately 240 million songs annually without paying artist royalties
• Radio companies generate over $15 billion in ad revenue while not compensating artists
• AM/FM radio is currently the only music platform legally playing music without artist compensation

Notable artists including David Byrne, Randy Travis, MC Lyte, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and Melle Mel visited Capitol Hill to advocate against passing the AM bill without AMFA.

"This is a major win for all music artists across the country," says Darryl McDaniels. "I'm grateful that congressional leadership stood up for the community of artists at this critical moment."

SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe emphasized that Congress should not mandate radio requirements without ensuring appropriate artist royalties, noting that many backup vocalists and musicians must work additional jobs to survive.

The AMFA, which has strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, remains crucial for establishing fair compensation for artists, bringing U.S. practices in line with other industrialized nations' standards.

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