ArtistDirect News
Broadcasters Push AM Radio in Cars While Fighting New Royalty Bill in Congress
In the corridors of Washington, broadcasters are pulling double duty—campaigning for every new car to come equipped with an AM radio tuner while simultaneously opposing a proposed royalty bill that would require stations to pay for the music they play.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, introduced in the House as H.R.979 and in the Senate as S.315, seeks to compel the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule mandating AM radio tuners in all new passenger vehicles. The measure has gathered broad bipartisan backing, with 370 co‑sponsors across both chambers. Lawmakers argue that AM radio remains a vital public‑safety tool and a key outlet for diverse voices.
By contrast, the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), introduced as S.326 in the Senate and HR 861 in the House, would amend U.S. copyright law to grant sound‑recording owners an exclusive performance right for broadcasts on AM and FM radio. The bill would force stations to pay royalties for every song aired. While the recording industry has championed the proposal, it has attracted only a handful of co‑sponsors—roughly a dozen—according to congressional data. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), representing more than 8,300 terrestrial stations, has long opposed the royalty measure.
NAB President and CEO Curtis Le Geyt told Inside Radio that meaningful negotiations on the royalty issue remain at a standstill. "There has been no movement," Le Geyt said. "The recording industry hasn’t been willing to come to the table with any proposal outside of their very one‑sided American Music Fairness Act, which would be highly detrimental to the radio industry." He added that attempts to link the AM radio requirement with the royalty bill have stalled, noting the vast difference in congressional support for the two measures.
Le Geyt emphasized that the AM legislation is focused on public‑safety and diversity, whereas the royalty bill addresses music licensing. "Any attempts to try to tie music copyrights to the AM for Every Vehicle Act… is by and large not getting much traction," he said. He cited the disparity in co‑sponsors—370 versus a dozen—as evidence that the two initiatives are distinct.
The political landscape is shifting. In December 2024, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blocked the AM bill from being attached to a must‑pass budget bill, a move that many broadcasters view as a setback. If Democrats win control of the House in November, Jeffries is expected to become Speaker in January, potentially altering the bill’s prospects. Rep. Nanette Barragan of California has said she and Jeffries believe the AM and royalty issues should be linked, but they are currently taking a wait‑and‑see approach.
To counter these developments, NAB organized a fly‑in of broadcasters from 31 states last week, aimed at drawing attention to the AM issue. Le Geyt said the industry will use the momentum to push for the bill’s inclusion in any legislative package. "We are going to ensure that this bill has a lot of different options to get over the finish line," he said. "Whether that is a standalone vote in both the House and the Senate—or it’s connected to larger legislative packages—we’re going to push for this provision’s inclusion in any of them."
Looking ahead, Le Geyt warned that broadcasters should not become complacent. "We’ve been doing this long enough to know that it only takes one Congress for members to advance a bad law," he said. "We’ve got to stay vigilant on this firewall." The NAB plans to continue lobbying for the AM requirement while building a "firewall" against the royalty bill, preparing for potential changes in committee leadership and a new Congress next year.
At present, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act remains the more viable of the two initiatives, with strong bipartisan support and a clear path to passage. The AMFA, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle with limited congressional backing and robust opposition from the broadcast industry. The outcome of these legislative efforts will shape the future of AM radio in vehicles and the financial landscape of radio broadcasting in the United States.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, introduced in the House as H.R.979 and in the Senate as S.315, seeks to compel the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule mandating AM radio tuners in all new passenger vehicles. The measure has gathered broad bipartisan backing, with 370 co‑sponsors across both chambers. Lawmakers argue that AM radio remains a vital public‑safety tool and a key outlet for diverse voices.
By contrast, the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), introduced as S.326 in the Senate and HR 861 in the House, would amend U.S. copyright law to grant sound‑recording owners an exclusive performance right for broadcasts on AM and FM radio. The bill would force stations to pay royalties for every song aired. While the recording industry has championed the proposal, it has attracted only a handful of co‑sponsors—roughly a dozen—according to congressional data. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), representing more than 8,300 terrestrial stations, has long opposed the royalty measure.
NAB President and CEO Curtis Le Geyt told Inside Radio that meaningful negotiations on the royalty issue remain at a standstill. "There has been no movement," Le Geyt said. "The recording industry hasn’t been willing to come to the table with any proposal outside of their very one‑sided American Music Fairness Act, which would be highly detrimental to the radio industry." He added that attempts to link the AM radio requirement with the royalty bill have stalled, noting the vast difference in congressional support for the two measures.
Le Geyt emphasized that the AM legislation is focused on public‑safety and diversity, whereas the royalty bill addresses music licensing. "Any attempts to try to tie music copyrights to the AM for Every Vehicle Act… is by and large not getting much traction," he said. He cited the disparity in co‑sponsors—370 versus a dozen—as evidence that the two initiatives are distinct.
The political landscape is shifting. In December 2024, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blocked the AM bill from being attached to a must‑pass budget bill, a move that many broadcasters view as a setback. If Democrats win control of the House in November, Jeffries is expected to become Speaker in January, potentially altering the bill’s prospects. Rep. Nanette Barragan of California has said she and Jeffries believe the AM and royalty issues should be linked, but they are currently taking a wait‑and‑see approach.
To counter these developments, NAB organized a fly‑in of broadcasters from 31 states last week, aimed at drawing attention to the AM issue. Le Geyt said the industry will use the momentum to push for the bill’s inclusion in any legislative package. "We are going to ensure that this bill has a lot of different options to get over the finish line," he said. "Whether that is a standalone vote in both the House and the Senate—or it’s connected to larger legislative packages—we’re going to push for this provision’s inclusion in any of them."
Looking ahead, Le Geyt warned that broadcasters should not become complacent. "We’ve been doing this long enough to know that it only takes one Congress for members to advance a bad law," he said. "We’ve got to stay vigilant on this firewall." The NAB plans to continue lobbying for the AM requirement while building a "firewall" against the royalty bill, preparing for potential changes in committee leadership and a new Congress next year.
At present, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act remains the more viable of the two initiatives, with strong bipartisan support and a clear path to passage. The AMFA, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle with limited congressional backing and robust opposition from the broadcast industry. The outcome of these legislative efforts will shape the future of AM radio in vehicles and the financial landscape of radio broadcasting in the United States.