The Full Performance Right Argument

The Full Performance Right Argument

Radio is an industry that has been around for many decades. People mainly use radio for listening to music played by artists and musicians of all kinds. The article “Pay for Play” from The Houston Chronicle, written on March 14, 2008, argues the full value of the performance right on radio stations. The article came to the conclusion that local radio stations should compensate musicians and artists for playing their music over the radio.

In the beginning of the article, the first premise is raised - that all other forms of radio, such as satellite and internet radio stations compensate the artists and musicians for allowing them to play their music. The author goes on to support this statement by giving background information and facts. The major supporting detail is that of a digital performance right, which allows any recording that is broadcasted by satellite and internet radio has to be paid for. However, the digital performance right does not include everything. In order for musicians and artists in The United States to be fully compensated for broadcasting of all of their work, they would have to have what is known as the full performance right. Unfortunately, in the United States all performers only have a digital performance act, therefore radio stations all over the world could play their recordings, and the artist not receive compensation.

For the second premise, the author states that seeing as how AM and FM radio stations are indeed broadcasting music just like the satellite and internet radios, that they as well should have to compensate artists and musicians. It is pretty clear that regular AM and FM broadcasters are without a doubt classified as a radio stations, therefore they should not be excluded in the performance right. The premise is supported by the fact that radio, satellite, and internet stations are all in the same competitor field, and thus radio should have the same standards, and play by the same rules.

The conclusion to this article is that because music artists receive compensation from satellite and internet radio (premise one), local AM/FM stations are indeed considered radio