Detroit Artists put limelight on demand for royalties from radio stations

Forum today to discuss bill to compensate singers, musicians
Susan Whitall / The Detroit News
A group of artists, including Dionne Warwick, Sam Moore, Motown alums Mary Wilson, Duke Fakir and Martha Reeves and hip-hop artist Rhymefest will take part in a town hall meeting today in Detroit on proposed legislation that would force radio stations to pay royalties to singers and musicians when their songs are played on the air.
The meeting, billed as "Awareness for Fairness," is intended as part of the discussion of the Performance Rights Act in Congress, which was introduced by U.S. Rep John Conyers, D-Detroit.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will include opponents of the bill, including Karole White, president and chief executive of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, and representatives of Radio One, Clear Channel, Greater Media and CBS Radio Detroit.
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The bill was passed through Conyers' House Judiciary Committee in mid-May, but supporters contend that it's not on the fast track to a vote, and there is still time for discussion and negotiation.
Currently, satellite, cable and Internet radio stations pay artists a performance royalty, as do outlets in the European Union. In the United States, AM and FM stations pay royalties for songwriters and music publishers, not performing artists.
"We are artists, and people around the world listen to us -- for free," said Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes. "We do deserve to be compensated."
The former Detroiter was joined by Warwick, Fakir, Reeves and Rhymefest in a meeting Monday with The Detroit News editorial board. The group also included Jennifer Bendall, executive director of the advocacy group MusicFirst, which has mobilized artists to support the bill, and John Simson of Sound Exchange, the nonprofit group that would handle payouts to artists and musicians.
The minority-owned Radio One chain, which owns WCHB-AM, WHTD-FM (Hot 102.7) and WDMK (105.9 Kiss FM) in Detroit, opposes the bill, arguing that it would put economic pressure on minority and female-owned radio stations especially, and even "kill" black radio. Radio One organized a May 13 protest outside Conyers' Detroit office. "Radio One, Clear Channel, Greater Media and CBS, we are all going to be there," said Kathy Stinehour, vice president and general manager for Radio One Detroit. "We hope that we'll have an opportunity to talk; a town hall is supposed to allow questions from the audience, not speeches. This is an opportunity for the congressman to shore up the concerns of the Michigan constituency. We are the vehicle that promotes and launches music in the United States."
Rhymefest, who co-wrote Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" and put out a CD, "Blue Collar," in 2006, complained about ads Radio One stations are running, which he says create the impression minority-owned radio is targeted.
"To make this a racial issue is disingenuous," Rhymefest said, adding that opponents of the provision also are using religion and the age of Conyers, 80, in the dispute. "Bringing in Jesus and age and color, it's so divisive."
The meeting, sponsored by Conyers and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, will take place at the Wayne State University Law School Auditorium, Room 3332, third floor, 471 W. Palmer, Detroit.