Los Angeles, CA – More than 20 artists signed a GRAMMY Week January 2010 statement encouraging Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act, a bill that would ensure that artists and musicians are compensated when their music is used by radio.

“In speaking to these talented artists, I heard three constant refrains,” said Daryl Friedman, vice president of advocacy and government relations for The Recording Academy. “First, their concerns for background singers and musicians and older legacy artists who need to be fairly compensated; second, their willingness to sit down with radio to work out a solution; and third, if radio still refuses to talk, their commitment to take the fight to Washington.”

musicFIRST is participating in ongoing negotiations with the National Association of Broadcasters in response to a request from members of Congress that the music community and radio industry find common ground on creation of a radio performance right.

The GRAMMY Week January 2010 statement reads as follows:

We, the undersigned artists, believe in the partnership between music and radio. We believe that artists (including the background singers and musicians and the great legacy artists of the past decades) deserve to be compensated when their music is used by radio.

We support the Performance Rights Act because it is fair to radio and fair to artists. We encourage the radio industry to work with the music community and Congress to pass The Performance Rights Act. Together, we can create a true partnership that benefits radio, artists and musicians, and fans.

Artists who signed the statement during GRAMMY Week January 2010 include: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Stephen Stills, Kenny Aronoff, Sheryl Crow, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phil Soussan, Jackson Browne, Don Was, Dave Matthews, Josh Groban, Travis Barker, Andrea Bocelli, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, Will.i.am and Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, Drake, Mary J. Blige, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and David Foster.

Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow noted the music community's commitment to ensure that artists and musicians are compensated for their work in his comments made during the televised GRAMMY Awards. He emphasized the importance of this effort for the thousands of middle class performers whose work we love.

"This evening, you've seen performances by the most successful artists today. And you know about their generosity and giving back," Portnow said. "But standing right behind them are thousands of unknown and up-and-coming music makers who face the question of survival every day. In the coming decade, unless they can make a living at their craft, the quality and creativity of the music will be at risk.

"But as fans, let's all truly value the music and the songs that change our lives by supporting and compensating these gifted creators of the music we treasure. And together, let's make this next decade a time of renaissance for the music that plays as the soundtrack of our lives."

The Performance Rights Act will ensure that artists and musicians are compensated when their music is used by AM and FM terrestrial radio. Satellite radio, internet radio and cable television music channels already compensate for use of their work, as do music radio stations around the world. And AM and FM music radio stations that stream their signal online - same music, same DJs, same ads - compensate artists and musicians for online use of their work. The bill, H.R. 848 and S. 379, include accommodations for small and minority-owned music radio stations. Seventy-five percent of radio stations will pay $5,000 a year or less to clear the performance rights for all the music they use. Some will pay as little as $100 a year. And for 90 percent of music radio stations, royalty payments will not begin until three years after the act is signed into law. The Performance Rights Act is fair to artists and musicians, fair to other radio platforms that pay performance royalties and fair to radio.