WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009- musicFIRST today announced that Sheila E. and Rounder Records co-founder Marian Leighton-Levy will testify on behalf of the musicFIRST coalition during Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Hearing on the Performance Rights Act.

Sheila E. is an internationally known, multiple Grammy nominated singer and songwriter who has toured extensively with such artists as Natalie Cole, Gloria Estefan, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Prince.

Rounder Records is one of America's premier independent record labels. Rounder Records released Raising Sand, the Alison Krauss and Robert Plant album that earned six Grammy Awards, including album of the year and record of the year for Please Read The Letter.

"We are grateful for the support of Sheila E. and Marian," said musicFIRST executive director Jennifer Bendall. "Sheila E. is a great talent. She is a drummer, percussionist, vocalist, songwriter, performer, arranger, producer, composer and instrumentalist. Marian and Rounder Records have done so much to keep American roots music alive and flourishing. Rounder is one of the many indie labels that today define the American music scene. Both Sheila E. and Marian understand that it takes hard work and creative talent to make a song come to life."

"Corporate radio earns billions of dollars a year in advertising revenue without compensating the artists and musicians who bring music to life and listeners' ears to the radio dial. The time has come to close the corporate radio loophole and pass this long overdue legislation. We look forward to Tuesday's hearing," Bendall said.