This open letter to members of the Grammy Organisation in the U.S.:

The House Judiciary Committee voted on The Performance Rights Act, a bill that would close the “corporate radio loophole” and allow artists to be compensated when their recordings are played on terrestrial radio, just as they are on Internet and satellite radio.

There was a great deal of pressure from the broadcaster lobby to kill this bill, but they were no match for you. Thanks in large part to the thousands of calls and emails you generated in the past three days, the Committee voted in favor of the legislation. 

In other words, we won.

There is still a long road ahead to turn this bill into law, and we will be calling on you for help again.  But know that your efforts carried the day in the House of Representatives.

On to the Senate!

Kind regards,

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy

Press coverage of this important decision illustrates the range of the arguments:

ProSound News

DW Media

FMQB

Media Buyer Planner

Social Median

Tiny Mix Tapes

No Performance Tax

Radio Mag Online