Major Music Legislation pulled from final Federal Funding Bill

Three major pieces of music related legislation were pulled from the bill which passed Congress Friday and was signed by President Biden to fund the US government.

Major Music Legislation pulled from final Federal Funding Bill

After derailing a 1500 page Continuing Resolution (CR) on Wednesday, President elect Trump praised the final 116 page bill.

But within those 1400 deleted pages were three major pieces of music related legislation – the American Music Tourism Act, the TICKET Act and the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

Both supporters and opponents of all three bills vowed to fight on.

TICKET Act

The version of the TICKET Act in this week’s original CR had detractors because it did not include a full ban on speculative tickets and lacked enforcement, according to Fix The Tix, a coalition of major industry players including NIVA, NITO, MMF, Eventbrite, Bandsintown., A2IM, RIAA, UMG and Wasserman.

“Congressional leaders should be commended for seeking to fix ticketing,” said Stephen E. Parker, Executive Director of National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). “While their efforts were well-meaning, the TICKET Act would have taken us backwards. Consumers deserve a real ban on speculative ticketing, not one with a loophole that renders it ineffective.”

“Federal ticketing policy cannot pass without the support of the artists, stages, and fans that make up the heart of the live music ecosystem,” Parker continued. “Predatory resellers and platforms are not even part of live performance and prey on our sector to bloat their profits. Unlike this week, we hope that the next Congress will listen to the creators, small businesses, and real consumers – without whom, there would be no shows to sell tickets to.” 

Live Nation also says it will work to improve future ticketing legislation. “We strongly support ticketing reforms like all-in pricing, giving artists control over resale, and banning speculative tickets,” Live Nation said in a statement “Like other industry voices, we agree that a full ban on spec ticketing is the best way to protect consumers.”

AM Radio

The AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act would have required U.S. auto manufacturers to only produce vehicles with that can receive AM broadcasts. It has the support of 59 senators and 246 House members from both parties who have signed on as co-sponsors.

Meanwhile the American Music Fairness Act has languished in Congress for three years. This proposed law would have the US join virtually every other country in the world in paying musicians when their songs are broadcast.

Supporters of the Music Fairness Act argue that passing the AM Radio Act without also addressing payments to Artists would have been a multi-million dollar gift to corporate radio broadcasters.

American Music Tourism Act

Perhaps the least controversial of the three original music bills is the American Music Tourism Act.

“The American Music Tourism Act would have been a foothold in the nation’s tourism strategy for independent music venues and festivals, along with countless other music attractions, in communities across the country,” Stephen E. Parker, Executive Director of National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). “While it ultimately was not included in the Continuing Resolution signed into law by the President, NIVA and our partners will not stop advocating for the passage of this bipartisan bill, and we have faith that the next Congress will yield a better outcome.”  

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.