(NewsNation) — Gene Simmons, co-founder and co-lead singer of rock band KISS, testified before a Senate panel Tuesday on legislation to require radio corporations to pay performers for playing their music.
Simmons testified in support of the American Music Fairness Act (S.326/H.R.861), proposed legislation that would close a loophole that allows AM/FM radio stations to play artists’ music without financial compensation.
In his opening remarks, Simmons, who received the Kennedy Center Honors with KISS over the weekend, called on Republicans and Democrats to remedy “an injustice that’s been ongoing for many, many decades.”
As it stands, most terrestrial radio stations (AM/FM) are required to pay royalties to songwriters and music publishers, but not the performers or record labels behind the song. Tuesday’s discussion is the first hearing on legislation to close the loophole since 2009.
Every other major music delivery platform, including Apple Music, Spotify and TikTok, compensates performers for their work.
“The world is changing, we’ve got to stay ahead of the curve,” Simmons said.
Earlier this year, Simmons was one of the more than 300 major artists to sign a letter to congressional leaders urging them to pass the legislation, which is sponsored by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.
Simmons expressed confidence in the bill’s popularity, stating, “We are going to pass this bill, it is bipartisan.”
Simmons testified alongside Michael Huppe, president and CEO of SoundExchange, a nonprofit that collects and distributes digital streaming royalties to artists.
Huppe also emphasized the bill’s popularity at the hearing, stating: “Not only is AMFA supported by legislators on both sides of the aisle, but every administration in the past 50 years, including the Trump and Biden Administrations.”
NewsNation affiliate The Hill contributed to this report.