Radio stations fear proposed tax

NORTHWEST OHIO and SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN - Radio stations across the country are fighting a proposed bill that would force them to pay record labels to play their artists’ songs.

The money is supposed to go directly to the artist.

Charles Welch, general manager and owner of Toledo’s Welch Communications and The Juice 107.3 FM fears the Performance Rights Act (H.R. 848) could change the format for many radio stations and even put some out of business.

“If we let this thing pass then programming is going to be affected drastically throughout all of the radio stations not just the small independent stations,” Welch said.

The sponsor of the bill, Rep. John Conyers Jr . has said he plans to improve the legislation to insure “that the needs of small, minority, religious, and non-music broadcasters are taken into account as he and other Members of Congress continue to work on the legislation.”

If passed, it would mean an additonal fee on top of the other three fees broadcasting stations are required to pay.