In response to the introduction of legislation in the Senate to increase the rates that songwriters are paid when their music is played on local radio stations and other platforms, the following statement can be attributed to NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton:
“NAB respectfully opposes this legislation, which could impose new costs on broadcasters that jeopardize the future of our free locally-focused service. While this legislation raises important issues about the changes confronting the songwriter community, NAB objects to changes in law that would deal with the financial imbalance between songwriters and artists by subjecting free broadcast radio stations to new fees.”