Today, the House Judiciary Committee is considering legislation that would levy new fees on your favorite local radio stations simply for playing music.

Radio stations already pay hundreds of millions of dollars each year to songwriters and composers. Now, the record labels – mainly comprised of three international conglomerates that generate billions each year – want more. And while they claim they want to help artists, a significant amount of the money would go directly to foreign-owned record labels, hurting artists’ greatest promotional tool.

For more than a century, artists and local radio stations have worked together to bring listeners their favorite music. Radio airplay has launched countless artists into superstardom. But this bill threatens all that.

By taking money out of your local radio stations, these new fees could also impact the critical news and information radio stations provide during emergencies. Radio stations are often the first place people turn during hurricanes, tornados, winter storms and floods, providing a vital outlet for emergency information.

“It’s always helpful to remind of the basics of the public airwaves, that getting that signal out to communities from broadcasters is still the one resilient linkage,” former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate told Inside Radio after Hurricane Ian earlier this year. “We’re talking about hurricanes but think about cyber-attacks that go after the network, where we have congestion or network failures. And you go, ‘Well, what would still work?’ And it’s back to broadcast radio.”

Your local radio stations provide a vital connection to your community. Don’t let Congress stop the music – or deny you the critical information you need. Tell your legislators today to keep local radio strong.