Gene Simmons claims artists are treated “worse than slaves” by US radio
Gene Simmons told the Senate that artists are treated “worse than slaves” by radio stations in the United States.
On December 9th, Simmons spoke at a Senate subcommittee hearing on the American Music Fairness Act, which, if passed, would force radio stations to pay artists royalties for playing their songs on US radio.
Unlike the United Kingdom and most other countries, as it stands, radio stations in the US only pay royalties to the songwriters rather than performers.
Simmons told the hearing, “If you are against this bill, you are un-American.”
He then highlighted examples of performers who didn’t write their own songs, therefore, don’t receive payment, noting, “You cannot let this injustice continue. It looks like a small issue … But our emissaries to the world are Elvis and Frank Sinatra.”
The bassist added, “And when they find out we’re not treating our stars right — in other words, worse than slaves; slaves get food and water. Elvis and Sinatra and Bing Crosby got nothing for their performance. You’ve got to change this now.”
The Kiss member then addressed the many other countries that pay artists fairly for radio play in comparison with America, adding, “How do we dare come in second to Russia?”
Simmons then said of Russia, “An alleged country led by a despot, when they do a better job of paying our King of Rock & Roll, and we’re going to stand by and not pay today’s artists and future artists?”
While the American Music Fairness Act has yet to be passed, it has also received support from the likes of David Byrne and Boyz II Men.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Simmons highlighted the American Music Fairness Act, stating, “This is about recording artists who simply have never gotten paid,” and labelled the current ruling as “insanity.”
Simmons, who was recently celebrated by Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center Honors, also shared his belief that the bill will be passed, adding, “I know the president a little bit. We spent some time together before he became political. He will sign this.”
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