Congress can’t protect radio without protecting artists

Legislators are being urged to pass two bills—the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and the American Music Fairness Act—that would mandate automakers include AM radio in new vehicles and require radio broadcasters to compensate artists for playing their music. The proposals address two separate industry challenges: the decline of AM radio as automakers increasingly omit it from new car models, and the longstanding dispute over whether terrestrial radio should pay performance royalties to musicians, unlike streaming services. Passage of both measures would simultaneously shore up a struggling broadcast medium while ensuring artists receive compensation for airplay, a right currently unavailable in the U.S. radio market. The bills represent an unusual convergence of interests between the automotive, broadcasting, and music industries, each facing pressure from different market forces. The outcome depends on whether Congress prioritizes legacy broadcast infrastructure and artist compensation in the face of industry lobbying and evolving consumer preferences.