Congress Proposes Bill to Boost Streaming Royalties for Artists

The Living Wage for Musicians Act aims to directly pay artists, funded by new fees on streaming services.

A new bill, the Living Wage for Musicians Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Jamaal Bowman, aiming to increase streaming royalties for artists.
The bill proposes a new royalty fund that would pay artists directly, bypassing labels, and would be funded by a 50% fee on streaming subscriptions and a 10% fee on non-subscription revenue.
Artists would receive a minimum of one penny per stream, with a cap on royalties for tracks generating over 1 million streams per month, distributing excess among all artists.
The bill has garnered support from the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers but faces opposition from streaming services and labels, with concerns over the subscription fee increase and direct payment to artists.
The Living Wage for Musicians Act seeks to address the financial struggles of artists in the streaming era, ensuring they receive a fair share and can thrive, not just survive.