They’ve brought The Donnas, Sheryl Crow and Billy Corgan to the Hill on their behalf, but now the musicFirst coalition is bringing out the big guns to lobby its cause.
Bono is the latest musician to support the “pay to play” argument being advanced by the organization, releasing a statement Monday in support of radio stations compensating musicians when they play their songs.
“We believe it’s only fair that when radio makes money by playing a recording artist’s music … [they] should be compensated.”
Bono made $30 million last year and admitted in the release that the issue “thankfully, doesn’t really affect [him and U2] anymore.” He also added that he “appreciates the many things that radio has done” in helping his career. So why, then, is he taking this stand?
The humanitarian made it about the children, natch.
“There are so many young recording artists out there who can no longer earn a living from the sale of their music. … They should not be denied their fair share.”
We’d guess that this now makes it even tougher for his buddies, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to say no.
