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Gene Simmons Leads Renewed Push for Artist Radio Royalties

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, February 2nd 2026 at 23:46 GMT by Cleveland
      Locales: Ohio, UNITED STATES

Washington D.C. - February 3rd, 2026 - Gene Simmons, the legendary bassist and frontman of KISS, continues to spearhead a growing movement demanding fair compensation for artists when their music is broadcast on terrestrial radio. His recent interview with Scripps News has reignited the debate and fueled renewed lobbying efforts in Congress, highlighting a decades-old disparity in U.S. copyright law that many in the music industry view as fundamentally unjust.

For years, radio stations in the United States have operated under a unique exemption in copyright regulations, allowing them to publicly perform copyrighted musical works without directly compensating the artists who created them. While performance rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP and BMI collect royalties for performances in venues like bars and restaurants, and for streaming services, terrestrial radio remains a significant blind spot in the royalty ecosystem. This means that when your favorite song plays on the AM/FM dial, the artist typically receives no direct payment for that airplay.

Simmons' advocacy stems from a belief that this system is not only unfair to artists, particularly emerging ones, but also detrimental to the long-term health of the music industry. "They don't pay," Simmons stated bluntly in his interview. "And I don't understand why." He argues that this lack of compensation disproportionately affects independent artists and those early in their careers, making it increasingly difficult for them to sustain themselves and continue creating music.

The core of the issue lies in the historical development of radio broadcasting and copyright law. When radio first emerged, it was seen as a promotional tool for the music industry, helping artists gain exposure and sell records. The argument was made that the promotion itself constituted sufficient compensation. However, with the rise of digital music and the shift in revenue streams away from physical sales, this argument has become increasingly untenable. Artists now rely heavily on touring, merchandise, and streaming royalties, and the absence of radio royalties represents a significant loss of potential income.

The current push for change isn't new. Artists have been lobbying for a revision of the copyright laws for years, with limited success. However, the momentum appears to be building. Several key members of Congress have publicly expressed support for the proposed changes, recognizing the need to modernize the system and ensure a fairer distribution of revenue. Bills have been proposed, debated, and stalled in committees for years, often facing strong opposition from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

The NAB contends that imposing royalty fees on radio stations would cripple the industry, forcing stations to reduce programming or even go offline. They argue that radio provides valuable free exposure to artists and that the cost of royalties would be prohibitive. They also point to the substantial advertising revenue that radio generates, claiming that this indirectly benefits the music industry.

However, critics of the NAB's position argue that the industry is financially healthy enough to absorb the cost of royalties, and that the benefits to artists would far outweigh the potential drawbacks. Furthermore, they note that radio stations in many other countries do pay royalties to artists, without experiencing the dire consequences predicted by the NAB. Streaming services, while also facing initial resistance, now routinely pay performance royalties, demonstrating the feasibility of a similar system for terrestrial radio.

Simmons is not just focusing on Congressional action. He and other advocates are also attempting to raise public awareness about the issue, encouraging fans to demand that their elected officials support the proposed changes. The hope is that increased public pressure will compel Congress to act.

The debate extends beyond simply assigning blame or determining who is "right." Finding a viable solution requires careful consideration of all stakeholders. Some potential compromises being discussed include a tiered royalty system based on station size or revenue, or the establishment of a collective bargaining mechanism between artists and radio stations. The digital radio space is also complicating matters, with discussions on how to integrate royalties for digital broadcasts alongside traditional over-the-air signals.

"I think we're going to get there," Simmons confidently predicted. "It's just a matter of time." While the path forward remains uncertain, Gene Simmons' tireless advocacy, coupled with growing support in Congress and among music fans, suggests that the fight for fair radio royalties may finally be reaching a tipping point.