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America's Music Deserves
America's Fair Share

In big cities and small towns all over America, our creative talent drives an industry that defines global culture. Yet while American music plays everywhere, our artists aren't paid everywhere.

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what’s at stake

American artists are doing the same work, creating the same value, but foreign governments pocket their paychecks. This unfair treatment of music creators has to stop.

$330M

in lost royalties

Countries such as the United Kingdom and France are keeping money that belongs to hardworking American musicians—over $300 million every year.

Here's how the scheme works: When music plays on radio stations overseas, those countries collect royalties. But instead of paying all the artists whose music generates those profits, they keep the money that should go to American creators.

Take this absurd example: If a band has members from both the United States and United Kingdom, only the UK artists get paid when their songs play on UK radio. Their US bandmates who contributed equally to the music? They get nothing.

Foreign Countries Ignore International Law to Target US Artists

Because countries such as the United Kingdom and France pay performance royalties for AM/FM radio plays, under international law they are supposed to pay ALL artists – but they choose to discriminate against American artists. They do this even though the European Court of Justice mandated that countries that pay AM/FM performance royalties cannot discriminate against artists from other countries. Yet, even with that decision, countries such as France are resisting its implementation and seeking to undermine it.

This discrimination costs American music creators—depriving them of money that could support independent artists trying to make a living from their craft, musicians supporting families while building their careers, and studios and producers creating jobs in American communities

At a time when artists have seen their income streams disrupted, ensuring they receive every dollar they've earned overseas has never been more critical.

America Needs Smarter Trade Deals

This isn't about changing the world—it's about ensuring America doesn't get played in trade deals.

What’s at Stake

For far too long, nations such as the United Kingdom and France have thumbed their noses at American recording artists and rights owners as well as U.S. trade negotiators who have sought to protect their interests. It's time to hold these countries to account for the treatment of America and its artists.

American Music, American Pay

If the Trump Administration can end this trade inequity, it will not only help the plight of hard-working American artists but also boost the taxable income repatriated into the U.S. Therefore, when our trade representatives sit down with countries like these countries, they need to demand a simple principle: American music, American pay. If a country wants access to our markets and our culture, they need to treat our artists the same way they treat their own.

Stand Up for American Artists

By standing up for Americans, our policymakers can fix this problem. As they negotiate agreements with countries that have been shortchanging American artists, they can insist on fair treatment provisions that ensure:

  • American musicians get paid when their music plays overseas
  • Our artists compete on a level playing field globally
  • Trade deals benefit American creative workers, not just big corporations
  • No country gets a free ride on American talent

What’s at Stake

What’s at Stake

For far too long, nations such as the United Kingdom and France have thumbed their noses at American recording artists and rights owners as well as U.S. trade negotiators who have sought to protect their interests. It's time to hold these countries to account for the treatment of America and its artists.

American Music, American Pay

American Music, American Pay

If the Trump Administration can end this trade inequity, it will not only help the plight of hard-working American artists but also boost the taxable income repatriated into the U.S. Therefore, when our trade representatives sit down with countries like these countries, they need to demand a simple principle: American music, American pay. If a country wants access to our markets and our culture, they need to treat our artists the same way they treat their own.

Stand Up for American Artists

Stand Up for American Artists

By standing up for Americans, our policymakers can fix this problem. As they negotiate agreements with countries that have been shortchanging American artists, they can insist on fair treatment provisions that ensure:

  • American musicians get paid when their music plays overseas
  • Our artists compete on a level playing field globally
  • Trade deals benefit American creative workers, not just big corporations
  • No country gets a free ride on American talent

the latest

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Now is the time to add your voice by joining the petition that calls for governments across the globe to end discrimination against music creators and implement the principle of National Treatment.

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National Treatment of Music Creators

For 75 years a key principle in global trade has been that a nation should provide foreign entities the same benefits and protections as it would its own citizens­. In music, that means whatever rights regime a country gives to creators, the principle of what is known as National Treatment should apply those rights to all, regardless of nationality.

For too long several countries in Europe have ignored this principle and discriminated against foreign music creators based solely on their country of origin.

Join the Campaign to Demand American Artists are Treated Fairly

When American music plays around the world, American artists should get paid. It's time our trade deals reflected that simple principle. Now is the time to add your voice by joining the petition that calls for governments across the globe to end discrimination against American music creators.

Join the campaign to ensure our trade agreements work for American music creators.

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