KISS Co-Founder Gene Simmons Says the Music Industry Treats Artists ‘Worse Than Slaves,’ Supports Trump’s Efforts for Musicians

Senate Hearing on American Music Fairness Act

Dec. 9 — Gene Simmons, co-founder of KISS, along with others, shared their views for and against the American Music Fairness Act during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing in Washington on Tuesday.

Simmons expressed his support for the legislation, which would mandate that AM/FM radio stations pay royalties to those who own the rights to the music they play. He pointed out that while it might seem minor in the grand scheme—especially considering global conflicts—musicians like Elvis and Frank Sinatra are essential cultural figures.

In a striking comparison, he claimed that these artists were treated “worse than slaves” by radio stations, arguing that unlike slaves, who at least receive food and water, performers like Elvis and Crosby earned nothing from their music.

Michael Huppe, the president and CEO of SoundExchange, which aids musicians in collecting royalties globally, also voiced his support for the bill. He highlighted the fact that while radio companies have amassed $250 billion in advertising revenue over the last 16 years, recording artists have received “absolutely nothing.”

Huppe criticized broadcasters for profiting from “other people’s property” without compensation, noting that the U.S. is unique in this regard—”Even Russia and China pay,” he remarked. He compared this with the payments streaming services provide to artists, which does not extend to AM/FM stations.

Huppe also observed a shift in how audiences discover new music, explaining that platforms like TikTok and YouTube have become the primary mediums for introducing artists, rather than traditional radio.

He added, “The days of hearing a song on the radio and rushing to buy a CD or album are long gone.”

The lack of royalty payments for AM/FM radio means that foreign countries do not compensate U.S. artists either, Huppe explained. Instead, nations such as France collect royalties on American music from their broadcasters, giving them to local artists.

Despite earning nearly $14 billion in advertising revenue last year, broadcast radio does not share any profits with musicians, although they do pay DJs and hosts when the same content is shared online. Huppe argued that there are no valid business reasons to maintain this discrepancy.

On the other side of the debate, Henry Hinton, president of Inner Banks Media and a veteran talk radio host in North Carolina, cautioned that over 5,100 free radio stations could be negatively impacted if the bill passes. He acknowledged the value of partnerships with artists but insisted that imposing new performance fees would harm stations and listeners.

Hinton characterized broadcast radio as a crucial community service that provides entertainment, information, and emergency alerts. He emphasized how radio stations play a vital role in such situations, often being the only means of communication during crises.