Gene Simmons to Support Fair Compensation for Musicians

Dec. 2 — Gene Simmons, the frontman of KISS, announced on Tuesday that he’ll be visiting Capitol Hill next week to advocate for a bill focused on ensuring musicians receive fair compensation when their songs are played by radio stations.

Simmons intends to testify before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee during a hearing regarding the American Music Fairness Act, which has been introduced in Congress but faces opposition from broadcasters.

This bipartisan bill targets what its supporters refer to as a loophole, allowing AM/FM radio stations to evade paying royalties to musicians, even as platforms like Spotify and SiriusXM do compensate them.

“Given my extensive career in the music and entertainment fields, I truly recognize how crucial this issue is,” Simmons remarked in his statement.

On the opposing side, the National Association of Broadcasters has voiced its disapproval. Curtis LeGate, the association’s president and CEO, stated earlier this year that “Local stations have already contributed millions of dollars in royalties and streaming fees.”

He added, “Introducing new fees would jeopardize our ability to keep providing free, reliable news and emergency information to our audience, as well as the platform that allows artists to connect with them.”

Earlier in the year, Simmons joined over 300 artists, including notable figures like Celine Dion and Tom Morello, to sign a letter directed at Congressional leaders backing the bill. The letter pointed out that radio stations generate billions in advertising revenue by playing music from artists who are not compensated. The proposed legislation also aims to benefit smaller stations by permitting them to play unlimited music for a mere $1.37 a day.

Moreover, the letter highlighted that the U.S. loses nearly $300 million annually in revenue due to missing copyright royalties, as foreign countries often skip payments when U.S. artists’ songs are performed abroad.

Michael Hupe, the president and CEO of Sound Exchange, a nonprofit created by Congress to manage the collection and distribution of streaming royalties to musicians, expressed his anticipation for the Senate’s actions.

“Recording artists are a vital part of our culture,” Hupe said. “It’s absurd that, even in 2025, they still aren’t receiving fair payment for their contributions. We hope the Senate will move swiftly to address this injustice and pass this important legislation.”