Gene Simmons Says Artists in the US Are Treated Worse than Slaves Due to Radio Pay Schemes

Gene Simmons (Instagram @genesimmons)

JAKARTA - Bassist and co-founder of Kiss, Gene Simmons, made a statement saying that artists in the US are treated worse than slaves due to the royalty payment scheme they receive from playing songs on the radio.

Simmons made the strong statement in an effort to support regulatory changes in the US, while testifying before the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee discussing the Music Fairness Act.

The law is designed to require radio stations to license and pay musicians for playing their songs.

In the system in force in the US, terrestrial AM/FM radio stations only pay for the composition of the song, not the sound recording. This means that songwriters get royalties, but musicians who play the recording and the label do not receive payment for the playback.

"Let's call this what it is - a decades-long injustice," Simmons said, quoted by NME, Tuesday, December 16.

English:

"When you work hard and you reach the top, what do you get? Zero. That's not the American way," he continued.

Simmons' firm stance emphasized the need for immediate changes to the situation. He associated this issue with American fundamental values, even dragging the names of major US music icons for comparison.

"You can't let this injustice continue. It looks like a small problem. There's a war and everything. But our envoys to the world are Elvis and Frank Sinatra, and when they find out that we don't treat our stars properly - in other words, worse than slaves," he said.

"Slaves get food and water. Elvis, Bing Crosby, and Sinatra get nothing for their performances," Simmons concluded.