Artists oppose "Internet Radio Fairness Act" in open letter

125 artists, including 40 GRAMMY winners, are "opposing new cuts to artists' pay" that would come from the "Internet Radio Fairness Act," according to a statement yesterday from musicFIRST, a musician group. Common, Dead Kennedys, Missy Elliot, Vince Gill, Don Henley, Billy Joel, Maroon 5, Martha Reeves, David Sanborn, Michael W. Smith, and Roger Waters are among the artists named in an open letter posted on the group's site that will also be published in this weekend's Billboard Magazine. Internet radio companies such as Pandora are pushing Congress to pass the "Internet Radio Fairness Act," H.R. 6480/S. 3609, which could slash by 85 percent royalties paid to musicians and artists when their songs are played over Internet radio, the group said.