I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve received the “…petition 2493 threatens to silence Christian Radio…” email. You know the one – renowned atheist Madeline Murray O’Hair speaks from beyond the grave through the FCC to ban religious programming. In reality, of course, there is no petition 2493, and the letter has been around long enough that even the bureaucratic FCC has it listed as a hoax on their website.

There is, however a very real threat to Christian radio today. Christian music radio to be more specific. It’s not the so-called “Hate Crimes Act” or some other suppression of religious freedom. It’s not the ACLU or another liberal mechanism operating to silence Christians in general. It’s the new Public Performance Rights legislation now being considered by the U.S. Senate. Forged by lawyers with a knack for stirring controversy among an entertainment driven culture, the legislation amounts to little more than legalized extortion.At its core, the Public Performance Rights is well-intended legislation: Musical performers deserve to be paid for their work. I don’t deny or begrudge them a right to make a fair living from their art. In fact, as a radio programmer, I do all I can to ensure they make a fair living. We announce songs. We identify artists. We provide purchase links for CDs and to artist websites. We connect songs with upcoming paid performances and concerts.

In recent testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Musician Lyle Lovett stated, “No one tunes in to a radio station to hear the commercials…radio is making money by using the music.” His statement is essentially true. However, it denies the role radio plays in music sales in general. It denies the fact that radio listeners repeatedly call and email requesting specific songs by specific artists. How do you think they heard about the song or artist in the first place? Why would they think we would have one song out of the multitude released in a given week? Why would we have a song that hasn’t even been released on an album yet? Because they heard us promoting it. Arm in arm with the record promoter, radio “leaked” the single weeks or months prior to the release date, then we aired a contest the day before the CD hit store shelves so listeners could “win it before they can could buy it” - all the while hyping the new release to the benefit of the artist and everyone in the promotional chain between them and the general market.

On any given day, I can visit one of our station websites and see several components involving some musician’s specific work, be it a concert, a CD, or just the artist’s picture beside the listing for the number five song this week. If I double-checked our ledgers, I doubt I would see a single entry referencing the artist’s payment for that promotion. Nor will I find evidence of payment for the countless times our air staff mentions “this song, by that artist, on the new album that comes out next Tuesday.” We’re not looking for payment, though. In Christian radio, we’re looking for a peaceful coexistence that acknowledges each party’s contributions to the other’s success.

I read the industry news. I know radio is perceived to be big money – so is music. One look at the entertainment headlines, and one can safely assume musicians are paid healthy sums to be able to afford the societal excesses and classy rehab they pay for. Then I look at most Christian music stations. Eight staff members and 6 volunteers, all trying to make a difference with music that does the same.

Already facing a reduction in service and audience size resulting from the Copyright Royalty Board’s infliction of additional Pay per Performance Royalties relative to our streamed content, I have to wonder, who will suffer most if the new legislation wins? Radio…records…the artists? Yes to all – and add the public, because everyday music stations with genuine, local appeal won’t be able to afford the added expense for long. Who should we charge for each promotional mention of a song or CD? When I see respected names like Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and up-and-comers like Krystal Meyers among the founding artists of the coalition geared toward levying this new performance royalty, I fear radio has few friends in the matter.

Talk shows with royalty-free intros and segues – they may well be the wave of Christian radio’s future if the Public Performance Rights legislation passes. And to all my record promoter friends – well, it was nice knowing you.

The author, Dan DeBruler, is the General Manager of 3 North Carolina stations, including (Christian AC) WCLN-FM in Fayetteville, NC. He can be reached at dan@christian107.com