Musician advocates are crying foul after the National Association of Broadcasters took to the airwaves recently to oppose a measure that would force stations to pay royalties to musicians. A coalition of musician groups sent a letter to Congress last week complaining about broadcasters' use of the airwaves to advance their own interests.

"Broadcasters used their free and unfettered access to the airwaves that they are required to operate in the public interest," said Marty Machowsky, a spokesman for musicFIRST, a coalition including the RIAA, the Recording Academy, and the American Federation of Musicians. Machowsky cited a report from Inside Radio that the NAB's ads aired 40,000 times over the Congressional recess.

The ads pan legislation that would require radio broadcasters to pay performers rather than just songwriters and publishers, when airing songs. They also urge listeners to call their lawmakers. The bill, backed by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has passed out of the committee of jurisdiction in both chambers, and could be taken up by the House or Senate. The ads charge that the bills are a "bailout" for rich performers. When they have aired, they cite the station and the NAB as their backers. 

A spokesman for the NAB acknowledged the broadcasters' ownership of the airwaves provides a benefit.

"I wouldn't deny that," said Dennis Wharton, executive vice president at the NAB. But he also said that musicians receive free promotion for their own arguments during televised awards shows. The NAB also plans to have over 400 station representatives come to Washington next week to lobby members.