RIAA spent $1.38 million lobbying Congress in 4Q

WASHINGTON

The Recording Industry Association of America, the lobbying arm of the major recording companies, spent $1.38 million lobbying the U.S. government in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The amount is less than the $1.62 million it spent in the same quarter of 2008 and the $1.44 million it spent in the third quarter of 2009, according to a filing the RIAA made Jan. 29.

Among other issues, the organization has been lobbying strongly in favor of the Performance Rights Act, which would make terrestrial radio stations pay a royalty to performers and recording companies.

Previously, they only had to pay songwriters and publishers for playing their songs on air. If the bill becomes law, it could create a pool of hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue.

From October through December, the RIAA only lobbied in Congress, according to the report submitted to the House clerk's office.