Gene Simmons of KISS says today’s musicians — including his own children Sophie and Nick — face a tougher environment than earlier generations because of what he calls a “broken radio business model.” In a recent op-ed, Simmons recalls the era when radio airplay acted as free publicity: listeners heard a new song, liked it, and went out to buy the album. That system, he argues, no longer exists.
Listeners now discover most new music on streaming platforms, while many local radio stations have been absorbed by large corporations such as iHeart and Audacy. According to Simmons, these stations continue to play familiar hits without paying the performers, generating significant ad revenue while offering artists no compensation. And unlike decades past, people rarely hear a song on the radio today and then purchase an album because of it.
Simmons is urging Congress to pass the American Music Fairness Act, which would require terrestrial radio stations to pay performers when their music is broadcast. In his view, the issue should transcend partisanship, noting that Republicans and Democrats don’t agree on much, but they should agree that people who work hard deserve fair pay.
He argues that this legislation would finally bring compensation standards for musicians into the modern era.