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США  23 сен 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS Weighs In On Student Protests Against Israel: 'It's Well Intentioned' But 'They're Not Informed' |  24 авг 2024 : |
Watch: GENE SIMMONS And His Solo Band Play Fundraising Concert In North Tonawanda, New York |  5 авг 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS - Fan-Filmed Video Of Entire Rattvik, Sweden Show Available |  31 июл 2024 : |
Watch: GENE SIMMONS Kicks Off Summer 2024 European Solo Tour At Finland's KUOPIOROCK Festival |  5 июл 2024 : |
Watch: GENE SIMMONS Covers VAN HALEN's 'House Of Pain' At Rock & Brews In Milwaukee |  17 июн 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'I'm Sad That I Wasn't More Hard On ACE FREHLEY And PETER CRISS' |  15 июн 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He 'Literally' Makes More Money Per Concert With His Solo Band Than He Did With KISS |  11 июн 2024 : |
Watch: GENE SIMMONS Joins CHEVY METAL On Stage At California Club To Perform KISS's 'Deuce' |  10 июн 2024 : |
PAUL STANLEY Names His 'Favorite Thing' About GENE SIMMONS |  27 май 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says JIMMY PAGE Gave Him The 'Highest Compliment' About His Bass Playing |  2 май 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS BAND Performs KISS, LED ZEPPELIN And MOTÖRHEAD Classics At Brazil's SUMMER BREEZE |  24 апр 2024 : |
Watch: GENE SIMMONS And TOMMY THAYER Perform KISS Classics At Rock & Brews Grand Opening In Ridgefield |  21 апр 2024 : |
GENE SIMMONS To Play First Post-KISS Concert At Rock & Brews Grand Opening In Ridgefield, Washington |  15 фев 2024 : |
SEBASTIAN BACH Recalls Telling GENE SIMMONS's Daughter How KISS Inspired Him To Launch His Own Career In Rock |  3 дек 2023 : |
DESMOND CHILD – “GENE SIMMONS Called Me A Song Doctor So That He Didn’t Have To Say I Was A Co-Writer” |  23 ноя 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Isn't A Fan Of Cellphones: 'If I Had My Druthers, I'd Take Them All Away' |  20 ноя 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He Will No Longer Post On X Social Network |  20 сен 2023 : |
KISS' GENE SIMMONS Announces Limited Edition EB-0 Bass In Partnership With Gibson Custom Shop |  19 сен 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Pays Tribute To YOSHIKI As Japanese Star Makes History In Hollywood |  28 июл 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS: PAUL STANLEY And I 'Continue To Have This Astonishing Relationship' |  18 июл 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Is 'Concerned' About Lack Of Artificial Intelligence Legislation |  13 июл 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Opens Up About True Love And Marriage: 'I Never Wanted To Be Hurt Ever Again' |  12 апр 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Donates $250,000 To MENDING KIDS Organization That Provides Free Life-Saving Surgical Care To Sick Children |  24 мар 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Sells Las Vegas House For $11 Million |  20 мар 2023 : |
Is JOE BIDEN Too Old For A Second Term As U.S. President? GENE SIMMONS Weighs In |  22 янв 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS Praises ABBA's 'Undeniable Songwriting' |  6 янв 2023 : |
GENE SIMMONS On KISS' Exclusion From Rolling Stone's "Greatest Singers" List - "I Don't Give A F*@k" (Video) |  12 дек 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He Hasn't Sold His Crypto Holdings Despite Market Drop |  30 ноя 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He Was Initially 'Happy' When TRUMP Became President, Admits He's An 'Ageist' About BIDEN |  22 ноя 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Drops Another Million From Asking Price Of Las Vegas House |  15 ноя 2022 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS Undergoes Procedure To Have Excess Kidney Stones Removed |  25 окт 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Urges KANYE WEST To Take His Medication And Surround Himself With 'Nicer People' |  20 окт 2022 : |
Has GENE SIMMONS Experienced Any Anti-Semitism As A Member Of KISS? He Responds |  15 окт 2022 : |
KISS' GENE SIMMONS On Mortality And Death - "I’d Be A Complete A**hole, Certainly More Than I Am Now, If I Wasn’t Grateful For This Amazing Life" |  21 сен 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'I Don't Have Friends' |  9 сен 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS's MoneyBag Soda Celebrates Shipping One Million Bottles |  30 авг 2022 : |
Watch: KISS's GENE SIMMONS Celebrates 73rd Birthday Onstage In Sydney |  17 авг 2022 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS Turns Down 'Dancing With The Stars' Invite |  2 июл 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Drops Another $2.5 Million From Asking Price Of Las Vegas House |  30 июн 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS: ACE FREHLEY And PETER CRISS No Longer Have 'The Physical Stamina' To Play A Full KISS Show |  1 июн 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS On His Post-KISS Plans: 'It's Gonna Be A Different Kind Of A Thing' |  30 май 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says DONALD TRUMP 'Allowed' People 'To Be Publicly Racist And Out There With Conspiracy Theories' |  3 май 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Blasts 'Conspiracy Idiots', Urges Everyone To Get COVID-19 Vaccine |  26 апр 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS And DAVID DRAIMAN React To ELON MUSK's $44 Billion Purchase Of Twitter |  23 мар 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS: Racism In America 'Has Got To Stop' |  5 мар 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says KANYE WEST Is 'Out Of His Mind': 'There's Something Clinically Wrong With Him' |  2 фев 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS Weighs In On BRITNEY SPEARS's Conservatorship Battle: 'No One Should Have Any Say Regarding Her Finances' |  18 янв 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS On MARVEL COMICS Legend STAN LEE: He Will Be 'Forever Loved And Missed' |  12 янв 2022 : |
Here Is A Video Tour Of GENE SIMMONS's Las Vegas Mansion |  4 янв 2022 : |
GENE SIMMONS's New Year's Resolutions: 'I'd Like To Be A Better, Kinder, Better-Looking And Richer Guy' |  13 дек 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Drops $1.5 Million From Asking Price Of Las Vegas House |  23 ноя 2021 : |
KISS's Manager: GENE SIMMONS Wouldn't Say Anything Against DAVID LEE ROTH |  17 ноя 2021 : |
ALEX JONES Blasts GENE SIMMONS Over Anti-Vaxxer Comments: 'Are You Stupid Or Are You Consciously Evil?' |  17 ноя 2021 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS Calls Unvaccinated People 'Delusional' And The 'Enemy' |  29 окт 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Reportedly Buys Beverly Hills Mansion For $10.5 Million |  23 окт 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Explains Why He Is Selling His Las Vegas House Only Five Months After Buying It |  22 окт 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Lists His Las Vegas Valley Estate For $14.95 Million |  27 сен 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Sells Beverly Hills Mansion For $16 Million |  15 сен 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He Was 'Shocked' When He Tested Positive For COVID-19 |  7 сен 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'Who Killed The Music Business? The Fans Did' |  6 сен 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Blasts 'Evil, Self-Serving Politicians' In Florida And Texas For Being 'More Interested In Getting Re-Elected Than Saving Lives' |  3 сен 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He Is 'Really Fine' After Testing Positive For COVID-19, Urges Everyone To Get Vaccinated |  29 авг 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says PAUL STANLEY Is 'Not Feeling Great' But 'He's Gonna Be Fine' Because 'He Got Vaccinated' |  29 авг 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Apologizes To DAVID LEE ROTH: 'I Am Ashamed That I Hurt His Feelings' |  17 авг 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Doesn't Know What Happened To DAVID LEE ROTH |  16 авг 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS On DONALD TRUMP Presidency: It Was 'Beyond Anything I Ever Thought Imaginable' |  12 авг 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says He Is In Favor Of Vaccine Mandates |  11 июл 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says ACE FREHLEY And PETER CRISS 'Continue To Make Really Bad Choices' In Their Lives |  20 июн 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Meets With Members Of Congress As Part Of ASCAP Songwriters Virtual 'Stand With Songwriters' Advocacy Month |  13 июн 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Blasts 'Moron' Politician For Asking Forest Service To Alter Moon's Orbit To Combat Climate Change |  7 июн 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Reportedly Buys House Near Las Vegas For $8.2 Million |  23 май 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says It's 'Disgusting' That IRON MAIDEN Has Not Yet Been Inducted Into ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME |  31 мар 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS On His Decision To Leave California: 'It's Time For A Change' |  27 мар 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Was 'Blown Away' By BILLIE EILISH Documentary |  26 мар 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Buys Malibu Hilltop Home |  24 мар 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS: Why Masks Should Be Mandatory, Not Optional |  15 мар 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Re-Lists Beverly Hills Mansion At Higher Price |  13 мар 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS: Why I Keep Saying 'Rock Is Dead' |  9 фев 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says 'Young Fans' Are Responsible For 'Killing' Rock Music |  5 фев 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says Racist 'Hooligans' On Social Media Should Be Fined |  30 янв 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Spars With His Twitter Followers Over Allegations Of Voter Fraud In 2020 Election |  27 янв 2021 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS: Drugs And Booze Don't Work |  21 янв 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'Lack Of Money Is The Root Of All Evil' |  4 янв 2021 : |
GENE SIMMONS Once Again Claims 'Rock Is Dead', Praises 'Fantastic' BILLIE EILISH And LADY GAGA |  16 дек 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS Blasts Anti-Vaxxers And Anti-Maskers: 'If You're A Denier, Stay In The Shadows' |  12 дек 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'The Record Industry Is Dead For New Artists' |  20 ноя 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS: Why U.S. States Have To Mandate Mask Use |  23 окт 2020 : |
Report: GENE SIMMONS Is Moving To Washington To Escape Tax Burden Of Living In California |  7 окт 2020 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS Blasts Anti-Maskers: 'It's Not About You; It's About The Rest Of Us' |  30 сен 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says 'It's Nobody's Business' Whom He Will Vote For In 2020 Presidential Election |  2 сен 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS Praises ELON MUSK's Brain-Computer Tech NEURALINK After Live-Pig Demo |  22 июл 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS And PAUL STANLEY's ROCK & BREWS In Maui Closes Doors For Good |  8 май 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says Latest Coronavirus Death Projections Are 'Not Good' |  13 апр 2020 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says Music Industry Has Lost 'Billions Of Dollars' During Coronavirus Pandemic |  7 апр 2020 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS Urges Fans To 'Stay At Home' To Prevent Spread Of COVID-19 |  3 окт 2019 : |
GENE SIMMONS: First Post-Surgery Photo Available |  27 авг 2019 : |
KISS's GENE SIMMONS Celebrates 70th Birthday Onstage In Saratoga Springs (Video) |  29 апр 2019 : |
GENE SIMMONS's Sexual Battery Accuser Wants To Drop Lawsuit |  25 апр 2019 : |
VINNIE VINCENT Says He Got A 'Cold Reception' At GENE SIMMONS's 'Vault' Event: 'I Was Treated Very Indifferently' |  20 фев 2019 : |
GENE SIMMONS Responds To ACE FREHLEY's Explosive Remarks |  17 янв 2019 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'Cannabis, In Its Various Forms, Is Actually Gonna Help People' |  6 янв 2019 : |
GENE SIMMONS Was Once Paid Millions Of Dollars By A Royal Family To Speak For An Hour |  7 дек 2018 : |
GENE SIMMONS Is 'Heartbroken' Over Mother's Death |  3 сен 2018 : |
ACE FREHLEY Joins GENE SIMMONS To Perform KISS Classics In Australia; Video |  21 авг 2018 : |
GENE SIMMONS Gets Choked Up While Paying Tribute To ARETHA FRANKLIN (Video) |  31 июл 2018 : |
GENE SIMMONS To Release 27: The Legend And Mythology Of The 27 Club Book In October |  5 июн 2018 : |
Video: GENE SIMMONS And Solo Band Perform At Stockholm's Gröna Lund |  5 июн 2018 : |
PAUL STANLEY And GENE SIMMONS To Open New Rock & Brews Location In Chicago |  15 апр 2018 : |
VINNIE VINCENT Joins GENE SIMMONS At Nashville 'Vault Experience' Event (Video) |  4 апр 2018 : |
PAUL STANLEY Is 'Going Over' His Schedule To See When He Can Join GENE SIMMONS At A 'Vault' Event |  4 апр 2018 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'I Can't Get PAUL STANLEY To Come Out' To Any Of 'The Vault' Events |  26 мар 2018 : |
PETER CRISS And GENE SIMMONS Reunite At 'Vault Experience' Event In New York City (Video) |  21 мар 2018 : |
GENE SIMMONS - Fan-Filmed Video Of Blind Fan BRIAN McCAULEY Performing KISS Classic "Dr. Love" Posted: "We Did Not Rehearse With Him" |  1 фев 2018 : |
ACE FREHLEY Joins GENE SIMMONS At 'Vault Experience' Event In Miami (Video) |  25 янв 2018 : |
GENE SIMMONS Performs KISS Classics With THEE ROCK N' ROLL RESIDENCY In Nashville (Video) |  27 ноя 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Will Never Work With VINNIE VINCENT Again: 'I Don't Need More Dark Clouds Over My Life' |  27 ноя 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Talks Solo Band - "I'm Just Having An Awful Lot Of Fun; About As Much As I Can Have With My Pants On" |  10 ноя 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS - The Vault Experience Unboxing Video Streaming |  17 окт 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Talks "Are You Ready" Demo From The Vault; Medley Streaming |  29 сен 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Defends His Attempt To Trademark 'Horns' Hand Gesture: 'You Can Trademark Anything' |  20 сен 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'If I Could, I Would Trademark The Air You Breathe' |  13 сен 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Will Deliver 'The Vault' Box Set To Your Home For $50,000 |  10 сен 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS's 'The Vault' To Include 1977 'Love Gun' Demos Featuring VAN HALEN Brothers |  5 сен 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Announces 'The Vault' Box Set Of Previously Unreleased Solo Recordings |  21 авг 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Doesn't Regret Attempting To Trademark 'Horns' Hand Gesture: 'I Regret Nothing' |  30 июл 2017 : |
PAUL STANLEY Doesn't Know Why GENE SIMMONS Attempted To Trademark 'Horns' Hand Gesture |  6 июл 2017 : |
SHARON OSBOURNE Says GENE SIMMONS Was 'Crazy' For Trying To Trademark 'Horns' Hand Gesture |  29 июн 2017 : |
Who Came Up With Rock 'N' Roll 'Devil Horns': RONNIE JAMES DIO Or GENE SIMMONS? DOUG ALDRICH Weighs In |  26 июн 2017 : |
VINNY APPICE Says RONNIE JAMES DIO 'Would Be Pissed Off' If He Was Alive To See GENE SIMMONS Attempt To Trademark 'Horns' Hand Gesture |  22 июн 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Abandons 'Horns' Hand Gesture Trademark Application |  19 июн 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says His 'Horns' Hand Signal Is 'Homage' To SPIDER-MAN |  19 июн 2017 : |
RONNIE JAMES DIO's Widow Calls GENE SIMMONS's Attempt To Trademark 'Horns' Hand Gesture 'Laughable' And 'Disgusting' |  19 июн 2017 : |
NIKKI SIXX Apparently Mocks GENE SIMMONS's Trademark Application, Says He Is 'Thinking Of' Registering Middle-Finger Gesture |  19 июн 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Seeks To Register Trademark On 'Devil's Horns' Hand Gesture |  6 июн 2017 : |
Watch GENE SIMMONS Perform With His Solo Band In Philadelphia |  11 май 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS To Release New Book, On Power, In November 2017 |  16 апр 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'The People That Killed All The New Bands Are The Fans Themselves' |  11 апр 2017 : |
Video: GENE SIMMONS Pays Emotional Tribute To CHUCK BERRY At Public Memorial Service |  20 мар 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Pays Tribute To CHUCK BERRY With 'Johnny B. Goode' Performance In Cleveland (Video) |  7 мар 2017 : |
Watch GENE SIMMONS Perform With His Solo Band |  17 фев 2017 : |
GENE SIMMONS Still Believes Rock Is Dead |  6 окт 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS On DONALD TRUMP: 'What You See Is What You Get' |  5 сен 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS - "I Literally Never Drink; I Simply Don't Like The Taste Or The Smell Of Anything With Alcohol In It" |  20 июл 2016 : |
Should Musicians Be Able To Remotely Disable Phone Cameras At Concerts? GENE SIMMONS Weighs In |  4 июн 2016 : |
KISS’ GENE SIMMONS Talks Love Of Comic Books – “Everybody Wants To Be A Superhero” |  20 май 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS: Celebrities Should Keep Their Presidential Choices Private |  20 май 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS: "The only cure for paedophilia is death" |  12 май 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS's Wife Slams PAUL STANLEY Over PRINCE Apology |  11 май 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS Apologizes For Comments About PRINCE's Death |  11 май 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS On PRINCE: 'How Pathetic That He Killed Himself' |  30 апр 2016 : |
N.W.A.'s MC REN To KISS's GENE SIMMONS: 'F**k Tha Police' Is More Rock And Roll Than 'Rock And Roll All Nite' |  27 апр 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says PRINCE Was 'A Unique Guy' Who 'Did It All' |  16 апр 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS Is 'Wrong' About Rap Artists Being Inducted Into ROCK HALL, Says ICE CUBE |  10 апр 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS Responds To ICE CUBE's ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME Induction Comments |  9 апр 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS Gets Called Out By N.W.A. During ROCK HALL Induction Speech |  31 мар 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS: DONALD TRUMP 'Is The Truest Political Animal I've Ever Seen Onstage' |  21 мар 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS Slammed By TALIB KWELI Over Rap Death Prediction |  18 мар 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'I Am Looking Forward To The Death Of Rap' |  14 мар 2016 : |
PAUL STANLEY And GENE SIMMONS Open Rock & Brews Location In Dallas; Photo Gallery Available |  16 фев 2016 : |
GENE SIMMONS 'The Demon' Limited-Edition Mask Can Be Yours For $999.99 |  18 окт 2015 : |
GENE SIMMONS On Illegal Music Downloading: 'When You Stop Charging For Things, It Becomes Worthless' |  22 авг 2015 : |
GENE SIMMONS Reviews LAMB OF GOD's '512' Song: 'This Type Of Vocal Styling Just Ain't My Thing' |  5 ноя 2014 : |
GENE SIMMONS Says There Is 'Not A Chance' That Original KISS Lineup Will Ever Reunite Again |  23 окт 2014 : |
GENE SIMMONS: Success Offers You Freedom |  22 окт 2014 : |
GENE SIMMONS Stands By 'Rock Is Dead' Claim, Says Technology Has Outpaced Laws |  18 авг 2014 : |
GENE SIMMONS: 'I Deeply Support And Am Empathetic To Anyone Suffering From Any Disease, Especially Depression' |  16 мар 2009 : |
GENE SIMMONS Reveals First New KISS Songtitle |  12 мар 2009 : |
GENE SIMMONS\' \'Alter Ego\' Box Set To See Light Of Day This Year |  15 апр 2008 : |
GENE SIMMONS In Japanese Movie |
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22 дек 2025

GENE SIMMONS Explains His Capitol Hill Testimony On Pay For Artists From Radio Plays: 'It's An Injustice That Has Long Been Overdue'
 KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons spoke to CBS News about his appearance in front of a Senate subcommittee hearing on the American Music Fairness Act, which would require that artists are paid when their recordings are played on the radio. Asked by "CBS News 24/7 Mornings" anchor Vladimir Duthiers what his argument is and what he is hoping lawmakers took away from his remarks, Gene said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Congress must pass a bill called the American Music Fairness Act. American music — we invented rock and roll, blues, hip-hop, country and western, jazz, all of it. It comes from here. America's music is the music of the planet. Whether you're talking about Bing Crosby singing 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas', written by Irving Berlin, perhaps almost a hundred years ago, all the way to today's music. Elvis Presley has never been paid a single penny for all the — God knows — tens of thousands of hours you heard his voice coming out of AM and FM radio. I'm gonna say this again: your favorite artist does not get paid a single red cent when you hear their voices emanating from AM and FM radio. Meantime, the radio industry itself just made 14 billion dollars — that's with a 'b' — by selling advertising. And by the way, more power to them. I'm not here to demonize them, but it's time to pay artists something — somewhere between nothing and 14 billion dollars that the radio industry takes in. So this is a loophole that's got to be filled — not so much for me; I'm doing okay. I make a living. But all the new artists, every little one of those pennies helps them survive. For God's sakes, our children and our children's children are gonna be tomorrow's stars, which means the world's stars. Let's give 'em a chance. Right now if their songs are played on AM and FM, they're getting zippo, zero."
Asked if he thinks think his plea has fallen on deaf ears or if the lawmakers will "actually get this legislation done," Gene said: "I had the pleasure to meet the speaker of the house, some face time, and Senator Marsha Blackburn, and also Mr. [Adam] Schiff on the Democratic part. They are aligned with the idea that this has gotta be fixed. I had some personal face time with the president alone, just generally talking about family and stuff. I won't mention what else we talked about, but this will pass because it's an injustice that has long been overdue.
"I'd like to stress that there's a profound difference between streaming, and AM and FM radio," Simmons clarified. "We're only talking about AM and FM. My companion, when I drive down the highway, is AM and FM. I turn on my favorite station, and as I go from city to city, I turn on [the radio and] I wanna hear Sinatra. Frank Sinatra estate was never paid a single penny all those millions of times you heard Sinatra sing those songs. Celine Dion, Whitney Houston never made a penny when you heard them on the radio, but radio stations made a ton of money. And so have lots of other people. We're not talking about writers or publishers. They were paid. But the reason I tune in is not because somebody wrote a song or somebody hooted a flute someplace. I wanna hear Elvis or Whitney or the newest artists. They get paid nothing and that's gotta get fixed right now."
Gene testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Intellectual Property Subcommittee on Tuesday, December 9 during a hearing on the American Music Fairness Act (S.326/H.R.861),legislation to close the radio loophole and compel radio corporations to pay performers for playing their music.
During his seven-minute speech, which can be seen in its entirety below, Simmons stressed the importance of passing the bill that would force AM/FM radio stations to pay royalties to the copyright holders of respective works played.
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman," Gene said in part. "I was happy to see many of you this Sunday where KISS, our little band, was honored at the Kennedy Center with President Trump. I'm proud to say I first met President Trump years before he got into politics. And I'm happy to remind everyone here in this room that our President Trump signed the Music Modernization Act in 2018. This bill updated copyright protection for the digital era.
"The world is changing. We've got to stay ahead of the curve and legislators need to be informed on all of these things because, let's face it, you do the work of the people. We elect you, and we hope and we expect you to do the will of the people.
"I'm grateful to President Trump for his leadership on issues important to our artists past, present and future.
"I'm here to kindly ask all of you, both Republicans and Democrats, to help us remedy a situation — an injustice, let's call it for what it is, an injustice that's been ongoing for many, many decades. I'm gonna tell you what I mean.
"Bing Crosby recorded perhaps one of the biggest songs of all time, 'White Christmas'. What's more American than that? Written by Irving Berlin. It's been on radio, AM and FM — later on FM; originally in AM — millions of times. Every Christmas we, and around the world, are listening to 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas'. That's America's song. Everyone received money — the radio station sold advertising, the plumber who fixed the plumbing got paid, the disc jockey got paid. The only person that was never paid for the airplay was Bing Crosby, which is astonishing.
"I wanna talk about why this is called the American Music — you gotta stop there — American Music Fairness Act. Yes, it's an act that's fair because there isn't fairness ongoing right now, but it's American music. America. Last time I checked Zimbabwe gave the world no music. I can't sing you a French song, and nobody else. It's America's music that rules this planet. Elvis [Presley], baby, the king. Elvis, who sang hundreds and hundreds of songs, and I met the gentleman when he was alive, and sadly Elvis never got a penny for all the times, all the millions of times that his music was played around the world. If you go to Africa… you hear that music. That is our emissary. That's bigger and cooler and better than any foreign minister that goes on. American culture spreads with our music, with our pop culture. Elvis never got a penny.
"This bill, when it's passed, 'cause the word 'if' is for losers… We are gonna pass this bill. It is bipartisan. You will do the will of the people because 70% of the United States of America in a recent poll said, 'We want this injustice cured now and once and for all.' Getting close to the finish line does not work… We're only talking about AM and FM radio and paying our Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, even my newest best friend George Strait, who's a co-winner, proud winner of the Kennedy Honors. I walked up to George and we started talking about family and 'where you from?' 'I'm from Texas,' and I said, 'I'm from Israel. Same thing, planet Earth.' And we started talking and trading stuff and I told him, 'George, do you know one of your biggest songs, 'Amarillo [By Morning]', which has been broadcast on AM and FM radio hundreds of thousands of times, do you know you never got a penny for any of those broadcasts?' He looked around, he said, 'What do you mean?' Because he sings other people's songs. 'What do you mean?' He turned to his handlers. 'No, that's true.' How do you defend that?
"How do we dare come in second to Russia, an alleged country led by a despot when they do a better job of paying our king of rock and roll, and we're gonna stand by and not pay today's artists and future artists, because, let's face it, our children are tomorrow's stars. They're gonna claw and fight their way up to the top, and it's really hard to do it. And once you reach the top of Mount Olympus, which is in the center of America, baby — don't kid yourself; it ain't in Greece. This is the land of opportunity where greatness is possible… When you work hard and you get to the top, what do you got? Zipperoni. That's not the American way. If you are against this bill, you are un-American. You cannot let this injustice continue.
"It looks like a small issue. There are wars going on and everything, but our emissaries to the world areElvis and Frank Sinatra. And then when they find out we're not treating our stars right, in other words, worse than slaves… Slaves get food and water. Elvis and Bing Crosby and Sinatra got nothing for their performance. You've got to change this now for our children and our children's children, and I know you will. The president will sign this once all you guys, respectfully, get your act together and put this across the board. Let's do the right thing. God bless, America."
Simmons testified alongside Michael Huppe, president and CEO of SoundExchange, the non-profit designated by Congress to collect and distribute digital streaming royalties to artists. Huppe has helped lead the fight in recent years to build support for the American Music Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill that ensures radio corporations play by the same rules as every other music delivery platform that pays performers royalties.
AM/FM radio remains the only major music delivery platform in the United States that still refuses to pay performers for their work. Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, YouTube and TikTok all pay performers, while the corporate radio industry earns billions of dollars each year without paying artists fairly. The United States stands as the world's only democracy that still refuses to pay artists, putting it in the same league as North Korea, Iran, and Cuba. Even Russia and China pay performers royalties.
Simmons, who started his career as a small-venue musician and was honored at the Kennedy Center on December 7, was one of more than 300 major artists who sent a letter to Congressional leaders earlier this year urging them to pass the American Music Fairness Act. His support has helped breathe new life into this effort — today's hearing marked the first time in more than a decade that the Senate had held a hearing on the American Music Fairness Act.
The American Music Fairness Act is sponsored by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA). The bill takes a balanced approach to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their songs are played on AM/FM radio, require big radio corporations to finally pay their fair share, and help small independent broadcasters thrive. The legislation is supported by a diverse coalition of artists, broadcasters, labels, and music lovers:
Broadcasters, such as the Alliance for Community Media, Common Frequency, Media Alliance, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB),Prometheus Radio Project and REC Networks — which represent a broad coalition of community broadcasters — also support AMFA.
Last month, more than a dozen major artists asked Congress not to pass legislation requiring AM radio in new vehicles without also closing the radio loophole for artists.
More than 300 artists sent a letter to Congressional leaders in February urging them to pass the American Music Fairness Act.
Country music icon Randy Travis memorably testified before the House last year urging adoption of the legislation.
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