Bipartisan Music Legislation Advances in Congress: Key Bills Impacting Artists and Industry
Several significant bills are currently under consideration in the 119th Congress, capturing the attention of the music industry. These legislative measures have the potential to influence various aspects of the business, including songwriting, licensing, tourism, royalties, ticketing, and live performances. With bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans, industry stakeholders, including the Recording Academy and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), are actively advocating for these bills.
The legislative process can be intricate and lengthy, often involving multiple introductions and revisions. Bills may appear in various forms in both the Senate and House of Representatives, undergoing committee reviews, hearings, and amendments before reaching the congressional floor for a vote. If approved, they ultimately await the president’s signature to become law.
To provide a comprehensive overview, a list of music-related legislation currently before Congress has been compiled, detailing the history, support, and potential impact of each bill. Updates will follow as these proposals progress through the legislative process.
RAP Act
The Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act, first introduced in 2022, seeks to restrict the use of rap lyrics in federal prosecutions. The use of lyrics as evidence has sparked controversy, particularly in high-profile cases involving artists like Young Thug and Gunna. The RAP Act was reintroduced in 2023 and again in July 2025, where it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Co-sponsored by Representatives Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), the bill enjoys widespread support from the music industry, including endorsements from major record labels and Live Nation.
NO FAKES Act
The Nurture Originals, Foster Art and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act aims to protect artists from unauthorized use of their digital likenesses through artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes. This legislation would establish a framework for artists to license their digital likenesses and take legal action against unauthorized deepfakes. Initially introduced in 2024, the NO FAKES Act has been revised multiple times, with significant support from platforms like YouTube and Spotify. The bill received unanimous endorsement from the Senate Judiciary Committee in June 2026 and is awaiting a full Senate vote.
American Music Tourism Act
The American Music Tourism Act, first introduced in 2024, aims to enhance music-related travel and tourism in the United States. The proposed legislation directs the Department of Commerce to promote iconic sites such as Graceland and the Grammy Museum. The bill has garnered broad support in both chambers of Congress, passing the House in April 2025 and the Senate in May 2025. It was introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) and Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.).
American Music Fairness Act
The American Music Fairness Act seeks to require terrestrial radio stations to pay performance royalties to artists and record labels. This legislation has been a long-standing goal for industry advocates, with the latest version introduced in 2021 and reintroduced in January 2025. The bill aims to address a loophole that allows AM/FM radio stations to pay only publishing royalties, unlike satellite and online platforms. The legislation has been referred to the Judiciary Committees in both chambers, with notable support from organizations like the Recording Academy and SoundExchange.
MAIN Event Ticketing Act
The Mitigating Automated Internet Networks (MAIN) for Event Ticketing Act, initially introduced in 2023, aims to strengthen enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act. This legislation would impose new reporting and security requirements on online ticket sellers to combat automated bots that bypass human buyers. The bill has been reintroduced in both the Senate and House and has received support from the Recording Academy and Live Nation.
TICKET Act
The Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET) Act aims to reform the ticket-buying process by mandating that event promoters clearly display the full price of tickets, including fees and taxes, before checkout. Originally introduced in 2023, the legislation passed the House in 2024 but did not advance before the end of the congressional term. It was reintroduced in both chambers in early 2025 and has since gained traction, passing the House again in April 2025.
Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act
The Protecting Outdoor Concerts Act seeks to enable the Federal Aviation Administration to restrict airspace around outdoor music festivals and concerts. Introduced in 2021 and reintroduced multiple times, the bill addresses safety concerns related to low-flying aircraft during events like Coachella. The legislation is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
TRAIN Act
The Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act, first introduced in 2024, aims to provide musicians with a legal avenue to discover if their works were used to train generative AI models without permission. The bill allows artists to subpoena AI developers for training data, similar to existing measures against internet piracy. The TRAIN Act was reintroduced in July 2025 and has been endorsed by the RIAA and the Recording Academy.
CLEAR Act
The Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting (CLEAR) Act would require tech companies to disclose the protected works used in training data for generative AI models. Originally proposed in 2024, the bill has been reintroduced in February 2026 and has received support from various music industry groups.
Protect Working Musicians Act
The Protect Working Musicians Act (PWMA) would enable independent musicians to collectively negotiate licenses with AI companies and streaming platforms. The bill aims to exempt indie artists from antitrust scrutiny over group bargaining. Initially introduced in 2021, the PWMA has been retooled to address AI issues and was reintroduced in May 2026.
AI Labeling Act
The AI Labeling Act mandates that AI-generated content, including audio, must include a watermark indicating the use of AI technology. Introduced in both chambers in 2023, the bill was reintroduced in June 2026 and has garnered support from various music industry organizations.
As reported by www.billboard.com.
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Published on 2026-07-02 02:37:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk