Photo: WENN
Huge names in the music industry including Rihanna, Missy Elliot and Billy Joel have joined more than 120 other musicians in signing an open letter opposing new royalties legislation.
The letter opposes the Internet Radio Fairness Act (IRFA) that is currently being considered in US Congress.
Pandora Media Inc, which runs an internet radio service, are lobbying Congress to pass the law to reform the way royalties are paid when an artists songs are played on the internet.
Pandora, as well as other music services such as Clear Channel Communications, support the bill on the grounds that different providers like satellite and cable pay a different rate for royalties.
The musicians' open letter asks, "Why is the company asking Congress once again to step in and gut the royalties that thousands of musicians rely upon? That's not fair and that's not how partners work together."
Pandora was founded more than ten years ago to stream songs through the internet and is mostly supported by advertising.
Letter signer Missy Elliot on stage in 2010
In October it claimed that its share of total US radio listeners was almost seven percent - an increase of three percent since the previous year.
The more custom Pandora gets, the more money they have to pay overall for the rights to stream music.
At statement on Pandora's website calls for support for the IRFA, saying that the current royalties rates are a result of piecemeal legislation which is grossly unfair to internet radio.
"We are asking for our listeners' support to help end the discrimination against internet radio. It's time for Congress to stop picking winners, level the playing field and establish a technology-neutral standard," the statement read.
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