Quick Links

Click Here to send us an email


Phone (903) 643-7711
FAX (903) 643-8272

Snail Mail:
KZQX Radio
P.O. Box 1008
Kilgore, Texas 75663

The Performance Tax
(Please say "NO!")

By Chuck Conrad, KZQX Radio's Owner and General Manager.

Recently,  you’ve heard us talking about the proposed "Performance Tax, which would require KZQX and all other broadcasters to pay additional royalties on all recorded music that we play. As it is, we already pay large amounts every month for the privilege of playing music on the air.  In fact, music licensing is our biggest expense after payroll and surpasses our very high monthly electric bill.  Radio stations are not cheap to operate.

Several of our listeners have told me that they have written their Congressman to express their concern.  For that I personally want to thank you.  But the job isn't over.  In fact the specter of this new imposition is currently looming full speed ahead in Congress

Radio airplay generates billions of dollars in music sales for record companies, retailers and artists alike. In addition to just record sales, artists benefit by selling CDs, concert tickets, and other merchandise that are promoted by radio. In fact, radio stations like KZQX introduce new audiences to musicians whose works haven't been heard in years. We help make them successful. Our listeners actually go out and purchase recordings from artists they have either forgotten about or have never heard before. Radio helps sell music.  It always has.  The proposed Performance Tax ignores that simple fact.

If enacted, this legislation would transfer massive amounts of money from radio stations to large record companies, most of which are foreign owned.

Never mind the money, under the proposed  rule making, this Performance Tax would greatly increase our work load, requiring us to file periodic reports to some government sanctioned entity for each and every song we play.  We simply don’t have the staff to do that.   

It's not just us. The financial impact of the Performance Tax could be devastating to radio in general - especially at a time when the commercials that support most stations, including KZQX ,are decreasing due to the recession.

There is  a cure for this.  Please  write or e-mail your United States representative in support of an opposing resolution - It's called the "Local Radio Freedom Act"  Help KZQX and other broadcasters. Express your support of the Local Radio Freedom Act. And please - do it today.

Thanks
Chuck Conrad
Owner & General Manager

Here is a link that will tell you how to contact your elected representatives.

Click on a link to listen with your favorite player.

click above to start or stop auto-play audio

Member Texas Association of Broadcasters