During Grammy week, more than 20 artists signed a statement encouraging Congress to pass the Performance Rights Act, a bill that would require radio to pay royalties to musicians for playing their songs. Artists who signed the statement during Grammy Week included Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Kenny Aronoff, Sheryl Crow, Phil Soussan, Jackson Browne, Don Was, Dave Matthews, Josh Groban, Travis Barker, Andrea Bocelli, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, Will.i.am and Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, Drake, Mary J. Blige, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and David Foster.

The statement reads, "We, the undersigned artists, believe in the partnership between music and radio. We believe that artists (including the background singers and musicians and the great legacy artists of the past decades) deserve to be compensated when their music is used by radio. We support the Performance Rights Act because it is fair to radio and fair to artists. We encourage the radio industry to work with the music community and Congress to pass The Performance Rights Act. Together, we can create a true partnership that benefits radio, artists and musicians, and fans."

"In speaking to these talented artists, I heard three constant refrains," stated Daryl Friedman, VP of advocacy and government relations for The Recording Academy. "First, their concerns for background singers and musicians and older legacy artists who need to be fairly compensated; second, their willingness to sit down with radio to work out a solution; and third, if radio still refuses to talk, their commitment to take the fight to Washington."

Meanwhile, artist advocacy group musicFIRST is participating in ongoing negotiations with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in response to a request from Congress that the music community and the radio industry find common ground on the creation of a radio performance right. However, the NAB filed comments with the FCC in September to take on musicFIRST's involvement in the performance royalty rate, and the NAB said there is no reason for the Commission to be involved in the debate either. The NAB noted that musicFIRST "failed to participate in the proceeding it initiated by filing any comments. And the commenters supporting musicFIRST failed to provide any legal or specific factual basis that could justify an FCC investigation" into the performance royalty debate.