Clash on Web radio royalties hits Congress

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The clash over music royalties for Internet radio moved to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, as lawmakers opened debate on a proposal to revamp the fee system.

Pandora Media, the biggest United States (US) Internet radio firm, stepped up its push for reforms, claiming at a hearing that the multi-tiered system for royalties is stifling innovation.

But backers of the music industry complained that writers and artists would be hurt by the proposed legislation.

Pandora chief executive Joe Kennedy told a House of Representatives panel that the "lack of a level playing field is fundamentally unfair and indefensible."