Recording Industry Bill Advances

A bill designed to provide recording artists with more leverage in contract talks passed a key legislative hurdle, winning approval from the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill would make it a “fiduciary duty” for record labels to accurately calculate royalty earnings owed to artists.

The legislation sponsored by Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City) is one of a series of measures that could toughen penalties for labels that underpay or cheat artists out of royalties.

Record industry officials have opposed the bill, saying it would impede labels trying to develop new business models in the face of surging piracy.

-- Jeff Leeds