**Consumer Alert: Al Green's Gold Records Could Cost YOU – Congress Targets Retro Music Royalty Loophole**
**WASHINGTON** – In a move that could add a hidden tax to your next streaming binge or digital album purchase, Congress is now investigating a decades-old royalty loophole that has been quietly costing artists like soul legend Al Green millions. And the bill? It’s coming for your wallet.
Here’s the danger: The "Al Green Congress" probe, named for the singer who lost key rights to his pre-1972 master recordings, is exposing a gap that lets streaming giants and record labels pay retro-era artists next to nothing for hits like "Let’s Stay Together." But experts say the fix isn’t free. If Congress forces platforms like Spotify and Apple Music to back-pay artists, those costs will hit your monthly subscription—or worse, trigger a new "retro royalty fee" on every old song you play.
The bottom line: Your nostalgia is about to get expensive. Lawmakers are debating whether to make streaming services pay artists for their pre-1972 work retroactively. While that sounds fair for icons like Green, consumer advocates warn the final tab—potentially billions—will be passed directly to you. Think higher subscription prices, surprise surcharges on "oldies" playlists, or even ads on previously ad-free retro stations.
**The takeaway:** Before you hit "like" on that Al Green classic, check your streaming bill. The price of preserving music history might be a premium on the music you already own.