Blackstone Lobbies on Finance and Music via Colton Street

• Harbinger Strategies LLC: $90,000
• Avōq LLC: $110,000
• 9th Street Strategies LLC: $50,000

Avōq LLC's reported amount for Blackstone Inc. rose $30,000, from $80,000 in the second quarter of 2026 to $110,000 in the third quarter. 9th Street Strategies LLC's reported amount for Blackstone Inc. fell from $60,000 in 2026 Q2 to $50,000 in 2026 Q3, a decrease of $10,000.

Blackstone Inc.'s combined reported lobbying spend fell from $630,000 in the second quarter of 2026 to $500,000 in the third quarter, a drop of $130,000. The comparable total for the third quarter of 2025 was $610,000, a year-over-year decline of $110,000.

The sole lobbyist on the Colton Street Group filing is John O'Neill, a former Tax and Pension Counsel on the Senate Finance Committee who served across the 108th through 110th Congresses. O'Neill previously lobbied on music and copyright policy for SESAC Rights Management Inc., the same issue area he covers for Blackstone in this filing.

Broader Context

The American Music Fairness Act was introduced in the Senate as S.326 by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Jan. 30, 2025, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee with no later action shown; the House companion, H.R.861, introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) on Jan. 31, 2025, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. SoundExchange describes the legislation as requiring radio companies to compensate recording artists for the music they broadcast.

SoundExchange reported more than 300 recording artists signed a letter backing the legislation and argued that nearly two-thirds of radio stations would pay $500 or less annually; the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), through then-president and chief executive officer Curtis LeGeyt, opposed the bill, arguing a new royalty could harm local broadcasters, reduce airplay, and jeopardize local jobs.

H.R.1 became Public Law 119-21 on July 4, 2025, with enacted business-tax provisions including an extension and enhancement of the qualified-business-income deduction; any remaining business-tax work in this filing relates to implementation or further legislative action not specified in the disclosure. Separately, as background, the Fifth Circuit vacated the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Private Fund Adviser Rules in 2024, and the SEC issued a notice stating the rules were vacated in their entirety; the filing itself names no specific rule or bill on financial services.

Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL-15) posted on Feb. 24 that she introduced the American Family Housing Act to codify an executive order banning companies like Blackstone from buying single-family homes. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) posted on June 26, calling for elimination of the Social Security payroll-tax cap and citing Blackstone's chief executive officer compensation.

The Bottom Line

Blackstone's combined reported lobbying spend was $500,000 in the third quarter of 2026, down $130,000 from the second quarter and $110,000 from the third quarter of 2025. S.326 and H.R.861 were referred to the Senate and House Judiciary committees, respectively, and Congress.gov shows no later action on either bill.

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