Payola

FMC Urges FCC to Investigate Allegations of Radio Payola

February 15, 2006

In a February 15 letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, the Future of Music Coalition (FMC) expressed enthusiasm over recent news reports that the Commission was launching a thorough investigation into allegations that some radio station conglomerates have been engaging in payola. FMC urged the agency to complete this investigation before moving ahead with any rulemakings that would allow for further radio deregulation, or the granting of additional resources to commercial radio broadcasters during the transition to HD radio. read more

FMC Statement on Radio and Concert Disclosure and Competition Act of 2005

November 18, 2005

Senator Russ Feingold should be personally thanked by every independent musician in America. Finally we have a bill that expands the definition of "payola" to eliminate the inside dealing and structural abuses in consolidated radio that have locked local, unaffiliated and independent artists off the airwaves for years. read more

Artist Groups Deliver "Joint Statement On Current Issues In Radio" to FCC and Congress

October 8, 2003

Today a "Joint Statement on Current Issues in Radio" was delivered to the Federal Communications Commission and congressional leaders by four organizations: the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA); American Federation of Musicians (AFM); the Future of Music Coalition (FMC); and the Recording Artists’ Coalition (RAC). read more

Joint Statement on Current Issues in Radio (2003)

In May 2002, a broad coalition of music industry and advocacy groups released a Statement on Current Issues in Radio. This update to that statement is signed by key organizations that represent musicians, singers, retailers and performing artists. Although we are pleased that the issue of media consolidation is receiving national attention, we are concerned that many of the problems caused or exacerbated by radio consolidation have yet to be resolved. We therefore collectively reiterate our call on the FCC and Congress to ensure that radio serves the public interest. In this document we revisit our positions on vertical integration of radio ownership, payola, radio ownership consolidation and low power radio. read more

Commercial Radio Station Ownership Consolidation Shown to Harm Artists and the Public, Says FMC Study

November 18, 2002

The unprecedented consolidation of the commercial radio industry that followed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has led to a loss of localism, less competition, fewer viewpoints and less diversity in radio programming in media markets across the country, according to “Radio Deregulation: Has It Served Citizens and Musicians?” a study released today by the Future of Music Coalition (FMC). read more

Joint Statement on Current Issues in Radio (2002)

American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists (AFTRA)
Association for Independent Music (AFIM)
Future of Music Coalition (FMC)
Just Plain Folks
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)

National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM)
National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Recording Academy
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) read more