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Musicians' Letter to the Federal Communications Commission
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Musicians and artists: Below is a letter that was signed by a number of musicians who are all
deeply concerned about the FCC's proposed rule changes on media ownership.
To see the rules that are under consideration read this
FCC fact sheet or this chart. |
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American Federation of Musicians (AFM) |
International Music Managers’ Forum |
The Honorable Michael Powell
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Re: Media Ownership Proceeding 02-277
April 30, 2003
Dear Chairman Powell:
We are writing to insist that Congress and the public have a full opportunity
to review and comment on any specific changes that the Commission intends to
make in the biennial review of media ownership rules before such rules are issued
in final form.
As musicians, recording artists, citizens and small business owners we are uniquely
qualified to comment on the increased consolidation of the radio dial since
the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. We write to you today to emphasize
that this period of consolidation has had far-reaching negative repercussions
on our ability to gain access to the public airwaves and to make a living.
We are therefore rightfully cautious and extremely concerned as American citizens
that increased concentration of media ownership will have a negative impact
on access to diverse viewpoints and will impede the functioning of our democracy.
We understand that a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has
required the FCC to show “empirical evidence” that the rules are necessary,
or they must be revoked.
We believe there is ample empirical evidence that these rules are necessary
and, more importantly, overwhelming proof that the public would like the limits
to be held in place.
Empirical Evidence
1. “Radio
Deregulation: Has It Served Citizens and Musicians?”
In November 2002, the Future of Music Coalition released a well-researched and
data-driven study of the effects of radio consolidation on citizens and musicians.
This 150-page document presents compelling evidence that radio consolidation
has resulted in:
2. “Democracy
Unhinged: More Media Concentration Means Less Public Discourse”
In December 2002, the Center for Economic and Policy Research and the Department
for Professional Employees/AFL-CIO released a critique of the twelve FCC studies
which, according to an FCC press release, purported to have “examined the
current state of the media market place.” The Center for Economic and Policy
Research used the same data sets to raise serious questions about the impact
of concentration to date on diversity of news and entertainment. The report
indicates that there is little basis for believing that substitution between
types of media will offset any negative effects from concentration in a specific
medium. The FCC studies also neglected to consider the extent to which ownership
concentration may affect the ability of various interest or political groups
to reach a wider public with their views. This is an extremely important issue
in a democracy.
3. Project
for Excellence in Journalism News Ownership Study
In February 2002, the Project for Excellence in Journalism released the results
of the largest examination ever undertaken of local television news in the United
States to deconstruct what local TV news offers citizens and to examine what
kind of content viewers preferred. The analysis was an examination of the tendencies
of ownership structures. The findings – an analysis of 172 newscasts, some
23,000 stories, over five years – suggest that ownership type does make
a difference. Among the findings:
4. Project
for Excellence in Journalism/Pew Survey
In February 2003, the Project For Excellence in Journalism, in collaboration
with the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, released the results
of a poll documenting the frightening fact that the great majority of Americans,
72 percent, have heard “nothing at all” about the current FCC media
cross-ownership debate and that only 4 percent of Americans had heard “a
lot about the issue.”
In a recent speech you referred to your critics as “noisemakers” using
the “usual alarmist political attacks designed just to prevent change.”
With all due respect, we may be sounding an alarm but we are not alarmist noisemakers.
We are the concerned citizens and small business owners whose welfare you are
charged to protect. We ask for your respect and protection.
We believe the record demonstrates both the value of existing media ownership
rules and the dangers in permitting widespread consolidation of ownership. We
also believe the FCC has been negligent in listening to important stakeholder
groups, like musicians, recording artists and radio professionals, to ensure
their testimony is on the record. The de facto boycott of field hearings by
you and Commissioners Abernathy and Martin makes us question how interested
some commissioners are in understanding the public’s interest in these
matters. Finally, a refusal to allow Congress and the public to view and debate
your specific proposal would be a tremendous disservice to the American public
and the citizens who depend on these media structures for their livelihoods.
We strongly urge you to give the public a true voice in these policies, which
will forever alter the way citizens receive their news, information and entertainment.
Sincerely,
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Carmine Appice |
Sam Moore |
Musicians and artists:
If you agree with the text of the above letter and would like to sign on, please
fill out the form below and your name will be added to the list. The letter
will be delivered to the FCC and to the appropriate members of Congress on May 22, 2003.
Your name, location and email address are being collected for this project ONLY.
If you'd like to subscribe to the FMC newsletter to receive monthly updates,
send an email to subscribe@futureofmusic.org.
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