Future of Music Coalition is celebrating a major win on one of our longest-fought for issues, the creation of Low Power FM stations in more American towns and cities.

The core of FMC came together ten years ago around efforts to expand community radio — this battle is in our blood. The passage of the Local Community Radio Act in Congress represents ten years of work by a diverse coalition of advocates, including musicians such as Indigo Girls, Nicole Atkins, OK Go, Rebecca Gates, Jon Langford, Erin McKeown, Vijay Iyer, Saul Williams, Kronos Quartet and many more. We couldn’t ask for a better gift this season than the news that local musicians will have more opportunities to be heard on the public airwaves.

LPFM stations boost local music scenes, increase civic engagement, give native speakers a voice on the airwaves and help kids learn the ropes of media production. Currently, there are about 800 such stations operating, mostly in rural areas. Although the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wanted to issue licenses more broadly back in 2000, the powerful commercial broadcasting lobby, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) claimed these tiny stations would interfere with their own megawatt signals. Time and again, engineering experts disproved these claims; this year, we powered through with an 11th-hour Senate vote. The bill is now awaiting the president’s signature.

As was the case with the FCC’s 2007 full power licensing window, FMC will work with a broad range of partners to inform potential applicants of this exciting new opportunity. Stay tuned for details.

Please join us in celebrating this incredibly significant win for community radio and artist access!

FMC statement | Front-page article at Pitchfork

OK, we have to be perfectly honest: this is not the second win we’d hoped for. As you may have heard, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, the FCC voted to adopt an Order meant to preserve the open internet. As is sometimes the case with policy, there are things that are pretty good, and things that are not so good.

We like that the Order — which has not yet been made public in full — takes steps to preserve the open internet on the wireline side (your laptops, desktops, etc.). Although there is some question about Order leaving loopholes for Internet Service Providers to set up paid prioritization schemes, we welcome the recognition of the importance of a level online playing field for musicians and music entrepreneurs. Enforcement of this policy is a whole ’nother issue, but for now, we can call this an important first step in preserving the web as a platform for free expression, creativity and commerce.

We’re not so keen on the fact that the Order doesn’t appear to extend this basic protection to the wireless space. It’s clear that mobile is increasingly where it’s at for music access, and it’s crucial that this developing marketplace remain open to musicians. We’ll be working hard to ensure that access and innovation for musicians remains a reality wherever and however they choose to connect.

Our success here is going to depend to a large degree on taking the long view. And that view is that the future of music is about unrestricted artist participation in new business models. FMC thanks the musicians, songwriters and composers who have helped us make Rock the Net such a strong voice for access and innovation in the creative sector. The fact that we¹ve gotten this far with what was once an arcane telecommunications debate should clearly demonstrate what can be accomplished when musicians step up and tell their stories. You can see many of them here.

FMC statement on FCC Order | FMC’s Casey Rae-Hunter on NPR | FMC in Billboard | Ars Technica roundup of reactions

It’s getting close to your last chance to make your 2010 tax-deductible, charitable donation to FMC. We’ve told you all kinds of reasons to do so, including the fact that we’re just plain awesome. But consider this: certain music industry groups in DC spent 1.6 million over summer alone, and they aren’t always advocating for the best interests of artists. We are, though, with a small staff and a shoestring. If you value what we do to ensure a brighter future for all musicians, make your contribution now.

Giving Rocks!

Last newsletter, we told you that the video archives from last October’s 10th Anniversary Future of Music Policy Summit had been uploaded to our Vimeo page. Don’t worry, they’re still there!

Well, now we’ve got most of the vids on Youtube, too. Check ‘em out here.

We also have a repository on our site for all things Summit10.

FMC staff loves music, obviously. But we also like other stuff, too. Here’s some of what we found tolerable-to-thrilling about 2010.

Lissa Rosenthal’s 2010 faves
This year, I moved to DC to join the Future of Music Coalition. And, experienced my first FMC Policy Summit. I proudly watched an incredibly talented and very small staff deftly lead, with great ease and facility, some of the most important and critical discussions facing musicians, technology and cultural policy today.

By moving to DC, I’ve also been able to spend more time with my family. And, I welcomed Adele Colette, my second niece, into the world. She’s got big hands and long fingers — basketball and guitar are in her future.

This year, I got to share several bottles of Petrus 1995 with some cool people. And, I made the best dry-brined roasted chicken ever.

The Dear New Orleans concert with Air Traffic Control and a bunch of incredible artists was truly amazing. It was an incredible show and it was really exciting to share that experience with the artists, many of whom I had heard before as a fan, but in this new context it was really special.

I finally learned this year that the little things really do matter the most.

Kristin Thomson’s top 5 for 2010
5. Sound Opinions podcasts. Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis have filled a void in my life with their smart, weekly podcasts reviewing the world of rock.  Favorite episodes: their breakdown of the recording of the Clash’s London Calling, and their lengthy history lesson about supergroups.

4. Dr. Dog at the Electric Factory (May 13). What a great way to spend our 15th wedding anniversary! Displaying an array of influences, the band pulled off tight harmonies to a totally sold-out crowd that was cheering on every move.  Loved it.

3. Philadelphia. I love living in Philly, the tough younger brother between New York and DC, but in the past year I’ve become even more enthralled. Barcamp Philly, TedX Philly, Junto, Ignite Philly and the Knight Foundation’s Arts Challenge are just some of the ways that the community is showcasing some of the innovative projects and initiatives going on all over the city, from alternative high schools, to urban farming, tech development, and arts initiatives.

2. Arcade Fire, with Spoon, at the Mann in Philadelphia (Aug 2). The first night of their tour supporting their album “The Suburbs”. Intense and joyous.

1. FMC Policy Summit. I’m ten for ten! This year’s Summit was as big and bold as the very first one. My favorite moments were Damian Kulash’s conversation with Neda Ulaby, the Facebook/YouTube/CASH/Nielsen critique, and the Bonerama-powered rock show.

Nicole Duffey’s 2010 most amazing amazingness
2010 was an excellent year overall, but a few notable things are worth mentioning here.

The year started off with a bang of a snowstorm here in DC. During the event that would be come known as Snowpocolypse, I caught up on a lot of things in my Netflix instant queue. One of the best things I saw that week was a documentary recommended to me by a friend back home. Nerdcore Rising follows MC Frontalot, an independent, niche musician embarking on his first tour. The superhuman energy and wit in Front’s music, combined with all too human the trials and tribulations of touring, make for a movie that both educates and entertains. If you’ve never been a touring musician and want to get a sense of what that experience is like, check it out.  This film is also to blame for my subsequent newfound love of Nerdcore.

Kembrew’s piece in the Atlantic. I read all kinds of things like this for work, but have told the story of this article in more conversations in my personal life than I can count. When trying to explain where I work, I somehow always wind back up here: the intersection of technology and music and absolute confusion and the story of the courage it takes to try to make sense of it all.

In July my friend Molly — who knows my taste better than anyone — turned me on to Mumford and Sons. She figured their album would have enough drama, Shakespearian references and banjo to intrigue me. She was right. They have since become somewhat of a deal and I don’t begrudge them the success. It’s nice to watch really good music attract an audience; as an FMC staffer I enjoy seeing that.

Dreamscapes Project held a benefit for us in June and I managed to catch their great live show. I was proud to be representing FMC at the gig and having a night on the town as part of your job never hurts either.

Chess at Signature Theatre knocked my socks off. My friend Ashley almost bounced out of her seat during the first act we were so gleefull to be seeing it.

Hooking Pandora up to Facebook. I listen to Pandora all day every day in the office. I love being able to easily capture that feeling of, “wow this song is great, I wish I could tell everyone I know” by simply clicking “share on Facebook” from the Pandora app. I try to keep a lid on how often I do this (b/c really, eight in one day is a bit much).

Chhaya Kapadia’s list of elation

A stupendous, mental-vertigo-inducing 18 hours at DC’s 930 Club: Trombone Shorty on Friday night and Girls Rock DC show Saturday morning.

My Morning Jacket @ Meriweather Post with Rebirth Brass Band opening. Great musicians, great night and they even finished the night with “Carnival Time,” ‘nuff said.

PiL @ 930 Club

Jon Stewart/Steven Colbert Rally (photos)

Running my first race

Eating my way through LA, SF and PDX this summer

Last but not least, my baby: Summit10

Chris Naoum likes things!
1. Started working at FMC — cheesy, but true
2. Took a trip to Chicago and went to Lollapalooza - (Got to see Lady Gaga)
3. Filed amicus brief and attended Supreme Court oral arguments
4. Attended the tribute to Paul McCartney at the White House
5. Spent a week in Puerto Rico for a best friends wedding

Casey Rae-Hunter says, “hey, it wasn’t so bad!”
1. My wife and I went to Barbados. It was hot. And amazing.
2. iPad.
3. Three cats, one bunny.
4. Every single conversation I had with every single amazing person at Summit10
5. New record, new label, new reason to tinker nights and weekends

At the end of this year, FMC’s Kristin Thomson will be exiting her post as Education Director, and transitioning to a consultant role to focus on some specific FMC projects. 

You can always contact us at suggestions [at] futureofmusic [dot] org if you have questions.