Thanks to an anti-payola settlement between the government and four major broadcast companies, local artists and independent record labels will be getting significantly more airplay in the near future.

As reported by the Associated Press, Entercom Communications, CBS Radio Clear Channel Communications, and Citadel Broadcasting, the owners of over 1500 radio stations nationwide, has complied to pay a total of $12.5 million dollars in fines to close an investigation into ‘payola’ and to eradicate the practice completely.

All named broadcast stations will provide 8,400 half-hour segments of free airtime to independent record labels and local artists as part of the agreement. However the time can only be given to companies not controlled or owned by the BiG 4 of music labels- Emi, Universal, Warner, or Sony, as all of said labels have been caught in payola incidents within the past two years, resulting in multi-million dollar settlements.

Not just airplay is being reformatted, though, as broadcasters and independent labels have negotiated set rules of engagement” that will guide how record company representatives and radio programmers interact. The new rules will require equal access to radio music programmers for all recording companies, as well as no favoritism in their deals.

“It’s absolutely the most historic agreement that the independent community has had with radio,” Peter Gordon, CEO of Thirsty Ear Recordings; an independent record label, responded to AP. “Without a doubt, nothing else comes close.”
This is one step closer to opening new ground for variety on the radio.

http://www.defsounds.com/news/view/1054-payola-gets-stomped-out.html

Thanks to an anti-payola settlement between the government and four major broadcast companies, local artists and independent record labels will be getting significantly more airplay in the near future.

As reported by the Associated Press, Entercom Communications, CBS Radio Clear Channel Communications, and Citadel Broadcasting, the owners of over 1500 radio stations nationwide, has complied to pay a total of $12.5 million dollars in fines to close an investigation into ‘payola’ and to eradicate the practice completely.

All named broadcast stations will provide 8,400 half-hour segments of free airtime to independent record labels and local artists as part of the agreement. However the time can only be given to companies not controlled or owned by the BiG 4 of music labels- Emi, Universal, Warner, or Sony, as all of said labels have been caught in payola incidents within the past two years, resulting in multi-million dollar settlements.

Not just airplay is being reformatted, though, as broadcasters and independent labels have negotiated set rules of engagement” that will guide how record company representatives and radio programmers interact. The new rules will require equal access to radio music programmers for all recording companies, as well as no favoritism in their deals.

“It’s absolutely the most historic agreement that the independent community has had with radio,” Peter Gordon, CEO of Thirsty Ear Recordings; an independent record label, responded to AP. “Without a doubt, nothing else comes close.”
This is one step closer to opening new ground for variety on the radio.

http://www.defsounds.com/news/view/1054-payola-gets-stomped-out.html


Interesting.

Yeah it be interesting to see if this works probably not. Big time companies will still use their power to keep their artist on the radio 24/7. I for one have no problem with mainstream radio, but it is begging for variety just mix the **** up. I hate how you can't hear local acts being played on the radio.

i like.......

I never liked the idea of payolla, to be honest. First, it's often misdirected and gets embezzled by record execs. The standard fee is about $2500, but with the way some of these guys talk, they can get as much as 10,000 with their fake promises. The business is as it is, however, and it's not how good you are but who you know.

I'd much rather hear Pharoahe Monch on the radio, opposed to any of the "lil" guys.