Broadcasters in Payola Deal

[Sinner]

http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/ar..._id=1003554189


WASHINGTON Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Entercom and Citadel Broadcasting have agreed to a consent decree that includes a $12.5 million payment to settle payola allegations raised by the Federal Communications Commission, sources said.

Independent recording artists will get a clearer shot at the airwaves under the deal cut by the big radio station groups and indie labels as part of the federal payola investigation.

While it is not part of the consent decree, a separate voluntary side deal between the station groups and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) would set aside 8,400 half-hour blocks of time for independent music.

Thoughts?

[Dionysos]

I think if they really did away with the swag & marketing efforts that constitute 'payola', the entire radio industry would crumble.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

I think if they really did away with the swag & marketing efforts that constitute 'payola', the entire radio industry would crumble.

Would that be a bad thing???

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by MicahB

Would that be a bad thing???

Merritt can only afford one of his Porsches on his DDM salary, I'm just thinking of him.

[hepkatmama]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

I think if they really did away with the swag & marketing efforts that constitute 'payola', the entire radio industry would crumble.

the status quo would crumble.
that's not a bad thing imho

but i don't have a porsche payment due.

broadcasters did the same crybaby stuff last century & radio survived.
the programming changed, but radio is still here.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by hepkatmama

broadcasters did the same crybaby stuff last century & radio survived.
the programming changed, but radio is still here.

Yeah, that 12.5mil fine split up between those guys doesn't really sound like much of a fine...

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by MicahB

Yeah, that 12.5mil fine split up between those guys doesn't really sound like much of a fine...

Ya thats about as rough on them as me and a buddy splitting a lunch tab.

[Adam D]

It's not a big fine and it's not going to change anything. I would guess more money than that is given in payola each year or two between those three to get songs on the air.

Even assuming it ended payola, it wouldn't change anything. Major labels have the means to push their artists into the spotlight, so that's what a majority of people will want to hear. Radio stations aren't going to attract the numbers they want for advertising playing artists people don't know.