Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisc) has introduced a “Competition in Radio and
Concert Industries Act”, which aims to put a stop to anti-competitive practices
within
the radio and concert industry. This is important, we need as many people to voice their opinions as possible.
2003.02.15
As you have probably noticed, the state of commercial radio is quite atrocious
these
days, thanks largely to a huge corporation called Clear Channel.
They own just about all commercial radio stations and many large venues in
almost every
major city, and it’s just getting worse. This corporation has played a huge role
in turning
popular “music” into the bland, glosssed-over, one-look/sound/attitude/way of
thinking-fits-all
industry that we now know and love.
Not only has Clear Channel had a terrible impact on modern music artistically,
they’ve
also squeezed countless independent radio owners and promoters out of the
market.
In order for artists to get radio airplay, their record label or promoter (which
the artists
will eventually have to pay back) must pay exorbitant fees to the radio
stations, which
basically excludes anyone who is not on a major label from getting on the radio.
And we know that all major labels are concerned with is $$$, definitely NOT
artistry, so they
pick up bands who sound most like what’s popular or marketable at the moment,
with little
to no regard for their actual musical value.
We can’t let our artistic culture be consolidated like this! Which brings me to
the point:
Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisc) has introduced a “Competition in Radio and
Concert Industries Act”, which aims to put a stop to anti-competitive practices
within
the radio and concert industry.
I urge you all to take a few minutes to write your
senators and encourage them to support this bill.
Here are some helpful links:
Find and write to your senator at:
http://www.senate.gov/
Read more about Sen Feingold’s bill at:
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/03/01/2003128910.html
Learn more about Clear Channel and their practices at:
http://www.salon.com/ent/clear_channel/
or
http://www.clearchannelsucks.org/
This is important, we need as many people to voice their opinions as possible.
Cameron Jones is one half of the Portland-based band Two Guys.
Author: Cameron Jones
News Service: TheExperiment
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