Press Release
FCC Must Crack Down on Payola Broadcasters
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- Four of the nation's largest radio conglomerates reportedly are negotiating a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission to head off an investigation into programmers taking illegal payments from record companies to play or promote their artists.
Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, today urged the FCC not to let payola broadcasters off the hook.
"The punishment must fit the crime," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. "The FCC should fulfill its obligations to listeners and strictly enforce existing payola regulations. Any FCC settlement should be severe enough to make the radio giants think twice before violating the public's trust by trucking in illegal payola."
According to the New York Times, Clear Channel, the nation's largest owner of radio stations, has proposed paying a fine of $1.5 million to $3 million to settle the charges and avoid a further investigation. The other conglomerates under scrutiny for payola violations are CBS Radio, Entercom Communications and the Citadel Broadcasting Corp.
"A $1.5 million to $3 million fine is peanuts," Karr said. "The Clear Channel colossus controls more than 1,200 radio stations nationwide. If Clear Channel is indeed guilty of payola abuses, the FCC should not let them off with a slap on the wrist."
Free Press activists have sent more than 50,000 letters to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the three other FCC Commissioners urging them to "launch a full and thorough investigation into all allegations of payola in the commercial radio industry and hold bad actors accountable."
Click here for more information.
Free Press, the national, nonpartisan media reform group, today urged the FCC not to let payola broadcasters off the hook.
"The punishment must fit the crime," said Timothy Karr, campaign director of Free Press. "The FCC should fulfill its obligations to listeners and strictly enforce existing payola regulations. Any FCC settlement should be severe enough to make the radio giants think twice before violating the public's trust by trucking in illegal payola."
According to the New York Times, Clear Channel, the nation's largest owner of radio stations, has proposed paying a fine of $1.5 million to $3 million to settle the charges and avoid a further investigation. The other conglomerates under scrutiny for payola violations are CBS Radio, Entercom Communications and the Citadel Broadcasting Corp.
"A $1.5 million to $3 million fine is peanuts," Karr said. "The Clear Channel colossus controls more than 1,200 radio stations nationwide. If Clear Channel is indeed guilty of payola abuses, the FCC should not let them off with a slap on the wrist."
Free Press activists have sent more than 50,000 letters to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and the three other FCC Commissioners urging them to "launch a full and thorough investigation into all allegations of payola in the commercial radio industry and hold bad actors accountable."
Click here for more information.
