Music Group Urges FCC Action On Ad War
The Music Managers Forum, a member of a coalition backed by the Recording Industry Association of America, royalty collector SoundExchange and other music interests, filed comments with the FCC on Tuesday in support of a petition urging the agency to probe radio stations' refusal to air advertisements backing legislation that would require AM and FM stations to pay fees to performers. National Association of Broadcasters officials have repeatedly noted their members are under no obligation to accept any and all advertising, including spots from the MusicFirst Coalition.
The MMF filing contains a copy of a strongly worded e-mail from college radio station WICB in Ithaca, N.Y., to musician Aimee Mann, which MusicFirst argues illustrates their claim that stations are threatening artists who support the legislation. In the e-mail posted on Mann's online message board, WICB General Manager Chris Wheatley states: "Since you support MusicFirst, WICB hereby drops Aimee Mann... from our playlist like a bad habit." "The very medium that made you a 'star' should now pay for the privilege of promoting your product? MusicFirst is out to kill radio. For you, no airplay = no sales, and no concert tix," the e-mail reads.
Wheatley added that he would encourage other college broadcasters to follow WICB's lead "and the few commercial stations that play your music will be happy to join our cause." WICB is an affiliate of both ABC Radio and the Associated Press. Under provisions of the Performance Rights Act, as passed by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year, college and other non-commercial radio stations would pay $500 or $1,000 a year, according to MusicFirst, which has documented other instances of performers' tracks being shunned after they spoke in support of the legislation.
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