The National Association of Broadcasters on Tuesday filed comments with the FCC dismissing a complaint filed by music industry stakeholders as nothing more than a "carefully crafted public relations document" that runs counter to the First Amendment, the Communications Act, and precedent set by both the Supreme Court and the FCC. As such, the MusicFirst Coalition's argument that AM and FM stations are threatening and intimidating artists while rejecting the group's ad dollars, should be rejected, NAB said.
Music groups have backed legislation that would require over-the-air stations to pay a fee to performers when their songs are aired. They argue the bill would bring AM and FM stations in line with Internet, cable and satellite radio services, which all provide such compensation. NAB has deemed the effort a ploy by the Recording Industry Association of America to levy a "tax" on local radio. Read a detailed description of the NAB's FCC filing here and MusicFirst's initial complaint here.
Meanwhile, reports that Apple will include an FM tuner in the new iPod Nano highlight the important role music will play in radio's future success, MusicFirst Executive Director Jennifer Bendall said Wednesday. She called the iPod murmur "great news for music and great news for radio." "Radio needs music more than ever before. It must fairly support the artists and musicians who bring music to life and listeners' ears to the radio dial."
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