Country Stars Appeal To FCC
Radio consolidation is shrinking playlists and creating a homogenized musical landscape, several singers and songwriters told the Federal Communication Commission on Monday.
"Big radio is bad radio," said country music songwriter Rick Carnes, president of the Songwriters Guild of America, testifying at the second of six FCC public hearings being held nationwide. "You can drive I-40 from Knoxville to Barstow, California, and hear the same 20 songs on every country radio station."
Carnes was among several writers and performers who addressed the panel. Most urged the commissioners to put more restrictions on media ownership or at least hold the line on current regulations.
"I'm not against companies making money," said country music great George Jones, who said he and his fans have suffered under tighter radio playlists that he says are often determined by a relative few with little knowledge of country music history.
"But you know, sugar is sweet, but too much can kill you," Jones said to loud applause from the crowd at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University.
Jones also told the panel, "We don't need to make a move any further in the wrong direction."
Grand Ole Opry star Porter Wagoner said "clear channel" used to mean a powerful coast-to-coast radio signal like the one that used to broadcast the Opry.
But he said when you say it now, people think about Clear Channel Communications Inc., the media conglomerate that owns hundreds of radio stations and other media outlets.
Wagoner also said radio consolidation restricts the ability of both veteran and new artists to be heard.
"The days of an artist receiving airplay as a new act are gone," Wagoner said.
He recalled how his former duet partner, singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, scored a huge country and pop hit with the song, "Jolene," and he said, "The chance of that happening today is almost slim to none."
Bayard Walters, past chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, argued instead that many small-town radio stations are operating and viable today because of consolidation.
Many of those stations, he says, provide opportunities for new and local artists, as well as local content like news, weather and traffic.
Walters said there are 11,000-plus commercial radio stations nationwide. The biggest five companies own 2,000 of those, and the next 20 own 1,000 stations. There are a greater number of licensees today than there were in 1972, he said.
"There are those that say broadcasters don't do enough, but what is the balance in presenting local and new music versus what the public seems to indicate what it wants to hear through ratings and purchases?" he said. "It does not seem to me that the license says, 'Market for free the music of whomever wants to be on the radio."'
The FCC plans to use the information from the hearings as it re-examines rules for media ownership. The first public hearing was held in Los Angeles in October.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "Big radio is bad radio," said country music songwriter Rick Carnes, president of the Songwriters Guild of America, testifying at the second of six FCC public hearings being held nationwide. "You can drive I-40 from Knoxville to Barstow, California, and hear the same 20 songs on every country radio station."
Carnes was among several writers and performers who addressed the panel. Most urged the commissioners to put more restrictions on media ownership or at least hold the line on current regulations.
"I'm not against companies making money," said country music great George Jones, who said he and his fans have suffered under tighter radio playlists that he says are often determined by a relative few with little knowledge of country music history.
"But you know, sugar is sweet, but too much can kill you," Jones said to loud applause from the crowd at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University.
Jones also told the panel, "We don't need to make a move any further in the wrong direction."
Grand Ole Opry star Porter Wagoner said "clear channel" used to mean a powerful coast-to-coast radio signal like the one that used to broadcast the Opry.
But he said when you say it now, people think about Clear Channel Communications Inc., the media conglomerate that owns hundreds of radio stations and other media outlets.
Wagoner also said radio consolidation restricts the ability of both veteran and new artists to be heard.
"The days of an artist receiving airplay as a new act are gone," Wagoner said.
He recalled how his former duet partner, singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, scored a huge country and pop hit with the song, "Jolene," and he said, "The chance of that happening today is almost slim to none."
Bayard Walters, past chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, argued instead that many small-town radio stations are operating and viable today because of consolidation.
Many of those stations, he says, provide opportunities for new and local artists, as well as local content like news, weather and traffic.
Walters said there are 11,000-plus commercial radio stations nationwide. The biggest five companies own 2,000 of those, and the next 20 own 1,000 stations. There are a greater number of licensees today than there were in 1972, he said.
"There are those that say broadcasters don't do enough, but what is the balance in presenting local and new music versus what the public seems to indicate what it wants to hear through ratings and purchases?" he said. "It does not seem to me that the license says, 'Market for free the music of whomever wants to be on the radio."'
The FCC plans to use the information from the hearings as it re-examines rules for media ownership. The first public hearing was held in Los Angeles in October.
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I do not believe in monopolies because it dilutes the pure enthusiasm and the entertainment value associated with stars and performers who are worthy of being part of our lives. If we have to be invited to their music through happenstance instead of design we will dilute and diminish the value of true fans everywhere. One day they may tire of being dictated by the megastations on what they will listen to, and they will stop listening altogether. Is that what we want? I sure hope not, because I love all the music, all the time, by all the performers.
By the way, in the pictures above, do they make 'small cowboys' or are they just born that big? Have a great weekend.
I agree with the complaints, dial in any channel on the radio and regardless the format, you will hear the same 20 songs over and over. I too have gone to other alternatives. Rare and seldom heard oldies on the computer or MP3s CDs compiled from my own music library. I rarely ever listen to 'straight' radio anymore. They just don't fulfill me anymore. Sorry Radio, I just don't need you anymore.
I heard a song played on my local station, which I loved, well they played it for a while and then just dropped it like a rock. When I called up to request it, I was told "nope, ain't gonna happen". Corporate rules - yes, it's a clear channel station, imagine that! I would love to be a music programmer at a radio station that would not limit to just one genre, I'd mix country and pop and some rock in there. Is anybody with me on this???
Since media helps shape the public debate, it's important to not let one company, with one (usually pro-big-business) political stance, be the only one who's opinions get on the air.
The Republicans loathe any rule or law which limits how much money big business (Clear Channel and the like) can make, so they have been trying to loosen the rules. Since the big companies favor them anyway, they don't have to worry that there's less capital in the marketplace of ideas. More fascism from our friends in the GOP.