From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2003-01-31 14:51:07
This information is taken from Senator Feingold's website at:
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/03/01/2003128910.html
In my opinion this is a good piece of legislation and hopefully it will be ratified by
Congress.
If it is passed this legislation will provide relief to BOTH artists and consumers.
It would ultimatly lead to an END to the current MONOPOLISTIC/FASCIST policies currently
being employed by KNEE-GRO RADIO STATION OPERATORS (both Black and White).
In my opinion this is an important development and it's RIGHT ON TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY
MONTH.
My view is that our "history of our music won't even have a future at all", if the CESSPOOL
of radio isn't cleaned up.
I would ask ALL Soul-Patrollers to consider doing one or both of the following...
1. If you feel so inclined, feel free to write Senator Feingold at the following email
address to tell him that you support this legislation:
russell_feingold_at_feingold.senate.gov
2. Forward this email to as many people as you know who care about the past present and
future of OUR culture.
Thanks In Advance
Bob Davis
www.soul-patrol.com
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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Feingold Introduces "Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act"
Senate Commerce Committee to Hold Hearings On Thursday, Feingold to Testify
January 28, 2003
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today introduced the "Competition in Radio and
Concert Industries Act," as the Senate Commerce Committee prepares to hold a hearing on the
issue later this week. Senator Feingold will be the lead witness at the hearing. Feingold's
legislation would help consumers and small and independent radio station owners and promoters
by prohibiting anti-competitive practices in the radio and concert industries. Senator Zell
Miller (D-GA) is an original co-sponsor of this legislation.
"The time has come for Congress to address the issue of consolidation in the radio industry,"
Feingold said. "Since originally introducing this legislation in June of 2002, I have seen a
groundswell of interest both in Congress and among artists, consumers, independent radio
stations, and local promoters in restoring fairness to radio. My legislation will reduce
concentration and crack down on anti-competitive practices, such as the new pay-to-play
system."
Feingold's legislation will:
. Help small and independent radio owners and promoters by curbing concentration to level the
playing field in the marketplace
. Help consumers by curbing concentration to promote diversity of information and bring down
high ticket prices
. Addresses anti-competitive practices by stopping the current shakedown system, where some
radio corporations allegedly leverage their market-power to shake down the music industry in
exchange for playing their songs
Feingold's legislation has been endorsed by Consumers Union, the National Association of
Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), the Spanish Broadcasting Service, the American Federation
of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Future of Music Coalition.
# # #
Outline of the Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act
Section 1: Title: The Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act
Section 2: Findings and Purpose
To promote the values embraced by the First Amendment to the Constitution through diverse
radio programming based on local input. This bill also helps facilitate better service to
local communities by increasing competition in radio programming, content, radio advertising,
concert venues, and concert promotion.
Section 3: Prohibit the use of radio to reduce public access to diverse radio and concert
programming
This section prohibits any entity that owns radio stations, and concert promotion services or
venues from acting in an anti-competitive manner. This section directs the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke the license of any radio station that uses its
cross-ownership of promotion services or venues to discriminate against musicians, concert
promoters, or other radio stations.
Section 4: Enhanced scrutiny of further consolidation in radio
This section requires the FCC to scrutinize the effect of national and local concentration on
independent radio stations, concert promoters and consumers. This section also prevents any
upward revision of the limitation on multiple ownership of radio stations in local markets.
Section 5: Review of use of privately-controlled audience measurement systems for
determination of local markets of radio stations
This section requires the FCC to ensure that any measurement of local radio markets is
independent of and not subject to manipulation.
Section 6: Modification of attributable interest in radio stations and limitations on local
marketing agreements
This section closes a loophole in the local marketing agreement regulations to ensure that
any station that receives a significant amount of its play lists or advertising from another
station is considered under the local ownership cap.
Section 7: Modification of regulations on announcement of payment for radio broadcast
This section closes a loophole in the FCC regulations covering "payola" - pay-for-play - to
ensure that radio station broadcasts are not improperly influenced by the payment, whether
directly or indirectly, to the licensee of any radio station unless an appropriate
sponsorship identification announcement is made.
Section 8: Limitation on suspension or waiver of rules
The FCC may suspend these rules only when it determines that there is a compelling
justification.
Section 9: Annual reports
The FCC is required to issue an annual report on compliance with these rules and industry
practices. It is required to consult independent sources and to solicit public comments.
--------------------
In my opinion this is an important development and it's RIGHT ON TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY
MONTH.
My view is that our "history of our music won't even have a future at all", if the CESSPOOL
of radio isn't cleaned up.
I would ask ALL Soul-Patrollers to consider doing one or both of the following...
1. If you feel so inclined, feel free to write Senator Feingold at the following email
address to tell him that you support this legislation:
russell_feingold_at_feingold.senate.gov
2. Forward this email to as many people as you know who care about the past present and
future of OUR culture.
Thanks In Advance
Bob Davis
www.soul-patrol.com
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
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