The Federal Communications Commission has warned radio station owners that it bursts into what it describes as “Payola” practice.
In a letter sent on Monday to Iheartmedia CEO Robert Pittman, FCC President Brendan Carr Says that FCC is reviewing the company’s activity, especially around the live music event it is worth throughout the year. Specifically, FCC is pushing in Heart if it incorrectly pushes artists to perform without payment at events such as the coming iHeartcountry music festival May 3 in Austin, Texas.
“It would be special when it comes to me, on the heel of FCC’s enforcement advice,
IHEART continues in a way that does not meet federal “payola” requirements “, Carr writes in the letter, issued on Monday.” I really want to know about iHeart effectively and secretly force musicians to choose from, one, who gets their usual, ordinary and full -scale compensation to perform or, two, get less favorable airplay on iHeart radio (sic) stations. ”
Carr refers to FCC’s February 6-released advice that followed Payola accusations -or “Forced Quid Pro Quo”-equalized by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Radio transmitters reminds to manipulate Airplay based on artist participation in station events without proper disclosure violates federal laws.
“This upcoming iHeart event gives the Commission a real example of how such
Events gather – including the artist’s call and compensation, Carr’s letter continues. This year’s iHeartcountry festival is scheduled to present Brooks and Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith.
In a statement divided by AmountIheart representatives said that they “estimate FCC chairman Carr’s interest in ensuring that the radio industry is in line with all applicable laws and regulations” and confirmed that they “would quickly answer the questions asked by Carr.
FCC requests information – with a ten -day deadline to follow – from IHEART regarding the artists planned to emerge, all compensation (financial or otherwise) they receive and typical performance fees for the musicians outside the festival. The company must also reveal whether the artists’ participation in the event will affect their airplay.
Further requests from FCC include IHEART that provides a list of musicians, artists or documents that were asked to emerge or perform at the festival but declined to do so. “To the extent you have such
Information, indicate why they declined to show up, says the letter.
“We look forward to demonstrating for the Commission how appearance at the iHeartcountry festival – or rejects to do so – has no impact on our stations’ Airplay,” continues Iheart’s statement.
Carr has also ordered an investigation of NPR and PBS on possible violations of government rules, namely by highlighting their recognition of financial sponsors in the air.
Read iHeartmedia’s full response to FCC below:
We appreciate the FCC chairman Carr’s interest in ensuring that the radio industry complies with all applicable laws and regulations and will quickly answer the specific questions asked in the chairman’s letter about IHeart’s upcoming Country Festival.
The Commission’s recently implemented advice to the radio industry as a whole stated that the manipulation of Airplay based on the artist’s participation in station events without proper disclosure violates federal laws.
We look forward to demonstrating for the Commission how appearance at the iHeartcountry festival – or rejects to do so – has no impact on our stations Airplay, and we do not make any open or secret agreements on AirPlay with artists who appear at our events.
The Iheartcountry festival provides the same type of marketing that we see with artists on talk shows, late night -TV, Super Bowl and in digital music performances and events: The marketing value for the artists is the event itself, and in our case, is not related to our radio air play. We are very proud that over the years we have got artists to ask us to be part of the iHeartcountry festival, and we have actually got artists to make repeated performances over the years because it is an important event that allows them to reach our target groups and improves their career.
