US media regulator the FCC is reportedly considering an agreement with the main radio groups there which would put an end to its investigations into the payola practices that have gone on in recent years, not that those investigations have been especially in-depth so far anyway. The FCC seemingly reluctantly agreed to investigate the use of bribes in the radio promotions sector after New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer got major record companies and some major radio firms to admit that some of the promotional methods used in the US music radio sector breached anti-payola rules. However, those investigations have achieved little to date, much to Spitzer's annoyance. Latest reports say that the FCC is working with the major radio firms to develop a new industry wide code of conduct, education programme and commitment to independent music which, the regulator hopes, would sidestep the need for there to be any major crackdown on those radio firms who have accepted payola bribes from record companies in the past (in fact they wouldn't even have to admit that they did so). Specifics of this deal are unclear, though Spitzer is sure to disapprove of the back room deal.
Jan 12, 2007
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1 min read
FCC planning arrangement over payola claims
The US regulator the FCC is reportedly considering an agreement with major radio groups that would end its payola investigations in favour of an industry code of conduct.