A US Senator yesterday told the ‘Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit’ that he is moving forward on legislation he introduced last year to investigate alleged anti-competitive behaviour by US radio and concert giants, most prominently Clear Channel.
Senator Russ Feingold said artists, small promoters, and independent radio stations have convinced him that Clear Channel is using its hold on so many different aspects of the music industry to stifle competition and evade ownership rules, resulting in the loss of "localism" and shrinking playlists on music radio, soaring ticket prices for music concerts and a "shakedown system" where labels have to shell out money to get on playlists.
Talking to Billboard, Feingold indicated he had convinced Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, to co-sponsor his bill, which would give the measure a much stronger chance of passage.
Elsewhere at the same summit California state Senator Kevin Murray said lawmakers in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas may follow the lead of movements in California and New York in examining state rules regarding the fairness of artists' contracts with record labels.