musicFIRST Takes Perf Fee Case to FCC

Radio broadcasters may have fended off the movement to impose new performance fees on music airplay, but the fight is far from over. The musicFIRST Coalition, which stands for Fairness in Radio Starting Today, took its case Wednesday (June 10) to the Federal Communications Commission, requesting an investigation into radio stations for refusing to air musicFIRST ads and boycotting airplay of artists that have supported a performance fee.So far, the numbers appear to be on the broadcasters' side. More than a majority of the House, 232 members, and 16 Senators have signed the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing the imposition of any new performance fee, tax, royalty or other charge on radio for music airplay.The FCC filing by musicFIRST opens up a new front in the ongoing controversy."We respect a broadcaster's right to oppose the Performance Rights Act. But we cannot tolerate broadcasters' use of the public airwaves to stifle debate, threaten artists and musicians and undermine the public interest in pursuit of their narrow, private business interests," said Jennifer Bendall, executive director for musicFIRST.According to musicFIRST, many stations are rejecting musicFIRST's ads promoting performance fees. The organization also claimed that one major radio group dropped a top selling artist's record after he spoke in support of performance rights legislation and another programmer told a representative of two other artists that support for performance rights would have a "chilling effect" on their relationship. One Delaware station boycotted all artists affiliated with musicFIRST for an entire month.Among the artists that have been big supporters of instituting performance fees on music airplay are U2's Bono, Don Henley, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and Wyclef Jean. The National Association of Broadcasters called musicFIRST's latest action a "stunt." "This allegation is nothig more than an act of desperation by a record label lobby losing on Capitol Hill and in the court of public opinion," said Dennis Wharton, executive vp of the NAB.

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musicFIRST Takes Perf Fee Case to FCC

Katy Bachman

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