Federal Communications Commission is now considering a petition by musicFIRST, a music coalition accusing radio stations of skipping songs by artists who advocate paying royalties. Jennifer Bendall, musicFIRST executive director, said broadcasters are using public airwaves to “stifle debate, threaten artists and musicians and undermine the public interest.”
MusicFIRST, which includes the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), said artists whose songs are played on the Internet and satellite radios are compensated. RIAA members include Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group Corp and Sony Corp’s Sony Music Entertainment.
Broadcasters are “engaging in a pattern of threats and intimidation against artists to chill their speech and participation in the political process,” the group said in its petition.
But opponents disagee. “Contrary to suggestions in the petition, broadcasters are under no obligation to carry everything that is offered or suggested to them,” national Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton said in a statement.
In its notice, the FCC said it is looking into what extent certain broadcasters are “targeting and threatening” artists who advocate for the Performance Rights Act (PRA).