FCC, Broadcasters Agree to Anti-Payola Guidelines

The non-profit Future of Music Coalition has been working hard to end payola in an effort to put independent record labels on equal footing with the major labels when it comes to getting radio airplay. To that end, the organization compiled what it calls the "Rules of Engagement" -- "basic guidelines that spell out how independent labels and commercial broadcasters can work together in the future" without the insidious influence of payola.

Today, they announced that progress has been made, after the FCC and the broadcast industry agreed to abide by the FMC's "Rules." According to Jenny Toomey, executive director of the FMC,

"Payola has existed since the days of piano rolls and sheet music. What was once an aberration became standard industry practice when radio was consolidated in the last ten years. We¹re encouraged to see the FCC and the broadcast industry work together to eliminate a practice which undermines the meritocracy that should be the public airwaves"

It's nice to have some good news to report for a change.