On Jan 30th 2003 the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chaired by Sen. John McCain held hearings to examine media ownership focusing on consolidation in the radio industry. By the time the hearing was over Mr. Mays the Chairman and CEO from Clear Channel was pretty beat up. During the Q & A Senator McCain had to reask his question 3 times as Mr. Mays seemed determined to not answer the question asked. The question was if Clear Channel accepted cash payments for play (play for pay), or better known as payola. His answer was "No we don't." Don Henley later explained the way the pay for play works, through "Independent Promoters" and that artists are billed for that promotion by their record labels.

Mr. Fritts from the National association of Broadcasters tried to discredit the Future of Music Coalition's Radio Study, but Jenny Toomey from the FMC performed admirably pointing out that many of the same surveys Mr. Fritts quoted were akin to "A detective chasing a criminal down the hall and into the parlor, but then not opening the closet door", which the FMC survey did. Great Job JT!

Don Henley of the Eagles and the head of the Recording Artists Coalition spoke of how the homogenized playlists of Clear Channel stations exclude many artists.

While this hearing was a little over 3 hours, it is well worth a listen.

The Speakers:

1) Sen. Russ Feingold from Wisconsin
2) Sen. Howard Berman from California

Opening Statements of the Committee

1) Sen. John McCain Chairman
2) Sen. Fritz Hollings-South Carolina
3) Sen. Conrad Burns-Montana
4) Sen. Byron Dorgan-North Dakota
5) Sen. John Ensign-Nevada
6) Sen. Ron Wyden
7) Sam Brownback-Kansas

Testifying before the Committee

1) Mr. L. Lowry Mays, Chairman & CEO, Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
2) Mr. Edward Fritts, President & CEO, National Association of Broadcasters
3) Mr. Don Henley, Singer and Songwriter
4) Mr. Robert Short, President, Short Broadcasting put out of business by media consolidation
5) Ms. Jenny Toomey, Executive Director, Future of Music Coalition

Question and Answer Period

Final Comments by Chairman Sen. John McCain

LINKS
Written Testimony
Stream the Hearing (Mp3 lo fi approx 3 hours 27 minutes.)
Download the Hearing(MP3 11MB)
Future of Music Radio Study, Jenny Toomey's testimony and written statements, including the FMC Radio Study.

Finally, radio is being punished for its wrongdoings. I was so looking forward to this, because the same thing happened in the 50's called the Payola Scandal, although that was on a much less scale.

Let's hope that justice shall come.

My (former) favorite radio station is very involved in this, although I don't think it is owned by Clear Channel. I harly ever hear some of the greatest rock bands, and the station claims to be Philadelphia's rock station. They never play a lot of music, even though it may be hugely successful and popular bands. They only play such things on request. And that makes me pissed. I used to decide what songs to download from this radio station's playlist, but now that I have virtually every good song they play, and hear those songs every time I listen to that station, I really hate that.

I am talking about 93.3 WMMR. I used to love radio, but now it sucks.

If you are a rock fan, listen to more classic rock, because these classic rock stations tend not to acept bribes because they hardly ever play new music, and they do not have to listen to the record industry.

And you know what else is incredibly terrrible?! The fucking RIAA makes the artists pay for the bribes, while the RIAA is also screwing the artists from every side at the same time.

I'm going to download some more Eagles now that I know where Mr. Henley stands on this.

Find out which stations in your area are Clear Channel Stations, http://www.clearchannel.com/radio/search.php and then look for something else to listen to...

90%.. no I'm not kidding of the stations in my area are clear channel. I would have to get XM if I wanted to listen to anything else. I don't mind listening to clear channel sometimes tho. Oh well.. only game in town is the best till someone else comes along.

REmye thats like saying , the evil torturous lying dictator Saddam Hussein is alright until someone else replaces him////sheeeeesh

don't see how THAT relates. I guess it depends which side of the gun you're on. If you're going to take it THAT far.. oh well..*shrug* it's a free country.

depends who's gonna replace Saddam? Bush?

Most stations that I can think of that are purely classic rock format are either Clear Channel or one of the few other conglomerates. Any strict format station, with a tight, regular rotation is a dead give-away. Search out the public, independent, local, or smaller corporate owned stations in your area, and support their efforts. 93.7 KLBJ and 107.1 KGSR in Austin are corporate owned, but largely by local interests, including the LB Johnson estate. They have regular rotations, but add in local musician support, and some variety. They are far better in content, news, music, etc.. than any Radio Unfree Clear Channel station. Again, lack of variety, and strict genre and marketing tactics are sure signs. Avoid the ones that call themselves anything like "(city)'s Rock Alternative", or "Today's Country", or "Rock for the Office", etc....