Payola settlement gives radio more variety

Have you ever wondered why mainstream radio stations seem to play the same songs over and over? The reason might be that major record labels give the radio giants money or consideration to play and promote their music, otherwise known as payola.

Payola has been a problem since the beginning of radio, but a new agreement will effect huge changes in industry practice. This agreement requires four major broadcast companies - Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio, Entercom Communications and Citadel Broadcast Corporation - to follow the Federal Communications Commission's guidelines and pay $12.5 million to the government in settlements. The agreement also calls for 8,400 half-hour slots to be set aside for artists on independent record labels and for local music, and puts forth a code of conduct for relations between record companies and broadcasters.

This agreement between the FCC and the four major broadcasters could very well be the most monumental of its kind in the history of radio. It will likely turn a new page in the medium's book, bringing more variety and quality to listeners across the nation, not to mention, it will greatly hinder the opportunity for payola transactions.

The new time-blocks reserved for independent and local artists will be implemented in under the four major broadcast companies in stations that play rock, hip-hop and country.

Not only will this bring smaller artists to heights of accessibility, but also radio itself will benefit from a much-needed dose of vibrant reality. Mainstream radio represents such a small section of the music spectrum, and this agreement will likely flip the tide.

While Minnesota is already blessed with great public radio choices, this settlement will bring accessibility to independent and local music across the dial.