The payola agreement reached today by the FCC and big broadcast chains represents a major — but tentative — step toward once again opening the nation’s airwaves to local music and voices. read more
Normally, the FMC doesn’t take things personally. We’ve been attacked repeatedly for stands we’ve taken on a range of issues. It just comes with the territory. But when a lobbyist who runs an operation funded by the telecom industry (which wants to do away with net neutrality) attacks a new net neutrality campaign (Rock the Net) as “lip synching” for liberal groups, it begs a simple question:
Greetings from Washington, DC - where the magnolia trees are about to bloom, baseball’s opening day is nearly upon us, and change is afoot in the worlds of music, technology and policy. Read on for the latest!
FMC Launches Rock the Net Campaign for Network Neutrality
FMC Announces Policy Day: May 2, 2007
FMC Responds to New Webcasting Rates
Cautious Optimism About FCC Payola Settlement
FMC Welcomes Justin Jouvenal as Communications Director
In case you’ve been burning the newspapers to keep warm, we’re sending along the latest in music, technology and policy news to get you back in the loop.
FMC Wants to Know More About You
Policy Update: Media Ownership
Policy Update: Payola
New Fact Sheets on Orphan Works, HD Radio, Low Power FM Radio, and more
Digital Rights Management Debate Grows
FMC’s Walter McDonough to Keynote at Millennium Music Conference
FMC Appearing at Freedom 2 Connect conference
Report from January conferences - APAP, IAJE, CMA, NCMR
From January 10-13, 2007, the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) returned to New York City for its 34th Annual Conference, the largest annual gathering of the global jazz community. FMC’s Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson participated in separate panel discussions on Thursday, January 11. For followup related to FMC at IAJE.
January is a busy month for FMC. In the first couple of weeks you’ll find us in New York at the national conferences for the International Association for Jazz Education and Chamber Music America, and also in Memphis at the National Conference for Media Reform. Then, from January 19-23 we’ll be back in the Big Apple for the 50th Annual Arts Presenters Conference.
“We applaud the Senate Commerce Committee’s overwhelming
bipartisan vote of 14-7 in support of allowing the Federal Communications
Commission to expand non-commercial Low Power FM radio stations into
urban markets. Today’s vote was part of the Committee’s larger debate
on a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s telecommunications laws.” read more
It is with great sadness that we must serve as witness to the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed so many people’s lives. We urge
government to work with trusted charity organizations to deliver needed
supplies, to provide services for the thousands who are terrified, hungry,
thirsty and injured, to establish an information network that can help
the refugees to find a safe place and reunite with family, and to work
quickly to re-establish electricity, power and safety to a region so
cherished for its rich musical and cultural heritage.
In less than two weeks, hundreds of musicians, technologists, industry
insiders, academics and attorneys will convene in Washington, DC at what’s
shaping up to be the most compelling music/technology event of the year.
And we want you to be there, too.