WASHINGTON, DC - The press embargo of our study of radio consolidation was broken today by two newspapers. In response to those news stories the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has already released a negative assessment of our report.
Clearly we hit a nerve. There would be no reason for the NAB, arguably the largest and most powerful lobby organization in Washington, to issue this lengthy critique of our yet-to-be released study “Radio Deregulation: Has it Served Citizens and Musicians” if our report was as flawed and inconsequential as their “fact sheet” would like you to believe. We have posted their “fact sheet” on our website.
If you need a clear indication that our study hits the mark, note the ad hominem attack on the study’s authors. Note the fact that they immediately deflect attention to other media markets with higher concentration based upon an inadequate definition of the product and geographic market. Note their attempts to obscure our unquestionable and statistically accurate measures of oligopalistic market control with inconsequential ownership numbers.
If the NAB were a graduate student they would flunk Economics 101. Any student of economics understands that one must define one’s markets in a meaningful way, which they have failed to in this “fact sheet” and several of the studies they have cited. The definition of oligopoly is not that an industry is “less concentrated than others.” Objective definitions are based on market shares, as explained in full detail in the FMC study.
Let us be clear the NAB has not addressed our analysis on any serious level. Looking at local radio markets we show — as has the FCC — a remarkable increase in concentration and consolidation. In regard to formats, the NAB has no answer to the fact that format variety has stagnated over the past one and a half to two years. With 145 pages of analysis that draws almost exclusively on industry data, we demonstrate how the radical consolidation of radio station ownership has damaged the public’s radio airwaves and stifled localism, competition, innovation and diversity across the country.
We will release the report as planned on Monday, November 18. We will hold a press briefing at 11:00 AM in the Holmes Room (2nd floor) of the Willard Hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, then a teleconference at 2:00 PM for media who are unable to attend the briefing. Click here to read our media advisory.
A digital copy will be made available via our website at 11:00 AM.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.
Jenny Toomey
Executive Director, Future of Music Coalition
jenny [at] futureofmusic [dot] org
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups. More