WASHINGTON– Senator Russ Feingold should be personally thanked by every independent musician in America. Finally we have a bill that expands the definition of "payola" to eliminate the inside dealing and structural abuses in consolidated radio that have locked local, unaffiliated and independent artists off the airwaves for years.

This legislation also seeks to end the distasteful practice that allows national conglomerates to own both local radio stations and live entertainment properties.  This integrated market control of both venues and airwaves has made it extraordinarily challenging for independent promoters to compete and for independent artists to fairly negotiate.

The emergence of a legitimate digital music marketplace is demonstrating the degree to which the traditional structures of the music industry — including commercial radio — have failed musicians and citizens.  The music community thrives when it has access to new technologies and business models that help them create, promote and distribute their work.  As Congress and the FCC debate how to define and regulate these new technologies, including the merits of network neutrality, policymakers must apply the lessons learned from radio consolidation and structural payola systems.  As the old business paradigm, which was dominated by historic gatekeepers with total control over what music appeared on radio, is challenged by technological innovation, artists and independent labels must have the opportunity to make their work available to consumers, while consumers must have the right to access music from the legitimate, licensed music services they prefer.

Senator Feingold’s legislation is a significant step forward for the music community and music fans.  We applaud him and his staff for their work in authoring this bill, and hope that his colleagues in Congress will embrace this legislation in a bipartisan manner.