RADIO IS DOOMED!

You may have noticed I've provided links to several stories involving House Resolution 848 - the Performance Rights Act - and a few other radio related issues. Yes, I'm involved in radio and have been since 1988. The industry has been telling people it is against the Performance Rights Act, which would require radio stations to pay royalties to recording artist. I'm for the artist receiving royalties from radio airplay, however the problem with the Performance Rights Act is the way it is written. The money collected from radio station would go to the record companies for distribution, as David Stewart of the Eurhythmics and many R & B acts have figured out, the record labels don't always pay up.

Part of this is due to the large radio conglomerates who found a loophole in the payola laws, that allows them to force the record companies to pay them for airplay.

There is a counter to this. The Local Radio Freedom Act, which now has enough votes to override the Performance Rights Act.

Now I'm going to give you my scary premonition - EVEN IF THE PERFORMANCE RIGHT ACT FAILS, MANY RADIO STATIONS WILL EVENTUALLY DUMP MUSIC.

Why? Since I have been in the radio industry, I have noticed a group of industry leaders who blame the music industry, especially pop & rock music, for the decline of radio and hurting advertising. These people have seen talk radio as a gift from God.

These individuals, in large and small radio companies, have taken to banning artist for one reason or another. From legendary artist like Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson to newer recent artist Marilyn Manson and Dixie Chicks. They give their spin to those in the media but the truth is a bad notion that a radio station should have a small playlist of songs. Also many radio station don't add very many new songs. SOME RADIO STATIONS WAIT A YEAR BEFORE ADDING A NEW SONG. And the radio wonders why people are listening to Ipods with over 800 song capacity.

I heard some of my radio colleagues talking about a strategy for radio if the Performance Right Act passed, CLASSIFIED RADIO. No music, just advertisers and regular people PAYING FOR TIME ON RADIO TO SELL STUFF. I'm sure the ads will be bland and boring like most current radio ads.

Let me tell you something, folks. If the Performance Right Act fails, many radio stations, especially in this area, will switch to this format. Reason: RADIO IS MONEY HUNGRY!

That is the reason for the reverse payola. Also, radio stations used to give away free T-shirts with the station logo on them, now they make listeners pay for them. I have always maintained on this board that there was money being passed around in the talk radio industry. Many radio stations now try to influence elections and public opinion. Greed has ruined radio.

I believe that the Congress, the Senate, FTC and FCC need look into some of what has went on in the radio industry in the past few years. Then make laws to make sure this garbage doesn't happen again.

This suggestion will not make me popular but opinions like this is what makes me the SUPER VILLAIN OF THE OZARKS!!! Mwu-HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!