In the last week, the FCC issued proposed fines to two big radio companies for alleged violations of FCC requirements. One proposed fine was for apparent violations of the FCC’s EEO rules, and the other dealt with the obligations of broadcasters to disclose and follow rules for on-air contests. In both cases, the proposed fines… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: February 19, 2022 to February 25, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC proposed a $32,000 fine to a subsidiary of Cumulus Media for EEO and public file violations by a… Continue Reading…
March Regulatory Dates for Broadcasters: EAS and Next Gen TV Rulemaking Comments, Incentive Auction Reimbursements, TV Auction, GMR Licensing Deadline, and More
March is one of those months where no regularly scheduled FCC deadlines fall. But there are still plenty of other deadlines and dates of importance to broadcasters that fall during this month, from comment dates in rulemaking proceedings, to the start of an auction for new TV stations and the completion of the reimbursement cycle… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: February 12, 2022 to February 18, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. Following up on its proposals from last summer to clean up radio technical rules that were inconsistent, outdated, or inaccurate,… Continue Reading…
Spotify, Joe Rogan and Neil Young – Looking at the Rights and Royalty Issues Behind the Story (Part 2 – The Rights of the Artists to Pull Their Music)
Last week, we discussed the controversy started by Neil Young removing his music from Spotify because of its carriage of Joe Rogan’s podcast. In that article, we looked at the relationship between music royalties and the decision of Spotify and other music services to emphasize podcasts and other talk programming over music. Today, we will… Continue Reading…
Controversial Super Bowl Political Ads on Local Stations – Why They Can’t Be Pulled
Ads planned to run in yesterday’s Super Bowl by Republican candidates in primaries to select candidates for 2022 senate elections drew comments and controversy even before the game, with some calls to block the ads from the air. Ads for a candidate in Pennsylvania used the “Let’s Go Brandon” language generally acknowledged to be an… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: February 5, 2022 to February 11, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. Global Music Rights (GMR) and the Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) announced that enough broadcasters had agreed to GMR licensing… Continue Reading…
Spotify, Joe Rogan and Neil Young – Looking at the Rights and Royalty Issues Behind the Story (Part 1 – Why Spotify Has Been Promoting More Podcasts)
The last two weeks have been filled with stories about Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and other artists pulling their music from Spotify in protest of its carriage of the Joe Rogan podcast. While the political statements made by these actions generate the news, there are rights and royalty issues behind the story that are worth… Continue Reading…
GMR and RMLC Announce that Radio Royalty Settlement is Effective – Gives Commercial Radio Stations One Last Chance to Join Licensing Agreement by March 31
In a press release issued today, the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and performing rights organization Global Music Rights (GMR) announced that enough commercial radio stations signed the GMR licensing agreement to allow the settlement of the RMLC/GMR litigation to become effective. As we wrote when the settlement was announced early last month, enough radio… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: January 29, 2022 to February 4, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced several leadership changes at the FCC. The changes include a new head of the Media… Continue Reading…
This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: January 22, 2022 to January 28, 2022
Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the last week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC adopted two items of interest to broadcasters that were on the agenda for its January 27 Open Meeting…. Continue Reading…
FCC Gives Additional Guidance For Filings that Had Been Made in the CDBS Filing System
As we noted two weeks ago, the FCC has stopped accepting new filings through its CDBS database. This week, the FCC released a Public Notice which provides further details on how filings that were made in CDBS should now be submitted. As we noted when the announcement of the end of submissions to the database… Continue Reading…
