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On December 13, 2006, FMC publicly released its report documenting the effects of radio station ownership consolidation on musicians and the public.

Data in the report shows that station ownership consolidation at the national and local levels has led to fewer choices in radio programming and harmed the listening public and those working in the music and media industries, including DJs, programmers and musicians.

Key points included in report:

  • The top four radio station owners have almost half of the listeners and the top ten owners have almost two-thirds of listeners.
  • The "localness" of radio ownership – ownership by individuals living in the community -- has declined between 1975 and 2005 by almost one-third.
  • Just fifteen formats make up three-quarters of all commercial programming.  Moreover, radio formats with different names can overlap up to 80% in terms of the songs played on them.
  • Niche musical formats like Classical, Jazz, Americana, Bluegrass, New Rock, and Folk, where they exist, are provided almost exclusively by smaller station groups.
  • Across 155 markets, radio listenership has declined over the past fourteen years, a 22% drop since its peak in 1989.  The consolidation allowed by the Telecom Act has failed to reverse this trend.

Read the Report

Download Complete Report
includes Executive Summary, Introduction, Chapters 1, 2, 3, Conclusion [6.2 meg PDF]

Download Appendices
[1.1 meg PDF]

Key Components

Press Statements, Articles, Op-Eds

Official Filings

FMC's Reply Comment in FCC Media Ownership Proceeding MB 06-121
On January 16, 2007, FMC filed reply comments in the FCC's quandrennial media ownership proceeding that questioned the arguments for further deregulation presented primarily by the NAB and Clear Channel in their comments. FMC also submitted our December 2006 report False Premises, False Promises: A History of Ownership Consolidation in the Radio Industry in the record.
Reply Comment | PDF

Featured Press Coverage

10 Years Later, Radio’s Business as Usual
Paul J. McLane, Radio World, January 17, 2007

Rogue Waves; A new report cuts through the static on the radio industry
John Nova Lomax, House Press, January 11, 2007

Radio Is Wrecked--But It Can Be Repaired
John Nichols, The Nation, December 15, 2006

Inside the New Future of Music Coalition Study
Jerry Del Colliano, Inside Music Media Blog, January 4, 2007

Consolidation Hurts
Jerry Del Colliano, Inside Music Media Blog, December 13, 2006

Press Coverage

Clear Channel sheds stations
Chris Nolter and Ron Orol, The Deal.com, January 22, 2007 (subscription only)

Radio changed hands faster than ever in '06
Robert Feder, Chicago Sun Times, December 19, 2006


Clear Channel may sell more stations to meet FCC rules
Shira Ovide, Dow Jones Newswire, December 18, 2006


Peter DiCola and Jenny Toomey guests on Counterspin
FAIR, December 22, 2006

Report: Commercial radio lacks diversity
David Hinckley, New York Daily News, December 18, 2006

Radio Station Ownership Consolidation Harms Musicians and the Public

New Music Box, December 15, 2006

Future of Music Coalition: Radio Consolidation Hurts

Radio Magazine, December 14, 2006

Coalition Knocks Radio Consolidation

Brooks Boliek, Hollywood Reporter, December 14, 2006

Watchdog says US public hurt by radio consolidation
Reuters, December 13, 2006

FMC Releases Study On Local Radio And Diversity
FMBQ, December 13, 2006

Giving people power of the dial

Brad Kava, San Jose Mercury News, December 13, 2006

Report: Big Radio Is Fewer Formats, Smaller Audience
Jeffrey Yorke, Radio and Records/Mediaweek, December 13, 2006

FMC Study Embraced By Politicians, Lobbyists, Talent
Jeffrey Yorke, Radio and Records, December 13, 2006

Report Finds Radio Sameness
Los Angeles Times, December 13, 2006

Rage Against the Corporate Radio Machine
Radio Ink/Streaming Magazine, December 13, 2006



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"Musicians Bringing Musicians Home IV" New Orleans Benefit Concert
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October 3, 2008
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FMC Reveals Programming for Fall Events
Fall 2008 "What's the Future for Musicians?" seminars in New York and Chicago; Sampling and Fair Use Panel in NYC.
September 9, 2008
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FMC Announces Upcoming Events
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August 5, 2008
Press release | Event Page

FMC Commends FCC's Comcast Decision
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August 1, 2008

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July 8, 2008
Press release | Event Page

FMC Files Brief to Protect Creative Expression
FMC and the Center for Creative Voices in Media filed a brief at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the FCC's indecency policy has a chilling effect on creativity and expression and deprives the public of access to protected speech.
July 2, 2008
Press release | Indecency amicus brief (PDF)

FMC Files Reply Comments in FCC Localism Proceeding
June 11, 2008
PDF of Reply Comments | Press release

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Thirsty Ear Recordings to release album on July 29 to benefit FMC's "Rock the Net" campaign for net neutrality.
June 2, 2008
Press release | Rock the Net

Musicians Get the Hint About Health Insurance
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April 10, 2008
Press release
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New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists
Forums in Rochester (April 28), Syracuse (April 29) and Albany (April 30) to focus on music, media, technology and policy issues for songwriters, composers and performers from all genres.
March 25, 2008
Event details | RSVP

Pop Rockers OK Go "Tour" Congress in Support of Net Neutrality
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March 13, 2008
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Spoken testimony

Written testimony

Rock the Net

New York State Music Education Events Examine Crucial Issues Facing Artists
Kick-off forum in Buffalo on April 2 to focus on music, media, technology and policy issues for songwriters, composers and performers from all genres.
March 7, 2008 | Event details

Philly Bands Rocking for Net Neutrality
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February 15, 2008

OK Go and Bonerama Rocked DC for New Orleans Musicians
Bands also champion FMC's "Rock the Net" campaign for net neutrality
February 2 benefit show at DC's 9:30 Club raised over $8,000 for New Orleans musicians. Bands played cuts off their new benefit EP, You're Not Alone, available on iTunes on February 5.
February 4, 2008

Upcoming Washington, DC show and benefit EP from OK Go & Bonerama
On February 2, OK Go and Bonerama will play a benefit at D.C.'s 9:30 Club in support of You're Not Alone - an EP to support Sweet Home New Orleans and Al "Carnival Time" Johnson.
January 21, 2008

Successful New Orleans Concerts Aid Big Easy Musicians
Last week, two benefit concerts raised over $6,000 for Sweet Home New Orleans - a coalition of non-profit organizations that helps find affordable housing and provides rental assistance for the city's musicians - and Big Easy music legend Al "Carnival Time" Johnson.
January 15, 2008
Press release | Event details

FMC's Latest Fact Sheets
HD Radio
Low Power FM Radio
Public Performance Right for Sound Recordings
Orphan Works
Traveling with Instruments
Touring Internationally
SoundExchange
Net Neutrality
Full Power Non-Commerical Radio Licenses
Media Ownership

Ann Chaitovitz Appointed
FMC's New Executive Director
A proven leader in musician and public policy issues, Chaitovitz replaces founding Executive Director Jenny Toomey
January 3, 2008

Concerts for New Orleans Musicians Bring Artists Together
Two New Orleans shows and upcoming benefit CD from OK Go and Bonerama
January 2, 2008

FMC's Jenny Toomey Appointed Program Officer for Ford Foundation
Kristin Thomson to Serve as FMC's Interim Executive Director Michael Bracy to Chair FMC Board of Directors
November 26, 2007