Indie Musician Challenges SONY/BMG Payola Settlement - "Public, Indie Musicians Should Be Outraged"
Indie musician/recording artist Robert Kramer says the recent statement about the Sony/BMG recording industry payola settlement leaves many questions and issues unanswered,"saying now's the time to keep the pressure on the radio stations and the advertisers who buy time on the stations.
(PRWEB) August 4, 2005 -- Claiming SONYS' recent admission of wrongdoing
regarding Attorney General Eliot Spitzers' year-long investigation into payoffs
from the label to radio stations is "too little, too late," indie musician &
recording artist Robert Kramer states that the much-publicized $10,000,000
settlement settles nothing.
"Basically, they were caught red-handed,"
says Kramer. "Now, they just pay what amounts to a pittance, say they're sorry,
and life goes on? I don't think so."
Stating this should be only the
beginning of a continuing effort to put pressure on a record industry that has
complained about dwindling profits due to illegal downloading, the indie
musician challenges unsigned musicians and small labels everywhere to start
campaigns to get new music heard by approaching the radio stations
directly.
GIVE AIRWAVES BACK TO THE PUBLIC
"OK, so they're
admitting they paid off radio stations to get their own artists' music on the
air...," continues Kramer, "Now, they're sorry and they won't do it
anymore..this means that all the radio stations who were paid off should now be
open to music by indie artists...great....then let's start sending them CD's by
the truckload to fill in all that empty programming time...let's see if the
stations will give the airwaves back to the public, and let's find out if the
FCC will stand behind the musicians and the public for once instead of the
recording industry lobbyists..."
NATIONWIDE CALL TO ACT NOW
Kramer
states the reason the industry became so monopolized over the years is because
the radio-listening public allowed it to happen. He is calling for a nationwide
listener/indie musician/label activist movement to demonstrate that the public
is tired of the lack of quality music being pushed today, and encourages the
radio-listening public to get involved.
"Everyone's complaining that
today’s music stinks.." offers Kramer. "Well, OK, here's your chance to do
something about it once and for all. Industry insiders and indie musicians have
known for years that the stuff that makes it on the radio is bought and paid for
by the major record labels. The radio stations don't play songs because it's
quality music or because it's what the public wants to hear.....they play it
because the station managers want to hang on to that Jaguar in the parking
lot...every indie musician and radio listener who ever complained about poor
radio programming should be outraged.."
Encouraging radio listeners,
musicians and indie labels to literally throw down the gauntlet to the recording
and radio industry, Kramer says the time to act is now.
BOYCOTT RADIO
ADVERTISERS
"I say we should hit them where they live...organize free
concerts boycotting advertisers on radio stations that refuse to play indie
music. Fans of indie music should write letters to radio stations asking for
local music programs, and should report stations that are non-responsive to the
FCC who refuse to play what the public is asking for. Maybe it's time for the
radio station fat cats to trade in their Jaguars for a nice pre-owned Toyota,
return the airwaves to the public, and start programming the kind of music
people REALLY want to hear....to quote the late Frank Zappa, it's time to "KILL
UGLY RADIO”. Once and for all.."
Answering critics who state the
publicized revelations of payola will do little to change the industry, Kramer
agrees, saying "..Words alone won't change anything..", offering that
The
radio and record-buying public need to take action instead of being
complacent.
"It's all about the power of public action, not just public
opinion. Everyone complains quietly about the fact that today’s music is
garbage, but you have to realize YOU'RE the ones who really control the
marketplace. You have the power of choice to either act or do
nothing."
Further investigation into payoffs in the music industry by
Spitzer continues, which will include
Universal Music Group, Warner Music
Group and EMI Group PLC.
"Before this is over, "Kramer adds...it will
make the ENRON flap look like a block party...it's time the recording industry
and its radio monopolies were put on notice. Your days are
numbered..."
Contact:
Dona Kare-kowalski
630-853-7557
e-mail
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb268706.htm