Feingold Requests Payola Hearing

[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Sen Russ Feingold (D-WI) has asked the ranking members of the Senate Commerce Committee to both raise the payola issue at a planned FCC oversight hearing, and to hold a separate hearing devoted to it. The request follows reports that New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer has subpoenaed a number of top radio groups in his ongoing investigation of pay-for-play policies in the music industry. both BMG and Warner Music have settled payola complaints with Spitzer, and he has sent the evidence in those cases to the FCC, which is conducting its own investigation. Sen Feingold has more than a passing interest in the subject. Sen Feingold wants to give the FCC more clout in dealing with any violations it may find, as well as build disincentives into the regulatory framework.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6306388?display=Breaking+News...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

See also --

* Free Press Calls For Get-Tough Payola Policy
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Media reform group Free Press wants the FCC to take a stronger stance against payola after hearing news of New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer subpoenaing of nine radio groups in his ongoing investigation of payola in the music industry. "The FCC needs to take a stronger stance against payola abuses. It has been 40 years since enactment of the payola statutes," said the group in a statement. "It’s time the FCC and Congress determined whether the existing rules adequately stop payola in the age of big radio."
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6306377?display=Breaking+News...
(free access for Benton's Headlines subscribers)

* 100s of Radio Stations in Payola Probe
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=1600966&page=1&ad=true