Politics

The Future of Music Coalition and musicFIRST have filed joint comments with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Monday, September 24th on the state of market competition for the delivery of audio programming. The comments come as broadcasters are steadfastly lobbying the FCC to loosen Local Radio Station Ownership Caps in its forthcoming Quadrennial Review. The coalitions' filing acknowledges the increased competition for traditional radio from new sources, but proclaim its continued health: “AM/FM radio is still healthy notwithstanding the fact that they have more competition from newer and more innovative audio platforms. Any demands to drop local ownership caps in order to improve AM/FM radio’s competitive position in the music delivery marketplace based on the relative strength of its more innovative competitors is entirely misplaced.” The coalitions call the potential loosening of caps 'disastrous'. “AM/FM radio already enjoys a competitive advantage over their audio competitors—they don’t pay music creators while every other platform playing sound recordings does,” said Chris Israel, musicFIRST’s Executive Director. In the filing, the coalitions “respectfully request that when the Commission makes its report to Congress, and also when it analyzes the Local Radio Station Ownership Caps in its upcoming Quadrennial Review, that it understands that AM/FM already has a substantial advantage over its competitors insofar as it does not yet have to pay to use sound recordings.”

The Black Women's Agenda, Inc. (BWA) hosted its 41^st Annual Symposium Town Hall and Awards Luncheon today, highlighting the need for action, activism, and civic engagement. Moderated by NBC News co-anchor and MSNBC host Sheinelle Jones, over 800 participants attended the town hall, which featured a panel of politicos, journalists, and educators highlighting the importance of active citizenship. Panelists included former chair of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele; progressive pollster and political strategist Cornell Belcher; CNN political commentators Symone Sanders and Tara Setmayer; president and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, LLC Maya Rockeymoore Cummings; Sharon Epperson, CNBC senior personal finance correspondent, and Dr. Glenda Glover, President of Tennessee State University. President of BWA Gwainevere Catchings Hess told the attendees: "History has its eyes on us, to borrow a phrase, and it's not just about what our elected officials do in terms of steering the course of this country. It's what we do... Inspiring women to live their best lives requires that we remind them that they not only have a stake in this society but a moral imperative to try to leave this world better than they found it." Eight women were honored by the BWA during its Annual Awards Luncheon, including Stacey Abrams, Dr. Helene D. Gayle, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Tanya L. Lombard, The Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Dr. Sandye Poitier Johnson, The Honorable Karen W. Weaver, and Eugena King.

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Radio Facts: It's officially on and popping now. Get ready for the commercials, shaking, hands, and kissing the babies. We are in the 2016 Presidential campaign season. Hillary Clinton, who recently President Barack Obama said would make an excellent President, has kicked off her 2016 race for the big office. Hillary Rodham Clinton held a roundtable discussion with students and teachers at a community college in Iowa, and said she wants to be a champion for struggling Americans. https://youtu.be/azSlv6dVo4I

Radio Facts: Donna Brazile stopped by V-103 in Atlanta to talk about the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections. The political analyst talks about getting souls to the polls and voting early. She explains to Ryan and Wanda the significance of what is at stake in this particular election. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRYfaxbhAAs]