What is your reaction to the government decree mandating commercial radio dedicate airtime to independent and local artists?

Tony Waitekus/WIXX: I think the government is getting into something they shouldn’t be getting into at all. When the FCC was interested in how many minutes and hours of news and PSA’s you were going to run it seemed to be more in line with the public service model that was intended to be. But playing records from independent labels seems kind of bizarre. It all stems from the FCC being negligent in the past of enforcing laws they should have been enforcing all along. It finally caught up with them and now they have to make deals. I also don’t think, for Top 40 stations, the indie labels have enough hit product for the pipeline.

WIYY/Rob Heckman: We already do an hour a week (and may eventually boost that up to two hours). At least the rules are a little more cut and dry then the FCC rules about language and indecency. We’re federally licensed so we have to expect a certain amount of directives from the government. As long as they don’t come in and start telling Rock stations or AC stations (etc.) the type of music they have to play. That’s a problem.

Mistress Carrie/WAAF: We do that already – we have a local music show that’s been on for over 20 years that is two hours long. Harder Faster is five hours of metal programming per week and many of the bands we play on that show are local or independent. One of our most rotated songs right now is Psychostick, and they’re an indie artist. We don’t need to be told to play that stuff because we’ve been doing that all along. Even Godsmack and Staind were unsigned local artists when we started playing them.

Toby Knapp/WIHT: I think it’s about time radio got back to it’s roots and encouraged progammers to take risks on records that grow organically.

Billy The Kidd/KHKS: I don’t care as long as it’s a hit!

Sparky/KIBZ: Give the government an inch and they’ll be back next week for another inch.  I think you know what I mean.   

Mase/WKZQ: I think it’s an awesome idea, I’m all for independent artists.

Greg Rampage/KFMA: It’s good for diversity on the airwaves, but I don’t like the government telling me what to play.

Bill Dunn/WRRV: Airplay should still be based on the quality of the song/artist, not whether they’re on a major or independent label.

Matt Lee/WARQ: It’s kind of ridiculous for the government to tell local radio stations what they should and shouldn’t play. That sounds like Canada to me, where you are required to play a certain amount of Canadian artists, regardless of if its good music or not.

Dave Hanacek/KJEE: I don’t know how they got to that exact settlement, but personally I think it’s great for indie labels.

John Foxx/KKMG: I’m trying to figure out how it’s going to affect us. Our jobs are hard enough today struggling with new technology and all the other distractions of the day that take programmers away from the dial, and now we have to deal with this issue, that has a high risk attached to it.

Christy Taylor/WFLY: Sounds like a good deal for the local and indie artists, and that’s not a bad thing. But sometimes that’s not always the best product out there and at the end of the day that hurts radio’s product and that may not be the best thing for the listeners.

Tias Schuster/WKRZ: Anytime you force a programmer to play a song he doesn’t want to play, it can’t be a positive.

Maxwell/WNCI: I think it could be a positive thing. It might be a good way to discover some underground talent. It could also separate your station from the rest of the cookie cutter stations.

Bob Patrick/WXLK: I think it’s 100% absolute bullsh*t.

Chris Reed/KSMB: I think it’s good and maybe long overdue. There’s a lot of talent out there that doesn’t get the exposure they should.

Mike Rossi/WSTW: We’ve been doing a two-hour local show here for years. However, in this case, I think it’s a case of overregulation.

Trey Morgan/WKCI: I think it is radio’s version of affirmative action. It benefits some, and hinders others.

Billy The Baby DJ/KHTT: I’m glad I don’t work for Clear Channel.

Stan Priest/WKSS: I always prefer to comply with governmental regulations.

Natalie Randall/WFBC: I think it’s borderline ridiculous. I don’t think a government agreement should dictate what music we can and can’t play. A lot of this music isn’t compatible for Top 40. It’s a mess!