Recording Academy Pres./CEO Takes A Swipe At Radio

Neil Portnow

During last night's GRAMMY broadcast, RECORDING ACADEMY Pres./CEO NEIL PORTNOW praised the support of Satellite and Internet radio -- and in doing so, took a not so subtle shot at Terrestrial Radio.

PORTNOW and "Glee" star MATTHEW MORRISON were updating the audience on the mission of the ACADEMY, when the discussion turned to thinly-veiled support for a Performance Fee.

Said PORTNOW, "Now, rest assured, in the future, THE ACADEMY will continue to fight for all music makers to be compensated for their work. We will support the new broadcast services like satellite and Internet radio that actually pay creators for their work. And everyone can help give artists the ability to create the music you love by using any of the many easy and legal ways to enjoy music. We will also continue to stand for the rights of free speech for artists to express themselves through their music." 

We will support the new broadcast services like satellite and Internet radio that actually pay creators for their work.

Radio Exposes Music To The Masses

NAB EVP DENNIS WHARTON quickly pointed out, "Free and local radio is proud to help artists and their record labels through the free airplay of music. In fact, one study pegged the promotional value of over-the-air radio at between $1.5 and $2.4 billion per year. By exposing nearly 270 million listeners each week to music, free radio has proven time and again that we are the number-one promotional platform for the music industry."

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