Oregon Senator Defends Internet Radio Fairness Act And Condems 'Uncompetitive Practices' By Major Labels

Sen. Ron Wyden

OREGON Senator RON WYDEN, a major supporter of The Internet Radio Fairness Act, spoke YESTERDAY (11/13) at the FUTURE OF MUSIC COALITION SUMMIT in WASHINGTON, D.C. DIGITAL MUSIC NEWS has reprinted his speech.

WYDEN said, "For much of the last half century, the music business has essentially been a vertically-integrated industry managed by a few big record companies. These are the companies -- these record companies -- who in my view are using uncompetitive practices to crowd out the competition on radio and TV and record stores and elsewhere."

"They are the people that made 'payola' a household word," he continued. "The result in my view is less artistic innovation, and fewer innovations that will be widely shared and consumed. Now, if it weren't for the disruptive independent record labels -- I'm talking about people like I.R.S. and SUB POP and TIM/KERR -- we might never have known much about bands like R.E.M., and NIRVANA and THE REPLACEMENTS, who I just told you I don't want to dedicate a lame duck session of Congress to, but I sure want us to remember their enduring influence on not just rock music, but on their contributions to our culture and an entire generation."

In defending the IRFA, WYDEN said, "If video killed the radio star, let's hope that digital revives the American music industry."

Read his full speech here.

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