The Future of Music Coalition (FMC) has conducted an analysis of radio airplay over the past four years to determine whether anything has really changed since April 2007, when the FCC issued consent decrees to the nation’s four largest broadcasters (Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Citadel and Entercom) in response to payola allegations. Using playlist data from Mediaguide, the FMC examined four years of airplay from 2005 though 2008 from national playlists, and from seven specific formats: AC, Urban AC, Active Rock, Country, CHR Pop, Triple A Commercial and Triple A Non-commercial. FMC looked at each playlist and calculated the airplay share for five different categories of record labels to determine whether the ratio of major label to non-major label airplay has changed over the past four years. Based on this data, the FMC reported "almost no measurable change" in station playlist composition over the past four years.

The FMC numbers show that major label songs consistently secure 78 to 82 percent of airplay. The format data showed some modest increases for indie label in the Country and Triple Non-Commercial worlds, but otherwise the data from year to year changed very little. An examination of airplay by release date showed that many formats leave only small portions of their playlist for new material, with current songs sprinkled in among the gold hits. Looking at airplay for new releases, FMC found that new major label songs typically receive a higher proportion of spins than new indie label songs. Finally, FMC looked at the indie labels themselves, and found that only a handful of those labels have enough resources and clout to garner airplay consistently.

"Radio is still an incredibly vital public resource that’s worth fighting for," says FMC Policy Director Michael Bracy. "It's ubiquitous and local nature make it unique in the media landscape, but unfortunately today’s commercial radio rarely reflects the communities where it is heard. There are so many artists who are successful by any other measure, but who still have enormous difficulty reaching the airwaves. Why is that? It’s important to understand how music is programmed at commercial radio. We also need regulators to devise clear and transparent rules so they can effectively oversee such a significant industry."

FMC says the findings underscore how radio’s long-standing relationships with major labels, its risk-averse programming practices and the permissive regulatory structure all combine to create an environment in which songs from major label artists continue to dominate. Therefore, the report outlines a brief set of policy recommendations that will enhance the FCC’s oversight of the airwaves and improve the local radio landscape for both listeners and the broader music industry. These include: Improving data collection by the FCC to better monitor what's going on over the airwaves; a refocus on localism rather than consolidation; and an expansion in the number of voices on the public airwaves.

The report concludes by saying, "Radio is a vital public resource with universal penetration, low-cost access, and a rich history of cultural impact. Regulators should strive for clear and transparent rules, so goals and policy initiatives can be measured and parties held accountable. Commercial radio has seen its market influence wane in recent years, but by asking the right questions, expanding community radio and enforcing the law, we can hopefully assist the industry in regaining its historic role and relevance to culture and community."