It's not a good day for earthly radio. Not only are indecency fines now 10 times more expensive, but they're also getting slapped around by Eliot Spitzer for pay-for-play charges.
George W. Bush has signed into law legislation that increases the fines $32,500 to $325,000 per violation. And of course, the NAB has to whine a bit more by stating: "If there is regulation, it should be applied equally to cable and satellite TV, and satellite radio."
Meanwhile, with EMI settling with Spitzer over payola charges, this marks the third record label in recent months who has admitted to essentially bribing radio stations to give artists airtime. Some EMI artists who have benefited from the payola scheme include the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Norah Jones, and Gorillaz.
As a result, EMI has agreed to the immediate cessation of payments and other inducements to radio stations, discontinuance of independent promoters as a pass-through for securing airplay, hiring of a compliance officer to monitor promotion practices, and implementation of an internal system to detect any future abuses.
Hopefully the NAB's whining will also include cable and sat TV, since at least more consumers will notice (and care) if indecency rules apply there.
There's only 32 reasons?
Doesn't George W have more important things to worry about?
I would rather see fines being increased to the gluttanous corporate pigs at Clear Channel for payola infractions than fines for indecency.