More Indie on Your Radio

As a part of their payola (the practice of bribing radio stations to play certain songs) investigation, the FCC has helped form an agreement between the station groups and the American Association of Independent Music that would set aside "8,400 half-hour blocks of time for independent music."
Via Reuters:

Peter Gordon, founder of Thirsty Ear Recordings and A2IM's chief negotiator, said in an interview that the "agreement in principle" is a way to get independent music on the air that also avoids undue government interference.

"It's a private relationship between the radio groups and the independent music sector," he said. "It's a chance for all of us to embrace each other's cultures, and it looks like the best way to get good stuff for people to listen to."

The free airtime would be granted to companies not owned or controlled by Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and EMI Group; do not have a market share larger than 5%; and are represented as independent through sales tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.

If this all goes well, maybe I'll start listening to the radio again.