Musicians Local Programming Campaign

 In partnership with the Future of Music Coalition, Prometheus is organizing a sign-on letter for professional musicians and music programmers to ask the FCC to prioritize local programming for community radio. If you are a musician or music programmer, please sign below!

Your signature will be added to this letter and then submitted to an official FCC proceeding, viewable by the public via the FCC website. If you choose to add an optional comment below, your quote may be added to the letter as well.

(Not a professional musician or a music programmer? Please visit our main Local Programming campaign page!)

The Letter:

Dear Chairman Genachowski:

As professional musicians and music programmers, we are writing to 
support the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to expand low 
power FM (LPFM) radio. LPFM is noncommercial, community-based, and 
local, offering a return to radio at its best. However, opportunities 
for new LPFM stations will be limited, especially in urban areas. We 
therefore ask the Commission to prioritize local programming when 
awarding LPFM licenses.

The LPFM service was designed to bring localism and diversity back to 
the airwaves, yet there is no local programming requirement for LPFM 
stations. Under the current rules, LPFM stations can simply rebroadcast 
syndicated programming 24/7, without local DJs, staff, or even a studio. 
With hundreds of organizations ready to serve their communities with 
local arts and music programming (as well as local news, public affairs, 
and emergency response), allowing for such repeater-like LPFM stations 
is a waste of scarce frequencies.

Locally programmed LPFM stations showcase talent that would otherwise 
never be heard on corporate playlists. They give local and regional 
musical traditions a home on the airwaves. These LPFM stations offer a 
wider variety of musical formats than most commercial stations, from 
polka to metal to bluegrass, supporting a wealth of musical traditions 
to survive and thrive. At a time when consolidation in the commercial 
radio industry has dramatically decreased opportunities for musicians to 
reach new listeners, locally programmed LPFM stations serve both 
musicians and music lovers.

We ask that the Commission return the LPFM service to its intended local 
roots. Please prioritize stations committed to the production of local 
programming when awarding LPFM licenses.

Respectfully submitted,

Professional musicians, music programmers, and other professionals in 
the music industry