Vote for jazz and other good music on the public airwaves

Below is a note from Jean Cook, of the Future of Music Coalition

Hi all -

Wanted to pass on some news that may be of interest. As part of the periodic Media Ownership Proceedings, the Federal Communications Commission is hosting six hearings around the country to hear what citizens have to sayabout the state of the radio industry.

They will consider the public input from these hearings (as well as written testimony filed on their websitebefore December 22) when deciding whether to change or update the rules governing Media Ownership - which companies are allowed to own how many radio stations in any given market.

The first official hearing was in Los Angeles in October, and the next one is set for Nashville on Monday December11 (next week).

These hearings are our opportunity as citizens and music advocates toemphasize the importance of community and niche format radio to artists, the independent music industry, jazz fans, and new audiences.

Anyone can attend and make a 2-5 minute public statement for the record and directly addressall five FCC commissioners in person.I encourage anyone from Tennessee who may be able to make it out toNashville to show up and testify for jazz radio.

(Advocates for jazz, classical, and world music were conspicuously missing from the last Proceeding in 2003, while advocates for companies such as Clear Channel were strong and vocal through the process.)

Here are the details on next week's hearing.
Date: Monday, December 11, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Belmont University's Massey Concert Hall
1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN

For those not in Tennessee or in any of the other four states they'll be hitting over the next six months for official FCC hearings, there are also informal hearings happening around the country several times a month.

If you are interested in testifying and would like more information, please let me know.

All the best,
Jean Cook
Future of Music Coalition