Here’s a label that would be interesting to see on CDs in your favorite music store. In case you missed all the news on SONY’s DRM disaster read up here or here. Speaking of the music industry, in NY last year many public school music programs received a box of CDs from the state attorney Elliot Spitzer’s office as a result of a settlement with various music labels for collusion to overcharge for CDs. That’s not the only case of Spitzer uncovering illegal practices by the music industry. In July Spitzer settled with SONY BMG for their ongoing use of what is basically payola or pay for play practices. The FCC was supposedly looking into this as well. Today, Nov. 22nd 2005, Spitzer settled with Warner Brothers over the same practices.
Elliot Spitzer isn’t the only person who has been attempting to change the way certain parts of the music industry operate or at least stop music labels from continuing illegal practices. In 2002 radio industry associations put out a joint statement on the negative impact of pay to play and other practices. The complete lack of diversity in media and recent settlements have become such big problems that legislators are finally starting to get involved.
What is our role as music educators when it comes to these issues? Should we be discussing these issues with our students to help them become aware of factors that may play a role in what music they have access to? What is our responsibility?