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Henley attacks music biz, radio

Eagles frontman Don Henley took to the op-ed page of the Washington Post (2/17/04 edition) to level a broadside at the music and radio industries. Speaking of the climate when he entered the music business, he wrote, "Record labels signed cutting edge artists, and FM radio offered an incredible variety of music. Music touched fans in unique and personal ways. Our culture was enriched and the music business was healthy and strong. That's all changed."

Henley blames it on consolidation, spending most of his ink on how that phenomenon has transformed the music business. Where once there were hundreds of competing companies, he foresees a day when three multinationals dominate. He says they don't know musicians on a personal level, as small companies did in the past, and artist are seen as commodities - - "content providers."

Henley on radio: "Radio stations used to be local and diverse. Deegays programmed their own shows and develiped close relationships with artists. Today radio stations are centrally programmed by their corporate owners, and airplay is essentially bought rather than earned."

Without mentioning any specific companies, he complains about vertical ownership - - co-owned radio station, networks and concert venues in particlar.

Henley extends his lament to the retail side of the business, where specialty record shops are going down and retail giants like Wal-Mart and Target are dominating sales, and boxing out new, untested artists.

He calls for artists to band together to fight consolidation, and to make an effective case in Washington. Henley himself appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee over a year ago at the Lowry Mays stir-fry (1/31/03 RBR Daily Epaper #22), and is a founding member of the Recording Artists Coalition.