Employment and Wage Effects of Radio Consolidation

EMPLOYMENT AND WAGE EFFECTS OF RADIO CONSOLIDATION
[SOURCE: Future of Music Coalition, AUTHOR: Peter DiCola]
Using data from the Occupational Employment Survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, FMC Research Director Peter DiCola examines the effects of radio consolidation on employment and wages for radio announcers, news reporters, and broadcast technicians. The report finds that, comparing figures across metropolitan areas, an increase in the number of stations per owner within a metropolitan area was associated with both lower employment levels and lower wages during the years 1996 to 2003. The study also shows that the job losses in radio impede federal policy mandates to promote localism and diversity in media. "Consolidation in radio ownership hasn't just homogenized music formats," said Jenny Toomey, musician and executive director of the Future of Music Coalition, "it has devastated the broadcast profession and virtually eliminated the ability of radio stations to provide unique coverage of local news, music and community issues. Before the FCC moves forward to further loosen already weak ownership limits, it should understand the impact that deregulation has had on jobs and communities."
http://www.futureofmusic.org/news/PRemploymenteffects06.cfm
http://www.futureofmusic.org/images/EmploymentEffectsRadioConsolidation06.pdf