AFTRA

Testimony of George Jones

Member, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Before the Federal Communications Commission
Public Hearing on Media Ownership

Nashville, Tennessee
December 11, 2006

Chairman Martin and Commissioners of the FCC, thank you for letting me speak on this very important issue of media consolidation which affects every recording artist, singer and performer in this audience and across the United States.

I am George Jones, and I am a recording artist and a proud member of the American Federation of Television, Radio and Recording Artists – AFTRA.

They tell me I am a country music icon. In my 52 year career, I have charted more singles than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music. I have won two GRAMMYs and I have received the 2002 National Medal of Arts Honor from President Bush. I headline about 100 concerts a year, playing to thousands of people and I continue to sell records to my fans at concerts, through the internet and what’s left of record stores.

I can play to packed houses in Europe and have made recordings with everyone from Ray Charles to Keith Richards, as well as today’s top country artists, many of whom I consider to be a part of my family as a son or daughter. However, the consolidation of the radio industry has kept me from being played on the radio. It has kept me from earning my full potential as a country artist and has denied my fans and the American public the opportunity to hear my music. Corporate based decisions in the music industry are nothing more than the opinions and decisions of a few people at the top, but their opinions dictate the operations of thousands of radio stations and that of the American public.

Besides being the best thing that ever happened to me, my wife, Nancy, is also my manager and is continually on the front line of radio promotion with my recordings. Disc jockey’s have told Nancy that they would love to play my music, but I’m too old, don’t fit the mold, there is no room on their limited play list, that I’m “too country”, or that they are not in a position to have any influence to play me because of corporate policy. Sometimes the corporate policy is dictated by someone whose history with country music is no more than a few years old. Most of the time, they can’t tell you who set the corporate policy.

I’m thankful some of these radio stations don’t own any more television stations or newspapers. Even without the support of radio, I have no problem appearing on national television shows, HBO and PBS specials or receiving positive press. I hate to think that some of these radio station owners could own even more television stations and newspapers. Sugar is sweet, but too much can kill you.

I ask you as FCC Commissioners not to expand the number of stations or newspapers any company can own in one market. I am not against a company making more money. The American dream of free enterprise and letting the market determine who survives and who fails is OK, but when my life, my income and my profession, as well as the needs of my fans are affected by media consolidation, we don’t need to make a move even further in the wrong direction for our recording industry, the fans and the American public.

Please don’t make it any rougher for recording artists like me or tomorrow’s rising star.