Playing by the Rules?
Among radio broadcasters across the country, Hilary Duff's sugary pop tune "I Can't Wait" has fallen completely flat. A single station -- in Albuquerque -- has played the song just one time, and that was back in September.
There is, however, a glaring exception: the Radio Disney empire. On its 52 stations nationwide, "I Can't Wait" is ranked No. 1, with Duff getting more airplay than Britney Spears. In Los Angeles, Disney's KDIS-AM (710) has played the song a whopping 850 times during the last six weeks.
So why is Radio Disney in such a hurry to play "I Can't Wait"?
Critics in the industry think they have an answer: Duff is under contract with Buena Vista Records, which is a sister company of Radio Disney, which is affiliated with the Disney Channel, which telecasts "Lizzie McGuire," which stars Duff.
Many question whether the cozy relationship among the players -- all owned by Burbank-based entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. -- violates arm's-length broadcasting rules of the Federal Communications Commission.
Although some of those rules have become murkier with sweeping consolidation in radio, media watchdogs say Disney and other broadcasters are testing the limits.
"This stuff clearly violates the spirit -- if not the letter -- of the law," said media expert Robert McChesney, a professor of communications at University of Illinois. "It undermines the integrity of the public airwaves, corroding editorial space with commercial factors. It's very damaging."
Robin Jones, head of programming at Radio Disney, said the radio chain does not give preferential treatment to acts with business ties to its corporate parent.
"I could see where someone might misconstrue that there was a conflict of interest with this song," Jones said. "But Hilary Duff was truly driven to No. 1 by kid requests
Jones said Duff is more popular with Radio Disney listeners than young pop star Avril Lavigne is. Lavigne has sold 2.5 million U.S. copies of her smash CD "Let Go," according to Neilsen/SoundScan. Duff's song, a track on the "Lizzie McGuire" soundtrack, has sold barely 124,000 copies.
Corporations are granted broadcast licenses by the government in exchange for a pledge to serve the public interest. The government prohibits broadcast licensees from using the airwaves for their own benefit or to gain a competitive advantage in any transaction.
