According to news reports, the musicFIRST Coalition, a group created by the Recording Industry Association of America to lobby in support of a performance tax on radio, filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission yesterday. The complaint asserts that unnamed radio stations have refused to play music by unnamed musicians who support the record label-led effort to strap radio stations with new fees for airing music free to listeners.

The Associated Press reported that "representatives for musicFIRST refused to identify the artist" allegedly denied airplay. In response, NAB noted that the Black Eyed Peas, whose frontman Will.i.am is a vocal proponent of the RIAA-sought fees, continues to enjoy vast amounts of exposure through free radio airplay. The current Billboard Pop 100 Airplay chart lists the Black Eyed Peas' single "Boom Boom Pow" as the most played song on free, local radio. 

The airplay chart can be found here: 
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Pop+100+Airplay 

Responding to the complaint, NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton issued the following statement:

"This allegation is nothing more than an act of desperation by a record label lobby losing on Capitol Hill and in the court of public opinion. On one hand, it highlights the unparalled promotional value of free radio airplay, which has propelled countless artists to stardom. We would also note that Will.i.am, a vocal proponent of the performance tax, and his group Black Eyed Peas are currently Number 1 on Billboard's Pop 100 Airplay Chart with the song 'Boom Boom Pow.'"

"If there's an FCC probe involving the music business, it ought to focus on claims from numerous artists -- from The Beatles to Prince to Cher -- that they were cheated out of royalties by their record labels."

NAB also noted that a bipartisan majority of House lawmakers are now on record in opposition to performance tax legislation.

On numerous occasions, both record label executives and artists have recognized the promotional value of free radio airplay. Such statements include:

"It's worth remembering that U2, you know we broke in the United States through Boston and through radio stations like BCN and stuff like that. We depend on radio." 

-- Bono, referring to Boston radio station WBCN, in an interview a WHDH-TV Boston news reporter, March 2009 

"Radio is still the leading force of determining what songs and artists break through."

-- Clive Davis, Sony Music's chief creative officer,as quote in USA Today, June 2009.

"The first nine years was one thing -- before we got on the radio, which was a miracle. It was never meant to happen. And then the second half was really a big blur of amazement." 

-- Gwen Stefani, taken from the May 19 episode of E! Entertainment Television's "The Daily 10" 

"You can't take being played on the radio for granted. There are only so many spots and many great singers out there wanting one. It's a jungle out there." 

-- George Strait, taken from the April 3 issue of Radio & Records

"I have so many friends out there. I think back over the years now, and it's amazing how much of my life has been impacted by radio people." 

-- Brad Paisley, speaking during an interview with Radio Ink's Brida Connolly, February, 2009

"Let me tell you four letters that mean a whole lot to me. Four letters that have changed the course of my career. Four letters out of 26. W-Y-C-D."

-- John Rich, Big and Rich, speaking on stage during the station's "Ten Man Jam" concert, February, 2009

"Thank You Radio!! 4 Grammy Awards Last Night!!!"

-- Lil Wayne in an email sent to radio stations across the country the day after he received four Grammy Awards, February 9, 2009

"It’s mainly radio, actually. I’ll hear a song, very often in the car, and buy the CD." 

-- Paul McCartney on where he finds new music. Entertainment Weekly, February 5, 2009

"I was homeless for about a year and I went back to singing, 'cause that's what I grew up doing with my dad as a child. We made our money by bar-singing. So I was looking for a place to sing, and it was my own material. And after about a year of being homeless and doing that, a radio station played one of my songs on the air -- a bootleg. I didn't have any demos. I wasn't trying to get signed. But a record label heard it, and all the sudden it was like being Cinderella. Limousines started showing up."

-- Jewel, Grammy-nominated recording artist, NBC's 'Today,' September 2008

"Alright, let's talk about the nuts and bolts. If you win 'Nashville Star', you have to get on 200 major market radio stations. You have to." 

-- John Rich, Big and Rich, 'Nashville Star,' July 2008

"I love a strong radio hit. ... That's what our job is, to have a radio hit. Without radio, we couldn't do what we do, but the job is to have a radio hit that sounds unique, and like you."

-- Jewel, Grammy-nominated recording artist, 'Nashville Star,' July 2008

"I have to thank... every DJ, every radio guy, every promotions guy, everybody who ever put up a poster for me and spread the word."

-- Alicia Keys, recording artist and Grammy winner, 2008 Grammy Awards, February 2008

"[R]adio remains the best way to get new music into the listeners' lives."

--Sony BMG Executive VP Butch Waugh as quoted in Radio & Records, January 11

"[R]adio is the conduit to the people, the voice of the format and the lifestyle's soundtrack.

-Sony BMG Nashville VP of Marketing Tom Baldrica, as quoted in Radio & Records, January 11 

"Obviously, radio is probably the most important thing for a new rock band coming out. If you don't get yourself on the radio, then you won't draw bodies at the clubs and you won't sell records."

-- 'Another Animal' drummer Shannon Larkin, Drum Magazine, 2008

"Country radio, thank you so much for being our mouthpiece. You know what we do means nothing if it never gets played, and no one gets to hear it."

-- 'Rascal Flatts,' Vocal Group of the Year, Country Music Awards, 2007

"I can't even believe that this is real... I want to thank country radio. I'll never forget the chance you took on me."

-- Taylor Swift, Horizon Award (for best new artist), Country Music Awards, 2007 

"I have yet to see the big reaction you want to see to a hit until it goes on the radio. I'm a big, big fan of radio."

--Richard Palmese, Executive Vice President of Promotion, RCA, 2007 

"Radio has proven itself time and time again to be the biggest vehicle to expose new music."

-- Ken Lane, Senior Vice President for Promotion, Island Def Jam Music Group, 2005

"It is clearly the number one way that we're getting our music exposed. Nothing else affects retail sales the way terrestrial radio does." 

--Tom Biery, Senior Vice President for Promotion, Warner Bros. Records, 2005 

"That's the most important thing for a label, getting your records played." 

-- Eddie Daye, recording artist, 2003 

"Radio helped me a lot. That's the audience. I can't see them, but I know they're there. I can't reach out and touch them with my hand, but I know they're there."

-- B.B. King, recording artist, 2002

"If a song's not on the radio, it'll never sell."

-- Mark Wright, Senior Vice President, MCA Records, 2001 

"Air play is king. They play the record, it sells. If they don't, it's dead in the water." 

-- Jim Mazza, President, Dreamcatcher Entertainment, 1999

"I am so grateful to radio. Their support has truly changed my life, and I hope they know how appreciative I am for that." 

-- Jo Dee Messina, recording artist, 1999