the fcc, letting us be?

In the same week that the FCC announced that Clear Channel, Citadel, and others would pay a settlement to end the payola scandal that has plagued commercial radio, another side deal was made.

Independent of the government's ruling, major radio corporations struck a deal with independent music spokesgroup American Association for Independent Music (A2IM, a sweet acronym) to allot airtime for indie bands. Clear Channel and friends will now set aside 8,400 half hour blocks for our little unknown friends thus flipping the the entire music industry on its head, baffling indie bands and their labels, and freaking out scenesters worldwide.

Now this begs a few questions:

1. What's an indie band?
2. Will indie bands get indie-er to avoid major radio play?
3. Will non-indie groups get indie-er to receive more gauranteed radio play?

We'll have to wait and see, but until then, I'm going to have to find all sorts of new ways to up my indie cred.

(Sourcess: ABC News, Spin)