iHeartMedia, the largest owner of radio stations in the U.S., agreed to enter into a consent decree with FCC to settle a probe the agency launched last year into iHeartMedia’s compliance with federal rules prohibiting a specific form of payola dubbed “showola” — which involves radio stations pressuring artists to perform at station-hosted music shows or festivals for free or for reduced payment “in exchange for more favorable airtime for their songs,” per the FCC.
By entering into the consent decree, iHeartMedia “makes no admission of liability or violation of any law, regulation or policy,” according to the terms of the agreement, released Thursday. The company also is not paying any fines related to the settlement. iHeart has denied that it engages in “showola” practices.
Under the agreement, iHeartMedia within 60 calendar days will develop and implement “rigorous reporting and disclosure procedures to provide the FCC with additional insight into the relationship between spins on air and performances at live events — ensuring no prohibited pressure or relationships,” according to the FCC.
The FCC was specifically looking at whether iHeartMedia improperly was pressuring artists to perform without payment at events including the 2025 iHeartCountry Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
