Throughout the world it doesn’t seem as if the top 40 hits changes at all; from country to country the same hit pop songs are blasted on the radio, regardless of whether or not the song’s language matches the city’s. While this musical universality can be seen as a common bond shared among different countries, it’s beginning to take a toll on the success of the music industry in other countries.
Ecuador is now taking the same approach as a handful of other countries in limiting the amount of play that music coming from the United States can have on their airwaves. France, the Philippines, Canada, and Venezuela are all among countries which have created music laws to be enforced on radio stations nationwide. Quotas are now in effect for native musicians to be played on native radio stations, with only a certain block left for music from abroad.
“Prior to the law being passed, Ecuadorian artists received less than 10 percent of the airtime on major radio stations. Now, half of all music played on the radio must be homegrown” states the Miami Herald.
This law, however, is being met with mixed reviews from Ecuadorian constituents. “This is a country full of talent, the problem has been the lack of industry, the lack of support from the government. We have it now. We think this law is going to help in a really good way improve and [strengthen] Ecuadorean talent,” says Ecuador’s Vice Minister of Culture Jorge Luis Serrano. On the opposite end of approval is Antonio “Pacho” Feraud, an executive at the Ecuador-based record label Fediscos, who states “I’m not a person who believes that we should rely on the government. When politics gets in the middle of things you never know where it’s going to lead to in the end.”
Regardless of your stance on the subject, if you’re traveling or live outside of the US expect to see more native music in the coming months. Read the original article at the Miami Herald here.