Payola Agreement Reached: iHeartMedia and the FCC have entered into a consent decree resolving the latter's investigation into alleged "showola" practices. The investigation was prompted by Senator Marsha Blackburn (CAT 2/4/25), who alerted the FCC to alleged pressure on artists to perform at iHeart events for reduced fees or no compensation to increase or prevent reductions in airplay of their music.

Remedies include iHeart designating corporate and market-level compliance contacts; creating a compliance plan, manual and training; enforcing standards around sponsorship identification laws; disclosure of its anti-payola policy to artists; creation of a compliance hotline/email address and more. The decree also identifies "Enhanced Disclosure Events" requiring further transparency including the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iHeartCountry Festival and events in the Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbus, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, Nashville, Omaha, Phoenix, Tampa and Washington, D.C. markets. Full consent decree here.