A side deal in a payola lawsuit against the Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Entercom, and Citadel radio groups could make more time for independent music on the airwaves. According to Hollywood Reporter, the groups voluntarily agreed (while paying a $12.5 million settlement under an FCC suit) to grant airtime to music from companies "not owned or controlled by Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and EMI Group." Of course, at the moment, there's not much of an actual plan for putting the promise into action, but it'll be interesting (or at least comical) to see how Clear Channel's automatons mix in obscure selections with big-name pop.
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