Kendrick/Drake Beef: Can a Record Label Ask Radio Not to Play a Song?

Public Policy & Regulation attorney Charles Naftalin was quoted in a Billboard article discussing the significant freedom broadcast stations have in selecting their content. The discussion arises in the context of rumors that a prominent record label attempted to remove a track featuring Kendrick Lamar from airplay. Mr. Naftalin, who focuses on telecommunications law, offered analysis of the legal aspects of broadcast rights in the music industry, highlighting the broad discretion enjoyed by radio broadcasters and shedding light on the complexities on controlling what gets to be played on air.

"As a general law, broadcast stations have a lot of discretion over what they put on the air — almost unlimited discretion. A station is virtually free to pick and choose what it wants," he said.

READ: Kendrick/Drake Beef: Can a Record Label Ask Radio Not to Play a Song?