should be more and more latvian phonograms broadcast on radio stations

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The Saeima will consider amendments to the law on electronic media, according to which at least 20% of phonograms broadcast on radio stations should be in Latvian.  The deputies of the Saeima Raivis Dzintars and Gaidis Berzins (VL-TB / DNNL), Valdis Skujins (SZK), Hosam Abu Meri and Janis Upenieks (Unity) submitted the amendments.                According to the authors of the amendments, the need for Latvian music in the environment plays an important role in the formation of national identity and the recognition of the state.

The phonogram in the Latvian language will be understood as phonograms or musical works that are performed in Latvian or “reflect the Latvian cultural heritage” regardless of who is their author or performer, as well as musical works composed or performed by EU citizens in Latvian.

According to the authors of the amendments, such laws exist in several European countries. However, the Latvian Association of Broadcasting Organizations (LRA) has already expressed its dissatisfaction with the innovations and sharply criticized the bill, referring to the fact that this will not lead to an increase in demand for products of local musicians, but quite the contrary.

LRA believes that “such amendments will reduce the level of radio consumption – and, consequently, the payments of copyrights and taxes carried out by radio stations will decrease. Such circumstances will not give rise to the recognition and relevance of Latvian music. On the contrary – if the consumption of radio programs created in Latvia decreases, there are real fears that the information space of the country will decrease, which is unacceptable in the conditions of the “information war”.

Baiba Abele, a board member of Radio Skonto explains that both Latvian and foreign radio stations compose their playlists based on the results of regular studies of musical preferences of their listeners. And only this approach is considered professional. According to Baiba Abele, radio stations can no longer act as teachers, they cannot teach what to listen to or not. Radio competes with all sorts of digital platforms. If you do not provide what the listeners want to hear, they will find a suitable musical content somewhere else. The times when the radio stations played only what someone thought was “right” passed. The commercial director of Radio SWH Phillips Rubenis agrees with her. He also notes that this idea will only impose a restriction on radio stations. And the result will be the collapse of the broadcasting industry in Latvia. He emphasized that it is impossible to create a quality content demanded by the listeners with the help of such restrictions.

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