Portugal Pushes For Quota Reform.

Reports that leading figures from across the Portuguese music industry have been raising the contentious issue of music quotas with government and opposition politicians in an attempt to increase the amount of domestic music played by radio stations. The meeting held March 19, 2003 saw representatives of local labels and AFP--the Portuguese affiliate of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry--and selected broadcasters join with members of parliament from the opposition Partida Socialista (PS, or the socialist party) to discuss the issue. A group of music industry representatives also recently met with ministers from the center-right coalition government. The latest round of meetings follows years of pressure from individual labels, the AFP, authors society SPA, and artists, who have all called on the government to introduce and police workable quota laws to safeguard Portugal's domestic music industry. Under the Radio Broadcasting Laws of 1981, Portuguese radio should currently play at least 40% local music. Under the Radio Broadcasting Laws, stations must adhere to the quota to "defend Portuguese culture and music." The quotas issue is scheduled to be debated in parliament at an unspecified date in 2003. If no positive results come from that, the draft bill could be used to reform the quotas legislation, should the PS eventually gain power.