Even stranger business models in the music industry

The German government is moving toward establishing guidelines for the music that is played on German radio stations -- in particular, that a specified proportion be home-grown music to encourage the local music industry:

A draft parliamentary motion drawn up by the ruling Social Democrats and Greens urges radio stations to play at least 35 percent German music, of which half should be devoted to new bands or music produced in the country.

"With this motion we are urging the government to hold fresh talks with public and private broadcasters with the goal of achieving a voluntary commitment...to play more German language pop and rock music," Antje Vollmer, Greens spokeswoman on cultural affairs, said in a statement on Wednesday.