If you are wondering as to why Radio Mirchi, Big FM and the like are not playing as many latest Telugu movie songs as they used to play till recently, there is a reason. And it has got to do with a clash between the FM stations and a Telugu film producers' association named Associated Producers of Telugu LLP, which is an oligopoly of a few powerful Tollywood producers.

Reportedly, for several months early this year, the LLP tried its best to secure sweet deals from the Radio stations. The association urged the FM stations to air film ads at cheap rates (as some TV channels do because of a deal between LLP and them). The deal was not OK to FM stations.

Following the disagreement, the LLP decided to teach the FM stations a lesson. It asked film stars to boycott all the FM stations and not give any interviews. Because they are powerful, the stars obliged.

After this backlash, the FM stations decided to hit back. They stopped playing the songs of the latest movies so that these movies don't get publicity. When a song is not played, the film's name doesn't get mentioned by the RJ. No praises for the music director, no talk about the film's BO collections, nothing. In other words, lakhs of listeners will not hear about your film. And FM stations usually give favourable reviews and this benefit is not available to producers now.

The FM stations' strong decision has meant that Telugu films are losing out on publicity.

Why didn't the FM stations accept the LLP's request to air ads at cheap rates? That is because their revenue model doesn't support it. The stations pay huge sums to audio companies to acquire the right to play film songs. If they forgo revenue on film ads, it will be non-beneficial.