Turning toward the radio industry, the Federal Communications Commission is looking into whether iHeartMedia is compelling artists perform at its upcoming country music festival for free or reduced pay in exchange for more favorable airplay.

FCC chairman Brendan Carr, in a letter to iHeartMedia CEO Robert Pittman on Monday, said that the inquiry relates to possible violations of government rules requiring broadcasters to disclose payments or other consideration for airing certain programming. Under the so-called “payola” rule, all sponsored arrangements must be identified.

“I want to know whether iHeart is effectively and secretly forcing musicians to choose between, one, receiving their usual, ordinary, and full scale compensation for performing or, two, receiving less favorable airplay on iHeart radio stations,” Carr wrote.

In a statement, iHeartMedia said it looks forward to “demonstrating to the Commission how performing at the iHeartCountry Festival – or declining to do so – has no bearing on our stations’ airplay,...