Slovak radio stations required to play more Slovak music

Radio stations in Slovakia will be required to play more Slovak music in their programming as of January 1, 2016, following an amendment to the Law on Broadcasting and Retransmission. In the amendment, the Culture Ministry introduced mandatory quotas for broadcasting of Slovak music on the radio. For the purpose of the bill, not only songs in Slovak, but any songs authored or performed by former or current citizens of Slovakia or a person with permanent residence in Slovakia will be considered Slovak music. Presently, the ratio of Slovak music content aired by Slovak radio stations hovers around 10 percent. Requirements for similar ratios of national music are, for example, in effect in Poland (33 percent), Hungary (35 percent) and France (40 percent). Comparatively, approximately 90 percent of all music broadcast by Radio Slovakia International is of Slovak origin.