Rock Around L.A.

Regarding “A Grand Tour of L.A.’s Kingdom of Rock,” by Robert Hilburn (Oct. 25): To ignore the success of our city’s independent labels is to miss the real story. Enigma, Rhino, SST and others have begun to compete with the majors for sales, air play and talent; and their executives will play a pivotal role in the record business of the future.

And the implication that Los Angeles is competing with New York for some sort of industry supremacy suggests that we have nothing better to do with our time. Record companies have national staffs and sign artists from around the world. No one person is responsible for “breaking” an act, just as no one city determines what happens in the music business.

Gil Friesen, President, A&M; Records

Hollywood

In the same article, the entry about Norm Pattiz, founder of radio-syndication company Westwood One, should have included the following: Industry analysts estimate that almost 30% of the $400 million spent each year on network radio goes to Westwood One, which started with rock-related shows but now also owns the Westwood One Radio Network, the Mutual Broadcasting System (its main prize is talk-show host Larry King), the NBC radio networks and the Radio and Records trade publication.--The Editors