Karen Carpenter's will

[snopes]

Comment: I've heard that since 1983, FM stations were requested to not
play songs by The Carpenters music duo. Allegedly Karen Carpenter
stipulated in her will that refraining airplay of Carpenters music would
be the proper way to remember them. They're not even played on "The 70s"
channels of satellite services XM and Muzak!

[Andrew of Ware]

The Carpenters' songs are certainly paid in the UK. If a radio station has paid its public rights broadcasting fee (or whatever it is called in the USA) can they be stopped from playing certain music?

[MacLloyd]

I have definitely heard The Carpenters on the radio here in Los Angeles.

Mac"Carpenters fan from way back"Lloyd

Edited to correct spelling

[JessBoo]

They're definitely played here, and some rapper guy's just sampled them on his record.

Why would not playing their music be the way to remember them? And doesn't her brother get a say?

[kitap]

They get played a lot at Christmas time.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Originally Posted by JessBoo

Why would not playing their music be the way to remember them? And doesn't her brother get a say?

Especially since he wrote a number of them.

My father's radio station certainly plays them, two complete albums were released after she died, the CDs have been rereleased and there is a tribute album.

I guess none of that counts in the face of such a great rumor as this.

Seaboe

[Tootsie Plunkette]

Maybe they've gotten a garbled version of the story behind Superstar.

[smittykins]

Although the Carpenters don't get played much in my area(a shame IMHO), they're a fixture on the Music Choice 70s channel on digital cable.

[We'veBeenHad]

I hear Carpenters songs on the radio as well. Not all the time, but enough.

[DarkDan]

They are played on XM.