Radio News You Can't Use

Kevin Martin Demystified... almost
Business Week recently interviewed FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, who discussed improving broadband access in the U.S., making sure emergency communications are in order, and possibly dealing with the FCC's indecency complaint backlog in bulk.

Indecency Legislation to Resurface?
Rumors are flying around the nation's capitol concerning a revised broadcast indecency bill, scheduled to hit the Senate floor as soon as this week. If you'll recall, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act passed through the House earlier this year and seemed to evaporate shortly thereafter. This time, two variations of an indecency bill are in the works, both raise the maximum fine for a naughty slip of the tongue and one has language that would place cable and satellite TV under the microscope.

Stern replaced by DLR, Jack, and Adam Carolla
As Howard Stern leaves the world of broadcast radio and steps into orbit on Sirius, Infinity Broadcasting replaces him with David Lee Roth (but that's old news) in most areas, while other parts of the country get Jack-FM or Adam Carolla. Meanwhile, Stern is still under investigation by the FCC for an allegedly indecent broadcast that aired earlier this year.

Payola Roundup
Eliot Spitzer’s investigation earlier this year dug up evidence that Sony BMG was engaged in illegal radio promotion practices (payola): bribes, vacation packages, and expensive electronics for radio station personnel secured airplay for Franz Ferdinand, Audioslave, Celine Dion, and other artists. This throw-down got Clear Channel execs shaking in their boots. They fired two employees following their own internal investigation. Now an indie label (TSR Records) has filed suit against Sony for bribing radio stations, alleging that this has blocked artists on other labels from being heard.

Liberal Radio Host Prematurely Discharged
Ed Schultz's radio program was mysteriously eliminated from the Armed Forces Radio roster at the zero hour by Allison Barber (who works for Internal Communications at the Pentagon). In a completely unrelated story, Schultz had criticized Barber earlier in the week for rehearsing interview responses with soldiers during President Bush's staged video-conference.

Fake News Must Bear a Label
The Truth In Broadcasting Act, which demands that government propaganda (including VNRs, or video news releases) be labeled as such, passed through the Senate Commerce Committee after being shot down earlier this year in a House panel.

Captive Commuters
The U.S. Census has determined that the number of commuters driving from the suburbs to the nation’s cities has increased. This means larger captive audiences stuck in traffic: music to the ears of radio advertisers and WFMU (we happen to be located next to a large metropolis, and we're looking to convert as many worker bees to our cult as possible).

Third Coast Audio Fest
Check out the blog for Chicago Public Radio's Third Coast International Audio Festival, featuring highlights of the gathering and synopses of a few key panels.


Other Radio News headlines from the past month:

- Jack-FM en espanol = Jose

- Chairman Martin strategically places his pawns

- Radio News banned in Nepal... again

- Little Steven denounces the Fucking Pussies of radio

- FCC gives a high school's frequency to christians

- Get schooled on the transistor radio

Comments

[Steve PMX]

When are these people going to realize that 'decency' is a fucking subjective term?!?! Abs. infuriating.