Stern decries "The business has changed."

[LifeDuringWartime]

http://zfmq.fimc.net/Article.asp?id=19523

--snip--

"I'm not who I am," Stern declared. "You are bleeping who I am. I've got Dead Air Dave bleeping me. I've got you hovering and yelling at people. You're lecturing my staff and making everyone nuts. i can't even do damage control with what you are up to. When you lecture people and walk around and create an environment where people are scared, I can't get creativity out of that. You're as bad as the FCC."

--snip--

Also, amidst all the talk about Stuttering John's surprise announcement that he's exiting for a gig on the Tonight Show, Stern also found out that his show is now on four separate delays for a total of 90 seconds.  

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Clear Channel=New American Fascism...

Get used to it...

[LifeDuringWartime]

2. i'm used to it alright

i was just continuing discussion of a thread that was locked, but apparently it was locked and moved to the lounge.

[jenk]

3. what exactly did he say?

where can I get a transcript of the exchange that led to this???

[Bombtrack]

4. he said that to Tom Chiusano, the station manager

I listened to the whole show today, I guess I can't fucking listen any more until I get back home from school.

This is all because of the FCC and Clear Channels objection to Stern promoting the ouster of Bush

[ant]

6. c'mon

This is not about Bush, at least not directly. This is about the entire entertainment industry still reeling from the superbowl incident and everyone being hyperparanoid about getting slapped with a fine.

They fired that Sponge guy DJ, too - did he say anything bad about Bush?

[poppabear36]

10. Yes!

He slammed Bush for at least an hour the day he got fired. The reason for his firing, the FCC fines, had been out for over a month. Too coincidental that he attacks the Chimp in Chief and gets fired later the next day.

[ant]

13. that's what I've heard about Stern...

...did the Sponge guy bash Bush for over an hour, too?

And ok, it's been almost a month since the superbowl, but it's perfectly reasonable that it would take the industry time to react and respond. Nothing is instantaneous, after all. Lena Horn didn't drop Janet from her movie until last week. Did Janet bash Bush, too?

I know there's a tin foil set on this board, and I've gotten used to that, but this shit's getting absurd. You don't need to believe in political censorship to understand or explain what happened here. If you want to impose that explanation on these events, for whatever reason, fine, but you can't possibly deny that everything IS consistent on its own without that explanation.

[bluedog]

14. about "the love sponge" he blasted bush

Clear Channel released statements from CEO and Tampa area vice president Dan DiLoreto, linking 's dismissal to the content of his show. By Tuesday morning, Clem's image had been removed from the Web site for WXTB-97.9 FM (98Rock) in Tampa, and music filled his show's 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. timeslot.

"Someone is going to be made the poster boy for bad behavior . . . and Clear Channel doesn't want it to be them," said , a former radio station owner who predicted the controversy could keep Clem's persona off the air for two years or more. "Bubba was on the public airwaves, at a time when kids were (listening). This is a battle for public behavior. . . . How do we present ourselves as a society in public?"

Notables such as then-gubernatorial candidate Jeb Bush, then- U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist and wrestler Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea have appeared on Clem's show. None commented on the firing Tuesday. Nationally syndicated radio personality Lionel (Mike LeBron), got to know Clem while working at WFLA-970 AM in the late '80s and early '90s. He suspected the FCC's threat of revoking broadcast licenses left Clear Channel little choice but to fire Clem.

[ant]

16. where?

I don't see evidence of that in your statement. In fact, I see that he's had Jeb Bush on as a guest.

According to this article:

Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, the WXTB/Tampa-based morning man that brought the company the largest proposed single indecency fine in broadcast history.

Is it really that unbelievable that they'd fire him because he brought about the largest proposed single indecency fine in history?

Even Stern, right now on MSNBC, is saying that CC admitted to him that the only reason they're doing this is because they have to testify in front of congress and need to point to themselves taking action against indecency.

By the way, according to this article, the drama with Stern has been going on since the beginning of the week, before his tirade against Bush. The indecency rules from Infinity came down last week, while Stern was on vacation.

Since it is clear these wheels have been turning since before Stern's anti-Bush comments it is totally and completely illogical to claim they are turning BECAUSE OF Stern's anti-Bush comments.

[NewJeffCT]

20. the wheels may have been turning

But, to use another cliche - were the anti-Bush comments the straw that broke the camel's back? Why fire Howard and not some of their Fright Wing hosts that have made outrageous comments?

[ant]

23. quite a stretch

Stern is the epitome of offensive and indecent radio. And hey, I like him, I think he's funny, and I do often listen to him, but they've been after him for years. You find me another DJ who has had a comment about n* chicks smelling like watermelon on his/her show recently and who has NOT been fired and maybe then we can talk. Lots of people make "outrageous comments," but it should go without saying that while right wing talk may be outrageous, it's rarely INDECENT, and that's the issue here. Stern has always been on a different level than everyone else when it comes to offensive and indecent programming.

I just don't understand why people need to believe the Bush comments were the straw. Isn't N* CHICKS SMELL LIKE WATERMELON a big enough straw all by itself? Is it really that hard to believe that CC heard that and feared getting shit for it at the hearings? I just don't see why we need outside explanations and justifications.

[Papa]

5. Howard Stern has been removed from all Clear channel Stations!

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040225/255963_1.html

Howard Stern Show Taken Off Clear Channel Stations
Wednesday February 25, 6:44 pm ET


SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2004--Clear Channel Radio has suspended the broadcast of Viacom's Howard Stern show, consistent with its Responsible Broadcasting Initiative announced earlier today. After assessing the content of yesterday's Howard Stern show, Clear Channel worked with local market managers to take swift and decisive action.

"Clear Channel drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners from indecent content and Howard Stern's show blew right through it," said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. "It was vulgar, offensive, and insulting, not just to women and African Americans but to anyone with a sense of common decency. We will not air Howard Stern on Clear Channel stations until we are assured that his show will conform to acceptable standards of responsible broadcasting," Hogan said.


and another article here

http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2004/02/25/rtr1276210.html

[Cleita]

7. Write to Clear Channel

and tell them that since they are banning Howard Stern, they also need to ban Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage who are even more offensive to women and minorities.

Clear Channel Communications, Inc., San Antonio
Lisa Dollinger, 210-822-2828
[e-mail]

or

Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Washington
Andrew Levin, 202-289-3230
[e-mail]

They opened themselves up to it so take advantage of the situation.

[BiggJawn]

9. But CC thinks it's "cute" to advocate killing Cyclists...

I haven't forgotten that "Run 'em off the road with your Hummer" incident...
I wonder how soon before Bob and Tom get the ax.

Funny, the Cons and Freepers go on and on about us Liberals wanting to bring them a "Nanny State". Seems like they're getting one put on them right now. No tits, no Howard
Stern, the forever 14-year-old and his potty humour.....

But LOTS of a convicted felon (Liddy) and an alleged drug kingpin (Limp-balls) for them to listen to....

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

8. I agree with every criticism of Stern

I just don't like him. But I sure don't want the government deciding whether he's available to us or not, I'll do that myself thank you. F**k this repressive regime.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. So if there are 4 delays

how come no-one took out the offensive caller that supposedly got him dropped from Clear Channel?

[Habibi]

12. Yeah

I was wondering about that myself.

[NashVegas]

15. I'm Having a Hard Time Finding Very Much Sympathy for Howard

First the disclaimer: Howard Stern is a broadcasting genius. Okay, I've said that.

However, Howard was one of the greatest enablers corporate radio ever had. He could have used his popularity at any time to decry the consolidation trend. But as long as consolidation was good for Howard (more markets) he didn't mind it.

[thingfish]

17. Stern and porno are the canaries in the First Amendment coalmine.

And now, their eyes are starting to bleed.

Love Stern or hate him, this is bad voodoo.

[Bombtrack]

18. Stern isn't the same thing as porno

he's an adult-aimed comedy show.

[Monument]

19. Howard is constantly opposed to corporate radio

Go to Clearchannel.com and enter the name of your city into the search tab. That will allow you to locate and boycott their radio stations.

I will choose to support my local economy, and support free speech by not listening to the following boston based clear channel stations:

JAM'N 94.5

KISS 108

[tridim]

21. He needs to move to satellite

and bring his listeners with him. Screw AM/FM radio, it's become 100% puritan conservative hate and it's getting worse. I fear the Internet is next.

[SoCalDem]

22. Stern needs to show up at the hearings and demand to be heard

As obnoxious as he is, CC KNEW what his schtick was/is.. They hired him because he gets ratings. These guys would pimp out their own grandma if it would get them fame and fortune.. They have no morals, so why would they even care what he says?? They don't.. They are accepting their spanking from congress, and since he bashed their "boy", what better time to dump him and get a few brownie ppoints ??

Howard should show up and give them a piece of his mind.. He is foul mouthed on the air, but I am sure that he could talk circles around them..:evilgrin: