Clear Channel

[Burt]

There is a fierce debate on UK TV's Newsnight at the moment.

Basically the UK government are going ahead with plans to deregulate the airwaves - paving the way for large companies to own and run more radio stations.

The company they focussed on as being the best placed to come in and dominate UK radio was Clear Channel.

I've always been a fierce critic of the quality of music radio here in the UK (dominated by the BBC both nationally and locally) but will Clear Channel make the situation better or worse?

What is the state of music airplay in the US since the growth of companies Clear Channel? And what happened in Sweden when they deregulated and then reverted back again after it didn't work. Anybody care to comment?

Burt

[Thermionic]

http://www.clearchannelsucks.org/

Try a google-scan as well...



We're ****ed.


Got any arsenic?


Do you think the impending commercial obsolenscence of the fm-band could benefit "minority"/independent music-forms?

I saw newsnight, lovely

Wanna organise a march?

Maybe internet radio will cure things to en extent. Sounds ass though.

[Jtt]

Fight Clear Channel tooth and nail, to the death-- and to the end........

Or be over run with the same conservatively tainted, bland sameness that is smothering us in the states.....

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!

-Jtt

[Shawn1272]

In the US, the FCC is as much of the problem as Clear Channel. I NEVER listen to radio anymore, not only because it sucks, it's bland, and they only ever play the same ten ****ing Creed songs but because I refuse to support it. Fight in the streets, fight in the air, molotov cocktails, car bombs, the works. DO NOT LET YOUR GOVERNMENT ALLOW CLEAR CHANNEL ACCESS TO YOUR RADIO AIRWAVES!! YOU WILL REGRET IT.

Shawn

[Generalmix]

I agree radio in the US is not very well formated because you hear certain songs all the time and others never. I don't know if its all about Clear Channel or some other organization but the truth is nobody is willing to do anything about it. Everything is bought payola for the raido airplay and if it is not CC then some other company will do it. WIth big companies it is just more organize as far as you pay to one guy instead of many. But I would probably be against one really big company taking over the airways. Cause the progress is based on a competition, and a healthy one. But one company holds that much weight nobody can compete on a fair level.

Sorry I am rambling here. Well just my .2 cents

[Fletcher]

Klear Khannel Kommunicatins?... dude, you're ****ed!!

[cally]

at least they can't **** with internet radio

"In the US, the FCC is as much of the problem as Clear Channel. I NEVER listen to radio anymore, not only because it sucks, it's bland, and they only ever play the same ten ****ing Creed songs but because I refuse to support it. Fight in the streets, fight in the air, molotov cocktails, car bombs, the works. DO NOT LET YOUR GOVERNMENT ALLOW CLEAR CHANNEL ACCESS TO YOUR RADIO AIRWAVES!! YOU WILL REGRET IT."

"Klear Khannel Kommunicatins?... dude, you're ****ed!!"


BINGO!!!!!!

KKK was the end of any decent radio in Dallas!!!!
If you only have a few stations to begin with your
screwed. I frequent San Jose and they have such a nice
selection that you can just avoid Clear Channel.

The KKK stations in D will also jack a song, or should I say mix up.
We have one station (Hot100) that will not only Smash it till the HF sounds like it is going through a phaser. But, they have the nerve to speed it up as well. I don't mean a little either.

Run. Run fast....

DPasch

[De chromium cob]

Originally posted by cally
at least they can't **** with internet radio

Dont be so sure- Many people arent aware of just who owns the website theyre frequenting....And they are being bought up by a wealthy few, just like other media outlets-
Fight them Burt- fight those clear channel ****heads like your way of life depends on it, 'cause it just might! We just got boned right up the ass by Colin Powells son and a republican majority on the board of the FCC- And you dont hear alot of news about the issue because its in the interest of the parent companies of the networks that benefit from it passing...Our country is being raped right now by corprate greed and special interest groups- Bush has got to go! I dont think the country can withstand 4 more years of that joker!!! Shit- now Ashcroft will probably break down my door tonight and label me an 'enemy combatant'....

[Deja V.U.]

Chill out people. Just because Clear Channel makes radio stations suck doesn't mean they are the gustapo. Besides, people are still listening to the crappy radio that Clear Channel puts out. If you get people to turn off their radios, then advertisers will listen (pun intended).

[vodka gimli]

From the Washington Post:

The 3 to 2 decision to end many of the ownership restrictions on media companies followed party lines, with Powell joined by his fellow Republicans, Kevin J. Martin and Kathleen Q. Abernathy.

In February, however, Powell was outmaneuvered by Martin, who sided with the agency's two Democrats, Michael J. Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein, on a key decision governing the future of the telecommunications industry.

From the FCC website:


The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

The FCC is directed by five commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for five-year terms, except when filling an unexpired term. The president designates one of the commissioners to serve as Chairman. Only three commissioners may be members of the same political party. None of them can have a financial interest in any Commission-related business.


Michael K. Powell (R), Chairman
Appointed Chairman by President Bush: Jan. 22, 2001
[Originally appointed to the Commission by President Clinton: Nov. 3, 1997]

Kathleen Q. Abernathy (R)
Appointed by President Bush: May 2001
Term ends: June 30, 2004.

Kevin J. Martin (R)
Appointed by President Bush: April 2001
Term ends: June 30, 2006

Michael J. Copps (D)
Appointed by President Bush: May 2001
Term ends: June 30, 2005

Jonathan Adelstein (D)
Appointed by President Bush: November 2002.
Term ends: June 30, 2003
********************************************* *****
So, Republican Bush keeps Republican Powell on the commission - originally appointed by Democrat Clinton, - and then appoints Democrats Adelstein and Copps - who opposed Powell on the matter. All of them confirmed by the Senate...pre-Republican majority.

Bush kept Clinton's choice - and appointed two more Dems and two Republicans. And Bush has got to go? Yeah, right.

When the Dems are in charge they put their guys in, when the Republicans are in the White House, they put their guys in.

If you don't like Powell, looks like you can blame Clinton or the Senates that confirmed him - both Senates had Democratic majorities at the time.

I am amazed to learn that purveyors of corporate greed and special interest groups are suddenly all Republicans.

VG

[faeflora]

STFU everyone. The radio is awesome and it makes me horny.

[Deja V.U.]

That's good and all but what does "STFU" stand for?

[cally]

Originally posted by Jtt
Fight Clear Channel tooth and nail, to the death-- and to the end........

Or be over run with the same conservatively tainted, bland sameness that is smothering us in the states.....

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!

-Jtt

To be honest a lot of radio stations in Britain come under that category of bland , sameness. I Think of Capital Radio, Virgin etc
its just the playlist of the same tunes all day long and absolute bollocks coming out the DJs mouths, its often hard to tell one DJ from another . They seem to be just out to please their advertisers.
Out of choice I don't listen to them but obviously a lot of people like this format, they must do, it seems to thrive.. This sort of radio is just backround music to the workplace,

[BevvyB]

Deja -

Shut The F*** Up

and

erm

that was a reply to your question, not a statement

[Fletcher]

FWIW, "Infinity Broadcasting" and "Nationwide" are just as ****ed as "KKK"... just not quite as big, nor do they promote 95+% of all the 'concerts' in N. America.

[Mysterytrain]

Funny, I was just wondering ..How do we take Clear Channel out? I hate these ****ers and what they have done to the radio. They have all but killed regional music. Not sure if they are dems or Replickers but banning the Dixie Chicks was over the top. Politically, it appears they are a bit to the right of the nazis and the Klan. Its really a shame...trouble is their listening audience doesn't have a clue what radio once was or could be be. Gotta run..need to send a check to my local public radio station (WXPN) before its too late. god I love corporate cheese.


Radio Radio -Elvis Costello


I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial
doing anything my radio advised
with every one of those late night stations
playing songs bringing tears to me eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
when the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe.
They really think we're getting out of control.

Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice
'cause they think that it's treason.
So you had better do as you are told.
You better listen to the radio.

I wanna bite the hand that feeds me.
I wanna bite that hand so badly.
I want to make them wish they'd never seen me.


Some of my friends sit around every evening
and they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference
and the promise of an early bed
You either shut up or get cut out;
they don't wanna hear about it.
It's only inches on the reel-to-reel.
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel

[Chorus]

Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, radio...


Peace, Ron
www.mysterytrain.org

[Berolzheimer]

A lot of what's evil about Clear Channel is that they not only own most of the commercial radio stations, but also many of the larger concert venues. So if you don't play ball with them, or they don't like the content of your songs, you don't get played on the radio, AND you can't get booked for live shows.

Don't just fight Clear Channel, fight de-regulation. You, the people, own the airwaves, don't give them up to greedy corporate interests without a fight.

[Thermionic]

I just emailed my local MU rep with some links about Clearchannel. Also stated that I would be prepared to go on a march / demo; not that it will achieve anything substantial, but at least it would give KKK some bad publicity and let the shareholders know their presence in the UK is not desired.

Any UK-based members: PLEASE email / write to your local MU-rep / MP, we can't take this sitting down.

emap are just as unscrupulous as KKK, but they don't own music venues and it's pretty late-in-the-day to do much about them...Let's create a stink for KKK in the least, we don't need them as well as emap...

[e-cue]

Are there any private companies that don't make radio suck?


I think all radio today is rather lame, including college radio. (ducks) I even gave up on Rodney on the ROC.

[Teacher]

support WBAI if your support independent radio!!!