(2/26/04) related topic update Stern post



Here is what's up in the radio world today...



The story from St. Petersburgh Times and Tampa Bay Online and FMQB



FCC



COMMISSION PROPOSES TO FINE CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS $755,000 FOR APPARENT VIOLATIONS OF INDECENCY

AND PUBLIC INSPECTION FILE RULES



Washington, D.C. - Today, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture against several subsidiaries of Clear Channel Communications for apparently airing indecent material over several broadcast stations during several days. The material at issue was aired in connection with the "Bubba the Love Sponge" program. The Commission proposed the statutory maximum forfeiture of $27,500 for each of 26 apparent indecency violations. This forfeiture is the highest ever proposed against a broadcast licensee.



The Commission found 26 apparent indecency violations that involved graphic and explicit sexual and/or excretory material, and were designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners. The Commission proposed the statutory maximum forfeiture amount because of Clear Channel's history of transgressions relating to the broadcast of indecent material over stations licensed to its subsidiaries.

----------------

From the FCC document (PDF):



Segment 1 (aired July 19, 2001 between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.):28 In this segment skits in which the voices of purported cartoon characters talk about drugs and sex are inserted between advertisements for Cartoon Network's Friday night cartoons that are identified as "provocative adult cartoons to help you get your freak on."



The first skit begins when Shaggy tells Scooby Doo that he needs crack cocaine but has no money to buy it. Scooby Doo responds that Shaggy could "su(bleep)ck d(bleep)ick" to pay for the drugs.



In the next skit, Fat Albert, a/k/a Phat Diddy Daddy, gets killed in a drive-by shooting after bragging that Jennifer Lopez had been "s(bleep)ing Diddy Daddy's (bleep)ck" the previous night.



The third skit begins with the theme music from "The Jetsons" cartoon show. George Jetson then begins telling Jane that he no longer needs Viagra because he got a "Spacely Sprocket (bleep)ck ring." After George flips a switch to activate the device, sound effects indicate that the device malfunctions, and the skit ends with George calling for Jane to turn off the device.



Next, Alvin the Chipmunk complains that he hasn't "been laid in almost six weeks." Another chipmunk responds that his problem is due to the "f(bleep)cking pussy music we play" and begins to sing a more "kick ass" song directing a "filthy chipmunk-whore" to "[s]uck on my (inaudible) Chipmunk (bleep)s," "[p]ut 'em in your mouth and (bleep)uck 'em."



He continues by singing "They taste like pistachios. They're warm and fuzzy. Suck my (bleep)." The song is interrupted by a final advertisement for "Cartoons with Balls."

-------------------------



You can see the actual transcript of the broadcast in a PDF file starting at page 17 here



Does Bubba The Love Sponge use any of the 7 dirty words? No, but that is not the standard, the FCC can fine you (and do) for content, not just the actual words. Will the ACLU defend Bubba? I dunno. Reading the FCC file, looks like a longer beep might have saved 750,000 big ones.



Bubba responds:



From FMQB



Bubba Bites Back



January 30, 2004



"I don't want to be an irresponsible broadcaster. I don't want to break the law. I just need to know what the damn law is. Nobody knows." With that comment, Todd Clem, a.k.a. Bubba The Love Sponge, began responding to the recent $755,000 fine imposed upon his employer, Clear Channel, by the FCC due to allegedly indecent content on his morning show. "It's based on community standards. Well, based on this community, I do pretty damn good, and it's not deemed offensive because I'm number one. In Jacksonville, I'm number two. So how can I be offensive?"



Clem urged his listeners to vote Democratic, saying, "This is an election year. I don't think they should underestimate the power of what I do, and especially in this state." He also addressed Douglas Vanderlaan, the Jacksonville resident who filed the complaint. "One person in Jacksonville is now going to change the complete landscape of radio and television forever," said Clem. Vanderlann responded, "I know I'm making progress when Bubba gets upset. Oh, I'm not too sensitive. But I am paying attention. I'm taping and I'm legally savvy."



Clem defiantly stated, "I will tell you that I and Clear Channel will completely defend these allegations to the absolute one-millionth degree. I'm not trying to be overly sure of myself, but you watch as to how many of these get thrown out." But he also expressed concern, saying, "Clear Channel may act like they are supporting us, but I can see the writing on the wall. So I'm just telling you right now, this show is desperately, desperately close to never ever broadcasting again as you know it."