As many of us who used to listen to the radio know – thanks to major market monopolies like Clear Channel, we’re losing musical diversity on American radio stations. Not only are the play lists being homogenized – but artists are feeling the pain of a “capitalist” master. And aren’t we happy to see that music is now equal parts image and packaging – instead of talent and skill? Doesn’t that reinforce all the positive aspects of our culture… particularly to our youth?


Well – in addition to that disappointing trend, monopolies like Clear Channel can exert power in more subtle ways – like the ability to get on (or not get on) their play lists. We’ve seen that record companies are now “paying for plays” – to get more airtime for a track / single in order to boost album sales or push a new artist…. Talk about forcing more consolidation in the recording industry – in order to come up with the major $ needed to “promote” an album (i.e. buy playing time)!

Here’s another issue that we’ve seen with monopolies and their play lists… the potential for censorship.


So the recent national events have clearly been a tragedy – but when did that translate to some strange version of Monty Python’s “I bet you they won’t play this song on the radio.”

Authored by Clear Channel Communications, who own typically several stations of different “formats” in various major markets, a list of approx.150 songs not to play was circulated this week. Whether it originated as a type of personal play checklist for some DJs who are trying to offend (i.e. Howard Stern and the like), and including such items as “You dropped a bomb on me” by the Gap Band, this list could have started out with good intentions. But as they say about the road to hell and good intentions… and small actions and civil liberties…

What’s most interesting, aside from what was included (Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World” and James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”), is what was excluded. While Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal” is banned, Michael Jackson’s version wasn’t. Do you think MJ is offended? Was this some sort of value/quality judgment? Perhaps more shocking is what didn’t make the list; The Cure’s “Killing an Arab”, John Lennon’s “Happiness is a Warm Gun” (but “Imagine” makes the list… go figure), Johnny Cash’s “Burning Ring of Fire”, Iggy Pop’s “Search and Destroy”, etc. It’s pretty clear that Clear Channel didn’t brainstorm this list for very long – or that the suits who did don’t have a very large music library…

My main gripe: At least play both sides of the fence. If we can’t play songs about life being great, bombs, war, etc. then maybe anthems about killing people should be off the list as well – particularly with our boats and planes headed that way?

I’m going to break out my Rage Against the Machine CDs this week (the list recommends not playing any of their songs) – just because.

Check out the full list: http://music.launch.com/read/news.asp?contentID=205883

For more: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nyt/20010919/en/after_the_horror_radio_stations_pull_some_songs_1.html