Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Racist Radio Ad Could Have Been Avoided...

It's my belief that the racist and anti-Semitic ads being run on KMBZ in Kansas City could have been avoided. That belief is based on previous experiences I've had as a radio program director. While it was unwritten, there was a standard practice in effect that questionable content in any ad sold would be flagged by sales and taken to the program director for approval. Did the crippled economy override that unwritten but standard practice? It's an odds-on bet that it did. If that's what happened it's a damn shame because KMBZ program director Neil Larrimore has to live with a hate-filled commercial...


Larrimore says that the Federal Communications Commission regulations and federal law require his station to run the commercials "without any edit", according to the Kansas City Star. Under FCC regulations and federal laws, a "legally qualified candidate" must be given reasonable, uncensored access to broadcast airtime if he or she can pay the cost. KMBZ is countering by running a disclaimer, allowed under FCC rules, before the Glenn Miller ads. While no one at KMBZ is in the mood to run these venom-filled spots, there could be an 'out' for the length of this ad flight...

While Miller filed the necessary paperwork with the Missouri secretary of state, he hasn't filed with the Federal Election Commission and won't have to unless he raises or spends $5,000 or more on his campaign. There might be hope to get these hate-filled commercials off the air, after all...


10 Timeline Memories:

1.1918] Time after time: For the first time in U.S. history, Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. Clocks are moved ahead one hour at 2 a.m...
2.1923] They shoot horses, don't they?: The first U.S. dance marathon is won by Alma Cummings who sets a new world record of 27 hours in New York City. Gig Young finishes second...
3.1931] Luck of the Irish runs out: 43-year old Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne and seven others are killed in a plane crash in Kansas as the legendary coach was headed to Hollywood to make a football movie...
4.1943] Another opening, another show: Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" opens on Broadway. Although Howard Keel played the lead on Broadway, Gordon MacRae played that role on the big screen with Shirley Jones as his wife...
5.1975] Going out a winner: John Wooden coaches his last game, a 92-85 UCLA win over Kentucky which gives the Bruins their 10th National Title under 'The Wizard of Westwood'. The Wiz will celebrate his 100th birthday in October...
6.1976] Pulling the plug twice: The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that Karen Ann Quinlan could be disconnected from her respirator. Quinlan remains comatose until 1985 when she passes away...2005] Terri Schiavo dies at a hospice in Florida, 13 days after her feeding tube is removed in a right-to-die dispute that reached the courts, Congress and the White House...

7.1986] 'Happy Trails': O'Kelly Isley, who I had the pleasure of knowing, dies of a heart attack at 48. The Isley Brothers first hit was "Shout"..1998] Former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug dies from heart disease at 77...
8.1992] Premiered on this date: "Dateline NBC"...
9.1995] Tejano tragedy: 23-year old Tejano singing idol Selena is shot to death by Yolanda Saldivar, president of Selena's fan club. The shooting takes place outside a Corpus Christi motel room...

10.1999] Murder is the rap: 4 New York City police officers are charged with murder for killing Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, in a hail of bullets. The officers are acquitted in 2000...


Music Memories:

1958] Released on this date: "Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry...
1975] Number One on this date: "Lovin' You" - Minnie Riperton. The song was produced by Stevie Wonder. I never met a lovelier person than Minnie who at one time sang backup for Stevie and led the group Rotary Connection...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Sal Selletto (39), Rhea Perlman (62), Al Gore (62), Gabe Kaplan (65), Christopher Walken (67), Herb Alpert (75), Shirley Jones (76), Richard Chamberlain (76), Gordie Howe (82) and William Daniels (83)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Easter, 5 days until Opening Day (Red Sox & Yankees at Fenway), 6 days until the NCAA Championship Game, 31 days until the Kentucky Derby, 40 days until Mother's Day and 61 days until Memorial Day...