Indecency on Radio

What is Obscenity, Indecency & Profanity? They are three very different things according to the Federal Communications Commission. Here's how the F.C.C. sees it.

Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Joe Barton want to “level the playing field”, so to speak, between free broadcasting and pay broadcasting. It's the latest faze of broadcast intimidation courtesy of the Federal government. Read more. (Opinion)

The Federal Communications Commission has cracked down on Radio broadcaster over material deemed to be too explicit for broadcast. Record fines have been levied and Air Personalities have been fired. Here's a growing chronology of the major events in this issue.

The Federal Communications Commission has fined KQRC-FM, Leavenworth, Kansas, and KFH(AM), Wichita, Kansas, for willfully and repeatedly airing apparently indecent material during multiple broadcasts of the “Dare and Murphy Show.” Full Story.

The parent company of Infinity Broadcasting, Viacom, Inc., has agreed to pay $3.5 million dollars in fines for indecency on various broadcast outlets including several of its radio station. Full story.

Earlier this week, Michael Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, appeared as a guest on the Ronn Owens show which is broadcast on KGO-AM, San Francisco. Guess who called? Howard Stern. Read more.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission fined KRXQ-FM (98 Rock) in Sacramento, California for broadcasting apparently indecent material on the “Rob, Arnie & Dawn In the Morning Show.” Read more.

Today Emmis Communications Corporation, ownner of 18 FM and 3 AM stations, announced that the company has agreed to settle all outstanding indecency-related matters by opening its checkbook and writing one for $300,000. Read more.

The shoe has finally dropped. Yesterday, XM Satellite Radio announced that the long-silent and fomerly syndicated “bad boy” duo of Opie & Anthony have come aboard. Read more.

Tommy Smith, longtime Little Rock morning radio personality, was fired today by employer Clear Channel Communications for what the company would only say were reasons related to its recent "Zero Tolerance" policy on Radio indecency.

Since the Federal Communication Commission's crackdown on Radio Indecency began earlier this year, Howard Stern has blamed the Bush administration for his latest problems stemming from it. Read more and see the latest poll stats.

This week the Supreme Court decided a law designed to protect children from pornography was too narrow, interfered with pornographer's free speech rights, and probably violated the First Amendment. Hey: what about Radio's free speech rights? Read More.

During a press conference held on his radio show today, Howard Stern announced that his network of affiliates would increase by nine - five of which are new stations in markets where Clear Channel recently dumped his show. Read more.

Today, the FCC entered into a $1.75 million Consent Decree with Clear Channel Communications, Inc., and its subsidiaries (Clear Channel) to resolve investigations into whether Clear Channel stations had broadcast obscene, indecent, or profane material in violation of the Communications Act and Commission rules. Details

Clear Channel Communications and the Federal Communications Commission have reached an agreement in which Clear Channel will pay $1.75 million dollars in fines to settle all the current indecency and other listener complaints on file against the radio chain. Details.

How will the upcoming election affect the Federal Communication Commission's crackdown on Radio Indecency? Where do President Bush and Senator Kerry stand on this issue? Here's background, arguments on both sides and the status of the candidates' viewpoints.

Mel Karmazin has stepped down as President/COO of Viacom, the parent company of Infinity Broadcasting, Howard Stern's syndicator. Read more.

Eric Idle has written and recorded a hysterical tune called "The FCC Song" and is offering it as a free download.

With all the worry about indecency on the radio these days, an on-air "bit" by a Portland radio show last week using audio from the Nick Berg beheading video puts things into perspective. Read more.

The F.C.C. has rejected a claim by a Settle radio station that a recent fine against "The Andy Savage Show" was unconstitutional. Read more.

A commentary on the current state of Radio - or is it just a revist of history?

In response to the recent attention given by Congress and the FCC to "indecent" radio air personalities like Howard Stern, a non-profit organization has been formed to educate Americans about the ramifications of these recent issues. Details.

Ask any celebrity and they'll tell you: "It doesn't matter what they say about me - just make sure they spell the name right." Once again, this has been proven out. Howard Stern's ratings have risen thanks to the flak over Radio Indecency. Details.

Has the amount of traditional "bad" language a listener will accept on a Radio show increased? How much are you willing to listen to on your favorite Radio show? Weigh in and give us your answer.

Got a problem with a Radio station? Upset over programming? Mad about their content? Here's how to formally complain to the Federal Communications Commission.

Industry insiders are saying the F.C.C. is ready to pounce on Howard Stern again with a six-figure fine for indecency. Details.

If you read the Communication Act of 1934 closely, one could argue the Federal Communications Commission is breaking the law, or at least the spirit of the law, in it's approach to the recent controversy over indecency on the radio. Read more.

Clear Channel Communications has invoked its "Zero Tolerance Policy" on indecency again. This time, two Atlanta talk show hosts have been suspended for sexually explicit content that aired on their show. Details.

Howard Stern says President Bush wants him off-the-air. Bubba The Love Sponge says it was Bush who got him fired. Is there any validity to these conspiracy theories or possibly another answer? Read more.

It's official: Congress, the F.C.C. and some broadcast companies have suffered a TOTAL FREAK OUT as a result of their newly found and heightened consciousness concerning indecency on the Radio. Read More

The Readers of YM Magazine, a publication geared toward teenage girls, support Howard Stern almost two-to-one and say he should be allowed to stay on-the-air and say whatever he wants. More details

The Federal Communications Commission has slammed Clear Channel Communications with another fine of almost a quarter-million dollars for indecent remarks aired on three of its radio stations that carry the "Elliot in the Morning" show. Read more

If Congressman Lamar Smith gets his way, nobody will utter the 8 words or phrases included in the bill he has introduced. Read more AND read those 8 words or phrases.

Yoko Ono is often cited by hard-core Beatles fans as being the reason the band broke up in 1970. Will people one day say Janet Jackson was the reason Radio in 2004 was ruined forever? Read more.

Howard Stern is predicting the end game is near and his days on-the-air as we know it, are slowly drawing to a close. Read why.

On Day 2 of Howard Stern's banishment from Clear Channel radio stations, the nationally syndicated shock jock continued his war of words against the company and its Radio Division CEO, John Hogan. Read more.

Here are recent revealing quotes from major players in the ongoing controversy over indecency on Radio from Howard Stern, Clear Channel CEO John Hogan and Infinity Broadcasting CEO, Mel Karmazin. Read more

In what appears to be a wave of house cleaning that continues to shake the foundation of shock radio, now Howard Stern has been removed from Clear Channel radio stations in 6 markets for "vulgar, offensive and insulting" remarks. Read More.

Clear Channel Radio has been hit with a record fine of over $700,000 for apparently airing indecent material over several broadcast stations during several days involving the "Bubba The Love Sponge" program. In response, Clear Channel President Mark Mays has called for a task force on indeceny.

Today Clear Channel Communications announced a new "Responsible Broadcasting Initiative" to make sure the material aired by its radio stations conforms to the standards and sensibilities of the local communities they serve. A new Zero Tolerance policy is now in effect for the company's on-air talent. Read More.

Controversial morning Radio host, "Bubba The Love Sponge" has been fired from his show. This comes on the heels of his former company, Clear Channel Communications being fined over $700,000 by the F.C.C. for indecency related to Love Sponge broadcasts. Read More.

The first casualty of Radio's "War on Indecency", Bubba The Love Sponge, is promising to come back uncensored and uncut. What's he have in mind? Read more.

The recent firing of "Bubba The Love Sponge" occurred for many reasons including economics and regulatory pressure. Was he released as a sacrifical lamb or to set an example? Read more. (commentary/analysis)

People who are NOT offended by controversial or offensive radio personalities often support their position by arguing "If you don’t like what they say, turn the dial...." The legal facts shoot that right down because, among other things, obscene speech is NOT protected by the 1st Amendment. Read the rest of this story

Opie and Anthony's recent radio stunt where a couple had sex during a church service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City has gotten them fired.

Reaction to the firing of "Opie and Anthony", the controversial shock jocks, continues. More About.com Radio Site visitor comments plus see the original complaint filled against WNEW-FM and read the transcript from the Sex Stunt broadcast. OR: Listen to the audio of the stunt itself!

The F.C.C. has levied the highest possible fine it can against the company which owns WNEW-FM, New York over last Summer's Sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral Radio stunt. Read more.

The "Opie and Anthony" controversy is starting to wane. But, before it leaves the radar screen, here are a few more comments from visitors to the Radio site at About.com

Why were Opie and Anthony really fired? Did they finally cross "that line"? Did Infinity broadcasting have some sort of moral ephiphany? Or, was it money....as usual.

The Lycos Top 50 at Lycos.com has just released its list of the most-searched for Radio hosts and personalities over the last few months. Here's what they found out.

Long-time Radio rivals, Don Imus and Howard Stern got into a verbal confrontation yesterday when Imus ran a skit spoofing Stern's girlfriend and Stern phoned into Imus' show. Read more

"Save Radio Now is an online service designed to inform radio listeners about how the radio medium is being changed by F.C.C. policy."

Even though this page hasn't been updated for a while, it offers a very good background on indecency in broadcasting from 1973 - the mid 1990s along with excellent explanations of important terms used in discussing the Indecency Issue".