For almost two years (an eternity in Radio host visibility), Anthony Cumia and Greg "Opie" Hughes have sat mostly quietly on the sidelines as Radio has marched forth into new territory. Many people cite the now infamous Janet Jackson Superbowl Breast Incident as the beginning of the F.C.C.’s most recent reign of terror in the Radio Indecency Crusades.
But, I have consistently maintained the real indecency backlash began August 23, 2002, when Opie & Anthony were taken off the air at WNEW-FM and their syndicated program went dark. The Opie & Anthony fiasco became the nexus for Radio's critics who were already not happy with the direction of the medium. It especially offended the Catholic Archdiocese in New York City and a campaign of much pressure was brought to bear from various quarters on Infinity. The company decided Opie & Anthony’s ratings and income were not worth jeapordizing WNEW-FM’s license.
Opie & Anthony's removal was the first shot fired over the bow in what would become a loudening thunder of criticism against a business where a slow evolution of boundaries had been permitted to expand for years under the knowing nose of both the F.C.C. and the Radio Industry itself. The broadcast companies had much to gain by airing edgy programming: namely profits. And while the getting was good, the Radio operators were rather unconcerned with the public’s outcry of indecency.
And contrary to what Howard Stern thinks, it’s not President Bush who wants him off the air or is fueling the indecency backlash. Bush has bigger problems. Rather, Stern’s and all of Radio’s recent problems stem from the fact that during an election year, lawmakers are more willing to listen to constituents than any other time and when push comes to shove, lawmakers will shove regulatory agencies if they have to.
