HOT 97 NY Daily News Errol Louis

Hot 97 feeling a cold snap

Hot 97, the hip-hop radio station whose offensive antics have resulted in community petitions, protest rallies and calls for a crackdown by government regulators, just got more bad news - this time from state Controller Alan Hevesi, who as sole trustee of the state's $120 billion Common Retirement Fund controls 225,000 shares of Emmis Communications, the parent company of Hot 97. Hevesi has fired off a heated letter to Jeffrey Smulyan, the president of Emmis, essentially telling him to clean up Hot 97's act - or else. "As a shareholder, I am concerned that the judgment displayed by management as of late [at Hot 97] has not been in the best interest of the business," Hevesi says in the letter. "Are the directors of the board aware of the station's programming and the subsequent public outcry?" The letter goes on to ask pointed questions about drops in ratings and advertising that have cost Hot 97 money in recent months. Emmis has publicly acknowledged losing millions because companies like Sprint pulled their advertising from Hot 97's morning show in reaction to a song parody ridiculing victims of December's tsunami in openly racist terms. Three cheers for Hevesi. It's about time Emmis was held accountable for the lax or nonexistent supervision of its deejays and producers, who have written and aired disgusting, demeaning material like the song parody. Emmis also has to answer for the real-world violence that has taken place at Hot 97, including two shootouts in front of the station by groups egged on by its deejays. Not to mention the sickening, now-discontinued, in-studio "smackfest" contest, in which listeners were offered cash to smash one another in the face. Smulyan still doesn't get it. "While we will be providing a prompt response to Controller Hevesi, many of the questions raised in his letter have already been publicly answered," an Emmis spokesman says. Although two low-ranking employees were fired after the tsunami incident, the Coalition Against Hate Media - the group that alerted Hevesi in the first place - is still calling on Hot 97 to fire Miss Jones, the hostess of the morning show that aired the song. Also missing is a clear, public, zero-airplay policy by Emmis for staffers and guests who engage in, or encourage, violence. There is a long, honorable tradition of pension funds using their clout to make callous companies adopt, and live up to, a higher standard of corporate behavior. Shareholder pressure persuaded major corporations to pull out of South Africa during the apartheid era. Right now, a coordinated campaign is underway by a major shareholder coalition, the Social Investment Forum, to make big corporations lower pollution emissions as a way to fight global warming. A shareholder campaign targeting irresponsible media firms may be the fastest way to show out-of-control companies like Emmis that filling the airwaves with thoughtless, offensive garbage isn't a viable way to do business. Originally published on April 28, 2005

Infinity turns TALK to PODCASTING in San Fran

Wednesday, April 27, 2005
	Infinity Launches Podcast-Programmed Radio Station
	Starting on May 16, Infinity will shift the programming of Talk KYCY/San Francisco from its current predominantly syndicated lineup to a wide-open slate of content created exclusively by listeners. Listeners will upload podcasts they create on any topic to a website being launched exclusively for the venture www.kyouradio.com. From there, Infinity will review and select which programs to air on the station, with programming guided by listener interests and feedback. Additionally, the station's programming will be streamed on the website. Infinity CEO Joel Hollander says, "We're always thrilled when we can incubate new programming ideas and bring them to life on our radio stations in ways we never before imagined. There is a profound shift underway in the way we use technology that allows everyone to have a voice. We envision KYOURADIO not only as a place to hear a fresh and new perspective created from the outside, but an outlet with which to foster the creativity of undiscovered talent from all walks of life." Infinity spokesperson Karen Mateo tells R&R that show topics could include politics, current events, music or just about anything else. "It can take any shape of form," she says. "It's like blogging, but in an audio format." Infinity plans to have advertising on the station. Listeners can begin uploading podcasts to the site starting today.

Indy Promotion sues Universal

Radio Promoters Accuse Universal of Racketeering

Tue Apr 26, 2005 03:01 AM ET

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two independent music promoters have sued Universal Music Group for $100 million, claiming the record company forced them to submit false invoices so Universal could recoup promotional costs from artists such as rapper Nelly.

The suit raises "pay-for-play" issues similar to those being probed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in a wide-ranging investigation into whether record companies have broken U.S. law by paying radio stations to play their songs.

The two promoters, National Music Marketing Inc. of Los Angeles and Majestic Promotions Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, claim they were forced to doctor invoices that then allowed Universal to bill promotional costs to artists whom the promoters never represented.

"What (Universal) was doing was defrauding their artists -- some of their biggest artists," plaintiffs' lawyer David J. Cohen said on Monday.

"I'm sure (rapper) Nelly is not going to be too happy that they were taking money out of his promotion budget to pay for promotions for other artists -- money that he had to pay back from his royalties," Cohen said.

The lawsuit said that when National and Majestic refused to submit fraudulent invoices, Universal fired them and told radio stations not to do business with the promoters.

"They bullied these promoters into submitting false bills," Cohen said. The suit accuses UMG of racketeering, fraud, trade libel and breach of contract.

A spokesman for UMG could not immediately be reached for comment.

Federal law prohibits radio stations from taking bribes to play specific songs unless the transaction is made public. But for decades, record labels have used independent promoters as middlemen to get more air time for their artists.

Each time a song is played, the record labels pay promoters who, in turn, pass along the money indirectly via thousands of dollars they shell out for advance copies of radio station play lists, according to the lawsuit.

In New York, Spitzer has served subpoenas on major record companies including Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Entertainment, the EMI Group and the Warner Music Group.

Cohen said the Attorney General's office has contacted his clients. He said Universal drove National Music Marketing, one of the nation's largest promoters, out of business last year. Majestic was "hanging on by a thread" after being defamed by Universal executives, he added.

Universal Music Group is a unit of French communications company Vivendi Universal (EAUG.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) . Sony BMG is part of Sony Corp. (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) The EMI Group Plc (EMI.L: Quote, Profile, Research) is a publicly owned entity and Warmer Music Group is privately held.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

The GAME slapped with 280 Million dollar suit

50 Cent and The Game Sued Over a Smash Hit April 22, 2005 "Hate it or Love it" is 50 Cent and The Game's newest hit, and the video version is featured on The Game's debut CD, "The Documentary." But an extended version on 50's CD, "The Massacre," is apparently too much for one Maryland man to take. Kwasi Jones claims The Game and a crew of more than 20 assaulted him and a radio DJ after an interview back in January at a station near Washington D.C. He claims The Game then rapped about it in a song. "I'm still trying to get over the situation and the song doesn't help," Jones said. Kwasi claims The Game bragged about the beating, but then begged for mercy during the video's premiere on BET, saying, "This is my public apology. To all the people at Radio 1, I'm being sincere; we're sorry about what happened in D.C. It'll never happen again." Kwasi claims the rage erupted after The Game's manager thought the DJ was making fun of his hi-tech earpiece by making a "Star Trek" Vulcan sign. Kwasi says they escaped into an office, but when he went back to get a cell phone, the beating resumed. "Next you know I'm being choked from behind very, very hard, to point where I'm blacking out," Jones said. "But just to be choked like that, you know it was intentional. I think it was to kill me." So on his behalf, attorneys Stephanie Moran and Gregory Watson are suing The Game, 50 Cent and the record labels of Dr. Dre and Eminem for $280 million dollars, alleging assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence for both the alleged beating and the song. "The irony of this is in The Game's song, he says, 'Hate it or love it, the underdog's on top.' Well, he's really going to hate it when my client Mr. Jones ends this on top," Moran said. The civil lawsuit is one thing. The Game also has to keep on top of a criminal case. Prosecutors in Prince George's county, Maryland, have formally charged him with assault on the DJ. Key Witness for Jackson Prosecution Kobe's Secret Ceremony Rappers Sued For Glorifying Attack Lindsay Lohan Burglarized Madonna, Santana Each Sued From Courtroom to Bedroom 11 Women Claim Mistreatment by Bill Cosby terms of use | privacy policy | rss | © 2005 TTT West Coast Inc.