Listics

[Edit - Shelley informs me that Stern was only carried on six ClearChannel stations. I infer from this that the other 35 stations are independent of ClearChannel. I retract my paranoid ravings about Lord Hawhaw, but I don't take back one bad word about Barbara Bush. In fact, my maundering about media concentration looks pretty dumb in the face of ClearChannel's failure to control those other stations. Hey! CC! You monopolistic bastards have some work to do! Get off Howard's ass and get out there and buy up some more markets! Hate it when reality is better than my paranoid fancies...]

Shelley Powers has a post with a string of comments relating to Howard Stern’s transgressions and the modest wrist slap he received from ClearChannel when he said bad things about that bad bitch Barbara Bush’s baby boy.

ClearChannel Communications has a market penetration that Emperor Hirohito himself would have admired. Not since the days of the radio networks of the axis powers has one editorial voice so dominated the radio market.

When I read about the Howard Stern matter (and I can’t locate the item in the tons of trash that fills my mailbox), I was struck by the correspondent’s assertion that the reason for Stern’s removal related to him waxing pugnacious with an anti-Bush attitude. Further, I read that the markets from which his material was removed were areas where he could conceivably influence election outcomes. He was not removed from markets where his anti-Bush posture would have little affect on the elections.

For me, this whole issue boils down to one of the ill effects of media concentration, not one relating to the rights of Howard Stern.

If ClearChannel was making a statement about decency, they would have pulled Stern off the air. Instead they removed him from WXDX/Pittsburgh, KIOZ/San Diego, WNVE/Rochester, WTFX/Louisville, WTKS/Orlando and WBGG/Miami. Not a very bold statement in the service of public decency, rather a media event in itself. The whole thing is sure to boost Stern’s ratings in the 35 markets where he continues to broadcast for ClearChannel.