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View Full Version : 7 dirty words I thought you couldn't say on the radio...


daemon
02 Jul 2003, 09:20 AM
so I'm sitting here in a back room setting up some servers with someone who has their radio tuned into WEBN. fortunately, there is some intersection between the bands they play and ones played on 97x. unfortunately, that intersection includes all the bands I can't stand.

anyway, "longview" by green day comes on. I'm barely listening but I'm aware that something is different about it. I soon realize that what's different is the version that 97x plays has the "sh*t" clipped out while EBN's didn't. so now I'm really listening knowing that there's a "f*cking" on the horizon, and sure enough it slips right out.

now, I used to work at a radio station in the early 90's (albiet, a small college, station). the FCC rules at the time (or so I was told) were that you couldn't play the infamous "7 dirty words" at any time except between 12am and 6am during the so-called "safe harbor" period. even during that time, a song could only contain something like 6 obscenities and none of them could describe a sex act (i.e. "f*ck you" but not "I want to f*ck you").

so my question is, do these rules not exist? does 97x regulate themselves (maybe you should put up some "family friendly" billboards ala WARM98)? or does EBN just not give a crap because they're owned by the company that probably has the FCC in their back pocket?

-brian

mike
02 Jul 2003, 09:29 AM
Originally posted by daemon
so my question is, do these rules not exist? does 97x regulate themselves (maybe you should put up some "family friendly" billboards ala WARM98)? or does EBN just not give a crap because they're owned by the company that probably has the FCC in their back pocket?

-brian

These "rules" are not enforced very often, but are occasionally excercised at the FCC's whim. Consistency? C'mon , this is the FCC we're speaking of.

However, 97X does make a concious effort to censor ourselves. There are a few tunes in our library which go unedited - almost grandfathered in, if you will - but we never, at this point in time, knowingly put a song with obscenity on the air unedited. Try to take the high road, we do.

And 'EBN? Well, we know who owns 'em. I heard their new company slogan is "We put the CC in FCC". 'nuff said. Most likely, they're just going for the giggle factor. Har har.

MST

monkey neck
02 Jul 2003, 09:45 AM
I think everyone appreciates 97x's class in this matter. I appreciate hearing profanity-free music more often than not, just like it's refreshing to see a Disney movie every once in a while.

samanafay
02 Jul 2003, 10:07 AM
WEBN has never censored their horrible songs have they?

DogStarMan
02 Jul 2003, 10:18 AM
Originally posted by samanafay
WEBN has never censored their horrible songs have they?
The magical thing is, if you don't ever listen to it, it's like it doesn't even exist.

drworm8
02 Jul 2003, 10:35 AM
Right On. MTV? what's that?

DogStarMan
02 Jul 2003, 10:57 AM
http://www.henson.com/fun/fcreature/images/fc_creature_mumford.gif

A-La Peanut Butter Sandwiches! (http://members.tripod.com/tiny_dancer/alapbj.wav)

daemon
02 Jul 2003, 10:59 AM
Originally posted by DogStarMan

The magical thing is, if you don't ever listen to it, it's like it doesn't even exist.

feigning some sort of hearing problem, I was able to get it turned down to a level audible only to dogs and small rodents. mysteriously, my headache disappeared at exactly the same moment.

daemon
02 Jul 2003, 11:02 AM
Originally posted by DogStarMan
http://www.henson.com/fun/fcreature/images/fc_creature_mumford.gif

A-La Peanut Butter Sandwiches! (http://members.tripod.com/tiny_dancer/alapbj.wav)

I love that guy...almost as much as beaker and the swedish chef.

CtJester
08 Jul 2003, 10:05 PM
Originally posted by DogStarMan
http://www.henson.com/fun/fcreature/images/fc_creature_mumford.gif


No wonder Daniel Day Lewis looked so stiff in 'Gangs of New York'.

Anyway, I notice everytime I listen to Clear Channel whatever, I want to turn it off in a couple of minutes, no matter what gets said.

-ct