The return of the controversial Star to the air Tuesday on WNYZ (87.7 FM, Pulse-87) proves again that radio will eventually welcome back almost any exile it thinks can still draw listeners and make money.
But radio also hasn’t been afraid to get rid of people who can do that - Star, Imus, Bob Grant, Opie & Anthony - if they say something perceived as offensive.
In the long term, says one critic, this cycle could last until “corporations that own media live up to their own standards.”
John Liu, a city councilman from Queens, lit into Clear Channel after the company fired Star in May 2006 for rude remarks on Clear Channel’s WWPR.
Earlier, in January 2005, Liu had blasted Emmis over WQHT’s infamous “Tsunami Song.”
While Liu criticized the hosts in each case, he said yesterday the core issue remains “corporate responsibility.
“No one pickets Howard Stern, because he says up front he’s going to insult and offend people. But Clear Channel promotes itself as a fair-minded company that aims to serve families and the community.”
Ironically, Liu and Star are on the same page here. In a pending lawsuit against Clear Channel, Star contends he was told to do the things for which he was fired.
“Star has some personal responsibility,” said Liu. “But he was acting at the behest of the company. This is not about censorship. It’s about companies being held accountable for doing what they say.”
And have recent firings and sanctions, which many folks in media think have cast a deep shadow of uncertainty over on-air content, cleaned things up?
“We’re not in the clear,” said Liu. “But hopefully we’re addressing the issue.”
