Obscenity On Radio

[Fakeem]

I just heard the "F" bomb on the radio. The jock immediately played a sound effect and played another song. I wanted to know whether that was enough for the station or the jock to be fined or fired. What exactly are the rules for obscenity on the radio? This was a approximately 2:30 this afternoon. The jock obviously played the wrong mix of the song, so would that be considered a simple mistake?

 

[radioman148]

He probably didn't know his mic was on.

 

[ajc_trw]

I just heard the "F" bomb on the radio. The jock immediately played a sound effect and played another song. I wanted to know whether that was enough for the station or the jock to be fined or fired. What exactly are the rules for obscenity on the radio? This was a approximately 2:30 this afternoon. The jock obviously played the wrong mix of the song, so would that be considered a simple mistake?

I would definitely say simple mistake. Years ago I was an intern on MARS-FM in Los Angeles and the DJ played a song that started with the spoken like (no music) "F*** ME IN THE A**" as the song continued on with music. She was completely shocked while me and this other guy busted out laughing while looking at the in-booth phone. We didn't receive one call so we just blew it off. 8)

P.S.: Thanks for not outing the station, grannies are out in force to complain about anything, when Matlock isn't on. ;D

 

[pabsungenis]

My favorite one of these goes back to my college radio days. I was in production at 10 PM putting together stuff for my morning show the next day when the 10 PM jock for the "progressive" show was running late.

He ran in with like 30 seconds to go, hit the legal ID and show intro, and grabbed the first LP (again, how long ago it was) he could from the bin and threw it on the turntable. He needle dropped the first cut and had it ready just as the intro ended. It was beautiful.

The problem was that the song he'd cued up at random was "Money" by Embrace.

"I CAN TRULY SAY THAT I DON'T GIVE A ---- ABOUT YOUR MONEY...."

The rest of my crew and I looked at him, said "Bye!" and got out of the building as fast as we could.

 

[Jul]

I just heard the "F" bomb on the radio. The jock immediately played a sound effect and played another song. I wanted to know whether that was enough for the station or the jock to be fined or fired. What exactly are the rules for obscenity on the radio? This was a approximately 2:30 this afternoon. The jock obviously played the wrong mix of the song, so would that be considered a simple mistake?

Which station did this take place?

 

[imhomerjay]

Why, Julius, so you can complain?

 

[evolve991]

Maybe it's my lowbrow sense of humor( I am quite illiterate also) but I think it's a riot when someone slips up and then someone ELSE slips up. I also think it's a monumental joke that some people get so bent out of shape over a word or a phrase. We can put a man on the moon,we can cure numerous and once fatal diseases,we can perform engineering feats that astound. And yet a sound made by the human mouth can cause people to faint,cause lawsuits,bring people to arms,change the policies of corporations, cost millions of dollars and on and on and on.......and its really funny that its only a forbidden sound in a certain language,a sound perhaps used in everyday life in other cultures.

 

[KillYrTv]

I'm starting a radio program on a community station in Louisville, KY that focuses on rap and hip-hop around the world. The rules on obscenity are clear enough for words in English, but what about words in another language? Would the percentage of people in my market who speak that language have an effect on the rules? The main song in question is "Ich Hasse Dich" by Lady Bitch Ray.

 

[aindik]

A single F-bomb is not obscene. Probably indecent, but not obscene.

And there are no rules that require a station to fire a jock for something that goes out over the air. The rules require stations to pay fines for what goes out over the air. What they do to the jock or anyone else responsible is their business.

 

[Fakeem]

I'm starting a radio program on a community station in Louisville, KY that focuses on rap and hip-hop around the world. The rules on obscenity are clear enough for words in English, but what about words in another language? Would the percentage of people in my market who speak that language have an effect on the rules? The main song in question is "Ich Hasse Dich" by Lady Bitch Ray.

I can't speak for KY, bit i've heard plenty of of reggae/dancehall songs on philly radio with language that would never be allowed or tolerated if said in english, so my guess is that it depends on the PD or MD, and on whether they speak or understand the language in question.

 

[DonTheTrucker]

Someone has to hear the "obscene" speech. Then someone has to be bothered to complain. The majority of complaints usually come from special interest groups that are after certain personalities. With a few notable exceptions, as long as it's a one time thing, no one will even notice.

 

[DToTheJ]

Philadelphia's own Ben-FM must be real concerned about obscenity on their station. Earlier today, I heard them play Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." They edited out the words "worm" and "sperm" in the part of the song where it says, "he can't please you with his little..." Editing whatever they feel like!

 

[nightfly61]

Since the Janet Jackson ignorance most stations have switched to rated G versions of songs, like the Who "who the &%$k are you" and Pink Floyd's "Money" are just not the same songs. I'd just as soon them not be played than altered. Imagine what Elton John's "The B*^ch Is Back" would sound like if that word were edited out?

 

[DToTheJ]

Or that Meredith Brooks song...

 

[musicfan101]

I DJ at a college station, and I was introducing this one song. The name of the band was Citizen Icon, I'll let you guess what I accidently said.

 

[Wil]

Strangely enough, MMR played Godsmack's newest song, Cryin Like a Bitch, unedited, during the 4:00 hour one day last week.

 

[Stuart]

(Once again from a listener's point of view, not a radio professional)

I know folks make mistakes, and there is probably a lot of things going on at a radio station where extreme multi-tasking is required. How come (if it is possible?) radio stations cannot be on a 30 second delay?. I know talk shows are on a delay.

I know this is a little off the subject, but it does tie in with the topic.

Thanks,
Stuart

 

[Seltzer]

Bitch, Hell, and Damn aren't the words in question.

 

[DToTheJ]

I DJ at a college station, and I was introducing this one song. The name of the band was Citizen Icon, I'll let you guess what I accidently said.

Let's see... was there an extra "H" thrown in at the beginning, or an extra "T" thrown in at the end?

 

[deepstblu]

I DJ at a college station, and I was introducing this one song. The name of the band was Citizen Icon, I'll let you guess what I accidently said.

Let's see... was there an extra "H" thrown in at the beginning, or an extra "T" thrown in at the end?

Remember the WABC advertiser from the early '70s, Schickhaus Franks? Dan Ingram called them "America's most carefully pronounced meat product."