Royce Int'l wants CBS to Entercom sale stopped (yet another Entercom post)

[BoscoGoldBear]

The full story (about Royce International's bid to halt Entercom's purchase of some CBS Radio stations) is in Radio and Records' news section, talking largely about the KDND Sacramento radio stunt death. This is the most memorable qoute, coming from D.C. attorney Arthur V. Belendiuk: "Entercom has one of the worst records of any broadcaster in history. It is the poster child for corruption and bribery."

Given the following, I tend to agree with Belendiuk's assessment:

1. WRKO hiring convicted felon Tommy Taxes

2. WEEI's "METCO Gorilla" episode, and flagrant basic continuation of said episode on D&C and the Big Show

3. the purchase of a transmitter for WAAF which is a piece of (expletive) compared to their former powerhouse signal

4. Entercom dumping dance music for yet another classic rock station (Mike FM) which we really need like another hole in the head (Disco Vinnie is breakdancing in his grave!)

5. Dave Universal's payola episode at WKSE Niagara Falls/Buffalo

6. and now the KDND stunt where the one who "held" the longest got his or her Nintendo Wii

I fully expect to read from Joe and Paul on this one. BTW, my one-time fellow Southie resident Neanderpaul is clearly excluded from my jabs. ;D

 

[Neanderpaul]

It should be noted that Royce Intl. is run by a man named Ed Stolz, whom I have heard (can't really be sure) is an attorney listed in California courts as a "frivolous litigator." (I don't know the legal term) He's also the individual who put KWOD FM up for sale, signed a P&S, attempted to back out, and filed the false RICO charges. He Also ran a station in Palm Springs CA and tried using "K-Rock" for it's moniker. Arguing that since he was outside LA proper, that Infinity's trademark did not apply.

Rumors persist that the man, upon losing ownership of KWOD, removed all brass fittings, doorknobs included, and anything of "value" from the building the evening before ownership was to be transferred. The morning show allegedly watched him cart out items to the elevator at 4:30 AM. These cannot be confirmed, but they're pretty damn funny.

He also once manipulated the national music charts by playing an Everclear song non-stop from midnight to 4AM one overnight. Spins were up significantly, apparently the song went #1. Nobody knows why someone would "allegedly " manipulate spin counts. Probably out of the goodness of his heart. Or because he felt the band really needed a shot? Maybe he truly believed in the artist?

He's often referred to as the Steven Mindich of the West Coast. Whatever that means.

I'm fairly certain formatic choice is not grounds for upholding a sale. But, I could be wrong. I'm a loudmouth with a microphone.

 

[Casablanca]

That why the owner of WRKO is called EnterCON !

 

[Varulven]

Entercom puts out a bad product. Period. Howie Carr needed to be put out to pasture a decade ago.

The blatant abuse of the public airwaves to ridicule Deval Patrick and Grace Ross by questionable talent, which they throw overboard and send packing to Rhode Island, Kansas, anywhere but these big leagues where the Marshall, Fineberg, DePetro, Hughes types seem to proliferate on Entercom airwaves to the detriment of this community. This is not a personal attack- it is an objective point of view regarding a scandalous company with no desire to give the public anything of substance.

 

[Neanderpaul]

Entercom puts out a bad product. Period. Howie Carr needed to be put out to pasture a decade ago.

The blatant abuse of the public airwaves to ridicule Deval Patrick and Grace Ross by questionable talent, which they throw overboard and send packing to Rhode Island, Kansas, anywhere but these big leagues where the Marshall, Fineberg, DePetro, Hughes types seem to proliferate on Entercom airwaves to the detriment of this community. This is not a personal attack- it is an objective point of view regarding a scandalous company with no desire to give the public anything of substance.

With all, due respect, I've worked in that building, and have been part of several events that have raised several million dollars for the UC Davis Childrens hospital, which takes care of sick children with Leukemia. We also did annual fundraisers for homeless children causes, and other worthy charities.

It's funny to me how an accidental death during an ill-conceived radio bit, can negate all the good a company does.

You have a personal gripe with Entercom. That's fine. You can criticize all of their talent. Their programming decisions are also in open season. But, to pull the "serving the public interest" card having done no research on what that station has done for its community, one you don't even live in, lacks credibility.

Ask the Jimmy Fund how detrimental their association with WEEI is? Ask the Greater Boston Food Banks how they feel about WAAF?

You might not like what they say, or the programming they present. But, most radio stations are serving the public interest, Just not your interest.

Your personal vendetta might be clouding your vision on this one.

 

[Varulven]

The Jimmy Fund is a Boston Red Sox institution. It really irks me when companies throw charity work in the face of the public. Real charity is done in private. If CBS or Greater Media had the Sox who is to say
The Jimmy Fund wouldn't have more money and resources available?

Neanderpaul says:
"It's funny to me how an accidental death during an ill-conceived radio bit, can negate all the good a company does."

That's the big difference between "us", the non Entercom people, and Entercom employees. The word "funny" is not appropriate when a station is responsible for the death of a woman. Ask her children how "funny" it is.

The late Morris Levy did TONS of charity work, with full pages in Billboard from B'nai Brith and other organizations praising him.

http://www.answers.com/topic/morris-levy

Law officials caught up with Levy in 1986. He was convicted of extortion but died in Ghent, New York before serving any time in prison.

He may have been the inspiration for the character Hesh Rabkin in the HBO series The Sopranos.
==============================================================================
And the Entercom employee is ignoring Metco/Finneran/Howie Carr-Towel Heads comment/Mike Savage Anti-gay comment/Rush Limbaugh drugs.

disgraceful track record. Now people want to ignore the Rico charges that were on the company.

The horrible hate that Limbaugh/Savage spew on a daily basis makes the old convicted RKO General look like a day at a convention of Political Correctness.

A more proper post from an Entercom employee might be "Hey, it beats working in a nuclear power plant. It's a sleazy operation but they pay the bills." It's the lesser of many evils. And some Corporations get just a little pregnant.


Don't know Julie Kahn, don't know Jason Wolfe, but the "higher standards" expected in broadcasting don't seem to be known to them.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

The Jimmy Fund is a Boston Red Sox institution. It really irks me when companies throw charity work in the face of the public. Real charity is done in private. If CBS or Greater Media had the Sox who is to say
The Jimmy Fund wouldn't have more money and resources available?

Neanderpaul says:
"It's funny to me how an accidental death during an ill-conceived radio bit, can negate all the good a company does."

That's the big difference between "us", the non Entercom people, and Entercom employees. The word "funny" is not appropriate when a station is responsible for the death of a woman. Ask her children how "funny" it is.

The late Morris Levy did TONS of charity work, with full pages in Billboard from B'nai Brith and other organizations praising him.

http://www.answers.com/topic/morris-levy

Law officials caught up with Levy in 1986. He was convicted of extortion but died in Ghent, New York before serving any time in prison.

He may have been the inspiration for the character Hesh Rabkin in the HBO series The Sopranos.
==============================================================================
And the Entercom employee is ignoring Metco/Finneran/Howie Carr-Towel Heads comment/Mike Savage Anti-gay comment/Rush Limbaugh drugs.

disgraceful track record. Now people want to ignore the Rico charges that were on the company.

The horrible hate that Limbaugh/Savage spew on a daily basis makes the old convicted RKO General look like a day at a convention of Political Correctness.

A more proper post from an Entercom employee might be "Hey, it beats working in a nuclear power plant. It's a sleazy operation but they pay the bills." It's the lesser of many evils. And some Corporations get just a little pregnant.


Don't know Julie Kahn, don't know Jason Wolfe, but the "higher standards" expected in broadcasting don't seem to be known to them.

Joe, I realize that FACTS never get in the way of your agenda, but you brought up the RICO charge...AGAIN...and I will remind you...AGAIN...that the charge was laughed out of court eight years ago. As for your "real charity is done in private" remark, it only irks you because Paul wrote about it. Charity is done all the time, in and out of the public eye, and one is no better or worse than another. And you bring up Morris Levy, a convicted felon, whom you apparently hold in high esteem, while slamming Limbaugh, Finneran and all the rest. Your selective outrage belongs in the funny papers.

 

[Varulven]

Hey Dumber,

Morris Levy was a character, but I never approved of his methods, nor do I hold those methods in high esteem. Read my post again - I exposed what he did on this thread. duh-mmer or demur than a box of hair is more like it, man.

Morris didn't have to be a heavy, and that is what I object to. He could've lived the "straight" life. He had a fantastic ear and work ethic. Morris would go into Strawberries warehouse in Framingham and actually stock the shelves so the workers would see the boss setting an example. What a waste of great talent and resources, to throw it all away for thug conduct.

His dark side is not something anyone should hold in high esteem. You can always attempt to warp the posts of people here and take them out of context. You appear to get great joy in doing that. The facts stand as they are. I always post links. Personally, I find it revolting that B'nai Brith will defend a Morris Levy because he gave them so much "charity", which was good money mixed with bad money. Ya can't get a little pregnant so the touch of bad money means those charities accepted blood money.

The Jimmy Fund - again - is an institution aligned with the Red Sox more than WEEI. Everyone knows that.
Why are you allowing the facts to get in the way of your theories? Take away the Red Sox and how much
Jimmy Fund attention would WEEI give? A LOT LESS and you know it. The Jimmy Fund should come down hard when WEEI gets out of line. Hopefully the Sox front office will because that is where my complaint letters will go when Howie or Dennis & Callahan cross the line, as they so often do. Mike Savage are you listening?

Entercom was up on Rico charges. Is that not a fact? O.J. Simpson was up on murder charges. That got laughed out of court too, according to O.J. If the RICO don't fit you must acquit.

"Charity is done all the time"...but you fail to give facts and figures which these Public corporations should only be happy to file for us to see without promoting it like they are the electronic St. Bernadette. Please.
It should be enough that people see the "charity" (or lack thereof) that these companies do instead of some employee bragging about it after they've killed someone through negligence.

Someone is dead thanks to an Entercom stunt. Too bad the statute of limitations is probably up on the RICO charge because the conduct of Entercom needs further study.

Go back and look at my first line: Entercom puts out a bad product. Along with the MISCONDUCT of the Corporation and some of its employees they also put out a sour series of broadcasts. All I'm asking for,
Dumber than a Box Of Hair, is higher standards in broadcasting. Why does that offend you?

 

[TowerBuzz]

Well here we go again.

As horrible as the 'hold your wee for a Wii" stunt was, the station is not responsible for the death of that poor woman. It was a freak accident that no one could have imagined. Water intoxication? how many cases do you imagine are reported of this very exotic condition?. It is a terrible tragedy that has occurred but to say "the station is responsible for the death of " is just not accurrate. No one forces anyone to sign up for a contest where the grand prize is only equal to about $300. It is not as though the station had listeners drinking alcohol or any other toxic liquid, it was water! WHO KNEW?. I would not be shocked if the impending litigation holds up any CBS/Entercom deal for a very long time. I suspect that is the real reason why the jocks, the promo director, the PD and GM were all fired because this very public screw up probably immediately put the deal in jeaoprday. It looked verysimilar to abother movie where two large corporations were about to combine forces and the media got in the way of the deal, to quote Ned Beatty in "Network": " YOU HAVE MEDDLED WITH THE PRIMAL FORCES OF NATURE MR. BEALE, AND YOU WILL ATONE!!!!!!!!!".

While I agree with Paul that it's unfair that one ill conceived excercise should eclipse everything good a company has done, Entercom does not have a great reputation. Yes there is much charity work done by Entercom Boston but they also have to do that as to balance out a lot of their programming/commentary oer the years which has lead to legendary fights on this board. Between WAAF, WRKO, and WEEi which is constantly in hot water from the community for their lack of restraint of their hosts comments about everything from race, to sexual orientation. In short they have to balance all the bad with some good for public perception and fcc/community service reasons.

Joe says "real charity is done in private" another one of his opinions which does not make it right, or the way it is, it is just his opinion. It is not for you to say who is worthy of charitable excercises and how they should be administered, privately or otherwise. If that was actulaly true does that mean that the one hundred million dollars that David Geffen donated to the gay men's health crisis to try to cure aids and treat those with the affliction was not a positive thing?. That the BILLIONS that Bill Gates has given away is not a positive thing?, the forty million dollar school that Oprah built in South Africa is not a positive thing? All of these are corporate donations, are they not true charity?. I would question you as to what you've contributed to society other than your self righteous crusades which rarely have anything to do with altruism and almost always are related to your own agenda?. Your cruusade against your perception of "Payola" is all about your not being able to get your music or the music of artists that you've been involved with airtime. Your constant email assaukt vendetta against various cable companies is about your not being able to get your silly show aired, or you're not being hired to run a cable access channel because they claimed you were not qualified. It has nothing to do with your being some crusader for the integrity of public access, it's all about your self serving agenda. The internet is a wonderful thing, filled with information about people!. I say this not to insult you but to say that people who live in glass houses could not throw stones and that true charity may be in your opinion private ( which makes me wonder how much you've contributed to any cause) but I would counter that true public service is not SELF serving.

 

[Varulven]

When it comes to AIDS, TowerBuzz, there is a need to get the word out. People giving to AIDS charities in the 90s were sometimes ostracized because the discrimination against both gays and AIDS victims (both painted with the same broad brush by the Religious Right) was so overwhelming. Thus, Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John, David Geffen HAD to stamp their name on it for the "cause" back in the day. Now it is chic, but back then it was courageous.

Giving to The Jimmy Fund comes with no restrictions - no one sees that as helping "lepers". It should be a private matter, not a corporate decision that is tax free and makes them look good.

Glad we can have this discussion because having watched a cousin die from AIDS and knowing friends who have lost loved ones to that horror, not to mention Disco Vinnie and WBCN's Jimmy Mack, anyone who puts their name to an AIDS cause without looking for special treatment deserves respect. Notice how one of the Bush daughters shamelessly basked in the glow of helping out in Africa; maybe if she did a FUND for AIDS victims and crusaded the way her grandfather and Bill Clinton crusaded for the Tsunami Victims and garnered good will for America, maybe it would be impressive. But Clinton and Bush Sr. did it from the heart. That is the difference.
That they could put their acrimony aside for an emergency, and emerge as friends, speaks volumes.

I would like to see WEEI and Entercom do an AIDS charity - a big one - to bring in serious revenues, which would do much to mitigate the damage of the Savage/Dennis & Callahan/Carr anti-gay slurs over the years.
Only mixing gay issues with AIDS issues as that was the core of Savage's savage comment and thus must be addressed.

Until that time, I view all the WEEI/Entercom "charity work" with skepticism...and realize, Neanderpaul, that they get a tax break for it. A BIG tax break.

I will talk about my charity work, TowerBuzz, because it needs attention. The emergency/crisis zone that makes privacy counterproductive. Glad we have your attention.

My articles about contributing to the homeless dogs and cats around military bases are well known. It doesn't make me money and it is something I do because it is an EMERGENCY. Julie Kahn write that check now, please.

That's the only reason I bring it up. So please send a donation to SCARS (Southern Comfort Animal Rescue) down in Georgia, or to the rescues in Southern California, anywhere where the pets of military people are gassed to death. If it wasn't so urgent I would be private about it. I will keep private the names of people who read these posts who HAVE contributed. If you have contributed secretly, Towerbuzz, you have my thanks. If you haven't, find it in your heart to do so. These poor little animals are gassed to death because their loved ones are fighting a stupid war. This also happened in the Gulf war but was not made very public. It is all coming out now. ENTERCOM could do much to help out emergency situations like that, not just the "Jimmy Fund" which gets them praises and tax breaks.

My crusades come from the heart. Be it saving access TV, or saving a furry friend. You can attack me all you want, but there is important work to do and it needs to be addressed.

You can also volunteer, Towerbuzz, to drive doggies and kitties in part of the "doggy underground". It will break your heart, I guarantee it. When you drive three or four doggies in your car from one point to another (I took Marlborough to Seabrook on a very windy night of scary driving on 495) and you see those little animals scared but happy they are being rescued, and they are so innocent and need a good home, you will then know what charity is. Till then, please stop defaming people who put their heart into things.

There's no tax break in driving a doggy or four or five for an hour or two; there's nothing but the commitment of helping out God's creatures in need. It would be nice for Entercom and other corporations to find their pulse and start really doing some charity. I only post this because Towerbuzz asked during his predictable sniping. Less sniping and more charity, Towerbuzz. It is not too late for a new New Year's resolution.

 

[TowerBuzz]

When it comes to AIDS, TowerBuzz, there is a need to get the word out.

JOE SINCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING AND BEING INFECTED CONTINUES TO RISE EVERYDAY, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS!. NOT JUST YOUR GAY BROTHERS BUT STRAIGHT PEOPLE AS WELL. Why dont you tell the millions in Africa that are being infected everyday that there is no need to get the word out since everybody knows about it. jesus man you are so full of yourself and your own BS!. The point i made is that david Geffen IN THE 90's gave 100 million dollars IN ONE SHOT to the gay men's health crisis, he has since given more but that was a very public act of charity and a vital one which negates your arrogant statement that true charity is private. david Geffen is gay which is why the charity is probably closer to his heart than many but that doesn't matter either. He gave ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS to help others who needed it!. He made that money and billions more from the record and film industry, as corproate as it gets and very public. Would you criticiez his giving as not being genuine?.

The truth is if Entercom did donate to an aids charity because of Michael Savage's comments which you perceive as homophobic, you would then be out here bashing them for being hypocrites for donating to an aids charity while Savage is allowed to gay bash. blah blah blah. The fact that you as a gay man could say there is no need to get the word out is the height of ignorance! I often wonder how is it that people are still contracting the aids virus in 2007 given the amount of PSA's etc that are in your face about it constantly, I now know why. People like you assume that everyone thinks the same way that you do. You cannot think for everyone Joe because the truth is that very few people share your skewed, conspiracy laden view of the world which you express on this board everyday.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

The Jimmy Fund - again - is an institution aligned with the Red Sox more than WEEI. Everyone knows that.
Why are you allowing the facts to get in the way of your theories? Take away the Red Sox and how much
Jimmy Fund attention would WEEI give? A LOT LESS and you know it. The Jimmy Fund should come down hard when WEEI gets out of line. Hopefully the Sox front office will because that is where my complaint letters will go when Howie or Dennis & Callahan cross the line, as they so often do. Mike Savage are you listening?

News flash: The Jimmy Fund and the Red Sox don't dance to your tune. I don't see them giving up the millions of dollars WEEI has gotten them in the past few years just because of the screw-up in Sacramento. And since this entire community is well acquainted with your complaint letters, I'm sure they'll get all the scrutiny they deserve. IOW, don't hold your breath on that one.

Entercom was up on Rico charges. Is that not a fact? O.J. Simpson was up on murder charges. That got laughed out of court too, according to O.J. If the RICO don't fit you must acquit.

So what? The charges were thrown out of court because they were meritless. How many times do you have to be told, or are you a a student of the Joe McCarthy School of Equating Accusation With Guilt?

"Charity is done all the time"...but you fail to give facts and figures which these Public corporations should only be happy to file for us to see without promoting it like they are the electronic St. Bernadette. Please.
It should be enough that people see the "charity" (or lack thereof) that these companies do instead of some employee bragging about it after they've killed someone through negligence.

IOW, "these companies don't report the figures *I* want to see, so they're automatically scum." Nice try. And again, you seem to think that charity done in the open is somehow dirtier, tainted or less charitable than that done in private. Guess what: The charities don't care.

Entercom puts out a bad product.

Your opinion.

All I'm asking for, Dumber than a Box Of Hair, is higher standards in broadcasting. Why does that offend you?

The only thing that offends me is the notion that a wannabee who's never owned a radio station knows better than anyone else how one should be programmed. You're entitled to your opinion, but opinions, after all, resemble a certain bodily orifice.

 

[AvenueA]

The only thing that offends me is the notion that a wannabee who's never owned a radio station knows better than anyone else how one should be programmed. You're entitled to your opinion, but opinions, after all, resemble a certain bodily orifice.

Box, you defend everything Entercom does. Do you care that a woman died because of Entercom?

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

The only thing that offends me is the notion that a wannabee who's never owned a radio station knows better than anyone else how one should be programmed. You're entitled to your opinion, but opinions, after all, resemble a certain bodily orifice.

Box, you defend everything Entercom does. Do you care that a woman died because of Entercom?

You obviously don't see the difference between defending Entercom (not possible at this point in time) and pointing out meritless and baseless accusations which have nothing to do with Entercom and everything to do with some people's agendas. Now that Entercom is fair game, by their own hand, every sort of mud, however irrelevant, is hurled at them with the hope that some of it will stick. That's a crock. They have enough troubles, all of their own doing, and you won't find me defending them. But you also won't find me ignoring false and irrelevant accusations. Sticking to provable facts is more than enough to sink Entercom's ship.

 

[Varulven]

nothing posted was false. They were charged, O.J. was charged, they both got away with it.