Thicker and wider //Pulse 87

JohnParker said:

So Tony, I'm curious as to your opinion of sexually suggestive music then. Should that, in your opinion, be limited to play after 8pm or do you feel that it's appropriate for all dayparts.

jp

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There is one thing if something came off "suggestive". If it is BLUNT, that's another issue.

For me if there is something I find inappropriate for my child, I change the station. Simple as that. It's called responsible parenting. She is 5 and she doesn't need to hear any sort of commercial that comes off explicit and blunt nor should she have to hear lyrics that come off suggestive. If my daughter wasn't in the car and I just happened on "If You Seek Amy" or "The Fear", I personally don't have the problem with it. The key thing here is "suggestive". There's a tease factor in there that a young child may not understand and if lyrics did a "tease", then no problem. But if something was right out blunt, no matter how you "phonetically" spell it out, then I change it. I certainly don't want my child singing that Britney song. Nothing against Britney; she had done other tracks (such as "Circus") and I have no problem with. And I'm certainly not going to suggest restricting music for all. I'll police my own and that's what people should do.

That "penile" spot is different. It's a commercial, not a song. It came off blunt. And lets get back to the Viagra and Trojan spots. The spots don't spell out, and they don't need to since people know what they are. If anything, I would think of it as a "public service" if a Trojan ad was out saying "protect each other". And I'm not saying that the penile spot should be yanked (no pun intended) altogether. Just air it later.

See...in a case like this, I don't want to change the dial on Pulse but there are probably other parents that think like I do and change the channel when that lady goes "Let's face it guys...." and that loses listenership. I'm actually thinking in regards to THEM as well. I understand that Pulse needs to make money; radio is a business. That's why I am not against a total kill of that spot. And to add, I would feel the same exact way if 92.3 NOW, Z-100, Hot 97, Power 105 or any station for that matter aired that spot during the day. If I browsed the dial with my child near me and heard it, then I move elsewhere.

So if I'm reading what you wrote correctly, you are opposed to the commercial because it was "blunt" in saying "bigger is better" but not really all that opposed to a song like "If You Seek Amy" as it only phonetically spells out it's bluntness. And what makes it worse, to you, is that it is a commercial as opposed to a song. What about the song "Birthday Sex"? In your view is that a song that should only be played after 8pm?

You referenced the viagra ads and they are ok since they "don't spell it out" and people know what they are about. So the warning of, and I'll paraphrase here, if you have an erection for more than 4 hours please visit your doctor isn't spelling out the sexual nature of the product to you?

You also reference Trojan here. There latest tv commercial shows a couple in bed making suggestive comments along with a visual of a rocket taking off. Not exactly of the "protect yourself" or Public Service Nature, in fact it talks about enhancing a "womans pleasure" and it runs during Prime Time. So what about that?

jp

You could remove those Ax body spray commercials too because guys who use it will score. A lot of the songs that Pulse plays have sexual under tones. Maybe when you are in the car with your daughter you should listen to Radio Disney. Pulse is going after demographic that would use those products

Dancerev889 said:

You could remove those Ax body spray commercials too because guys who use it will score. A lot of the songs that Pulse plays have sexual under tones. Maybe when you are in the car with your daughter you should listen to Radio Disney. Pulse is going after demographic that would use those products

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If Z88.9 were a commercial station, would you play the Thicker and Wider ad?

Nick said:

Dancerev889 said:

You could remove those Ax body spray commercials too because guys who use it will score. A lot of the songs that Pulse plays have sexual under tones. Maybe when you are in the car with your daughter you should listen to Radio Disney. Pulse is going after demographic that would use those products

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If Z88.9 were a commercial station, would you play the Thicker and Wider ad?

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If Z889 was not owned by a college and was a commercial station, I would play it.

Question to both John and Brett,

Do you both have children?

I have to add more on this to John and Brett,

Would you want your kids to hear that penile spot on the radio as you're driving along the road? Sometimes you have to get that one track thinking regarding demos and numbers and look out the outside picture. And if you don't have kids, then you can never truly understand, until you actually become a parent. I'm not being a prude here. I'm just practicing responsibility

Okay...let me get to that one track thinking....yes, a spot like the penile one would target folks such as myself. People within my demos (25-54) have children as well. And if I am listening to Pulse (or any station that airs this spot...let's not just target Pulse with this) then all of the passengers in my car (unless they have headphones) are hearing it too. That doesn't mean I want my child to hear it especially if I am in the car and the spot comes on during the day. It is called RESPONSIBILITY and this is where one has to take certain discretion. Do remember, my child is 5! She may not know what the ad is talking about, yet I still do not want her hearing it.

And John, you did read it wrong. I would change the dial on "If You Seek Amy" when it is on with my child in the car. I only said (and lets get what I said here).....

"If my daughter wasn't in the car and I just happened on "If You Seek Amy" or "The Fear", I personally don't have the problem with it. The key thing here is "suggestive". There's a tease factor in there that a young child may not understand and if lyrics did a "tease", then no problem. But if something was right out blunt, no matter how you "phonetically" spell it out, then I change it. I certainly don't want my child singing that Britney song."


When Pulse plays another track, I go back. Simple as that. And once again Brett, you throw a twist regarding "Ax". I'd rather hear something like "score" versus "you'll get laid gazillions of times" if my child is in the car tuning in.

Trojan ad....PRIME TIME. I've seen the spot with the rocketship. Most young children are asleep. Besides, wasn't that the agreement the networks and prophylactic companies that this spot air beginning at prime-time anyway? Regarding public service ads saying "to protect yourself, use a condom" I have no issue with that whatsoever...especially if that can help offset the AIDS virus.

And to reiterate, I NEVER SAID that the penile ad should be off the air completely. If it's making money for Pulse, then air them. Just air it after a certain time. And I'll put on Radio Disney in my car if my child wants it. Sometimes I do it anyway for her. And if Radio Disney for some reason aired that ad, the channel would be changed too! Point being....I DON'T WANT MY CHILD HEARING THAT SPOT!

I did talk with Alex about this and said the same thing I'm telling you guys...the spot should air between 8PM and 6AM. I didn't say to pull the spot. Alex put up the poll and the majority of people feel the spot should be pulled. I didn't lead anyone into saying that. Most people are either tired of it or feel as I do. Those that WANT the spot to air think of it as a joke. It's become a "caricature" of sorts when people talk about Pulse and the station shouldn't have to succumb to that.

So I'm getting slammed here for protecting my child? John, Brett, you can argue all the points and angles on this and try to shoot me down with my morality, but I'm not changing my stance on this. I am looking out for my child and will always do so. When she gets to the age of reason, then she can make her own determinations on things. I will always be there to guide her if she has any questions.

Tony kids mimick what they hear or say. So if something i suggestive they are going to sing it at school. Then maybe get teased about it because they dont know what it is. I respect the fact that you are looking out for your kid, but Pulse's audience isnt for your kid. Its like Howard Stern being on the air. Its not for kids its for an older crowd. You do have to remember that. Pulse has an audience and those commercials fit the demo. Theres no getting around it.

Tony,

To answer your first question, yes I do have children. Not that it's anybodys business.

Remember it was you that used your child in this discussion and no one else. I purposely left out your child from the points that I was making as there is no reason to have them be part of the discussion. I asked your opinions on the questions I posed. But you've decided to bring it back to include your kid, which I'm not interested in discussing.

If I heard something once on a station, as a parent, and didn't like it and knew that there was a possibility that it would air again, I be more careful in listening to that station when I felt the situation wasn't appropriate. I didn't listen to Stern when I was driving the kids to school because I know that there was a good chance that over the course of time something would be said that would be objectionable to my standards for my kids. The same thing with Z100 on some mornings. But I never felt the need to broadcast MY opinion to the world about it.

Now to your other points:

"Would you want your kids to hear that penile spot on the radio as you're driving along the road?"

I would have practiced responsible parenting and jumped to another station when it came on as stated above. But I would never make a big stink as I don't find it offensive.
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"Sometimes you have to get that one track thinking regarding demos and numbers and look out the outside picture."

Who exactly are you saying is thinking along those terms? Pulse for airing the spots and paying the bills? Brett and myself, we didn't even mention demos or numbers? I don't get your point here.

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"Okay...let me get to that one track thinking....yes, a spot like the penile one would target folks such as myself. People within my demos (25-54) have children as well. And if I am listening to Pulse (or any station that airs this spot...let's not just target Pulse with this) then all of the passengers in my car (unless they have headphones) are hearing it too. That doesn't mean I want my child to hear it especially if I am in the car and the spot comes on during the day. It is called RESPONSIBILITY and this is where one has to take certain discretion. Do remember, my child is 5! She may not know what the ad is talking about, yet I still do not want her hearing it."

Yes, I got that. But what you call "responsibility" in this case, I'd call selective censorship or restriction. Responsibility to me would have been to turn the spot off if I thought even for a second someone would be offended or exposed to something that I wouldn't want them exposed to.

There was nothing obscene in the ad. That's not even debatable. And "Bigger is Better" is a tag line that's been used many times before. Take for example the Carls Jr (a fast food place) that used the same tagline while talking about its chicken breasts. Is it offensive in this case if a child asked their parent, "why is bigger better?"
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"And John, you did read it wrong. I would change the dial on "If You Seek Amy" when it is on with my child in the car. "

But I really don't think I did. Again, I asked you for your opinion on sexually suggestive songs and their airing times but I didn't ask you about a specific situation which you are continually returning to. You did state that you'd change the song if you had a child in the car. Cool. But you also clearly stated that you are opposed to the commercial as you feel its message is "blunt" and you are only situationally opposed to "If You Seek Amy" and its suggestiveness. You also made of point of pointing out that the commercial was different by saying "it's a commercial, not a song" as if that would make some sort of difference in your reasoning. Which is why I asked the question about songs and the airing times. Which you didn't answer.

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"Trojan ad....PRIME TIME. I've seen the spot with the rocketship. Most young children are asleep."

Actually, they aren't. That's why the FCC has the Obscenity rule for broadcasts between 6am - 10pm.
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"Besides, wasn't that the agreement the networks and prophylactic companies that this spot air beginning at prime-time anyway? "

Don't know but it's irrelevant. I don't care that the spots air. Simply pointing out that they do and that they are fundamentally the same as the ads that you so oppose. One being on TV and the other Radio.
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"So I'm getting slammed here for protecting my child?"

No one "slammed" you. And it is you that keeps bringing your kid into this. Neither Brett or myself or anyone else has said anything about your child. Nor do I think anyone would. I simply asked some simple questions and you seem to have taken offense to them.

Dancerev889 said:

Tony kids mimick what they hear or say. So if something i suggestive they are going to sing it at school. Then maybe get teased about it because they dont know what it is. I respect the fact that you are looking out for your kid, but Pulse's audience isnt for your kid. Its like Howard Stern being on the air. Its not for kids its for an older crowd. You do have to remember that. Pulse has an audience and those commercials fit the demo. Theres no getting around it.

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If my kid is in my car with me, Pulse is getting heard because that's what I'm tuning into. And if there is something that I do not feel she should be hearing, I turn the dial. I may be only one person doing this but it does make me wonder if others do the same. If that is the case you lose some cume and no station wants that to happen.

I'm going to break this down.....me in italics, John Parker as standard.

Tony,

To answer your first question, yes I do have children. Not that it's anybodys business.

Remember it was you that used your child in this discussion and no one else. I purposely left out your child from the points that I was making as there is no reason to have them be part of the discussion. I asked your opinions on the questions I posed. But you've decided to bring it back to include your kid, which I'm not interested in discussing.

If I heard something once on a station, as a parent, and didn't like it and knew that there was a possibility that it would air again, I be more careful in listening to that station when I felt the situation wasn't appropriate. I didn't listen to Stern when I was driving the kids to school because I know that there was a good chance that over the course of time something would be said that would be objectionable to my standards for my kids. The same thing with Z100 on some mornings. But I never felt the need to broadcast MY opinion to the world about it.

(My child was in this discussion because she had asked me about it, upon hearing the ad. And as a parent, I wasn't going to explain it being she is too young. Whether you want to discuss my kid or not, she is the reason why this came up in the first place and I'm going to address it. I had Sirius once and had Stern. And no, I never had his show on with my child in the car. But then again, Stern has his daily show so you KNOW what is up way beforehand. You can't compare Stern to a commercial since a commercial will air when it airs. We don't have a log available at hand to know when that commercial comes up. On Pulse it's about the music and that's why I tune in.)


Now to your other points:

"Would you want your kids to hear that penile spot on the radio as you're driving along the road?"

I would have practiced responsible parenting and jumped to another station when it came on as stated above. But I would never make a big stink as I don't find it offensive.

(And that's what I am doing too. I hear the ad with my daughter there, I turn the dial. If I am in the car by myself, no big....I'm not offended. Though I think something has to be noted here for the record.....I DID NOT do any sort of negative campaigning regarding this ad. I never told Alex to completely remove this ad. All I suggested was that the ad should air at a time where little children can't hear it. I realize Pulse makes money on this and I'm certainly not going to stop that. It's just a matter of responsiblity. And just as I'm getting reamed here regarding this, there are others who aren't saying it publicly but respect my stance. ONCE AGAIN, I did not put a negative campaign on this. The people voted on Facebook by themselves. I didn't tell them to.)

"Sometimes you have to get that one track thinking regarding demos and numbers and look out the outside picture."

Who exactly are you saying is thinking along those terms? Pulse for airing the spots and paying the bills? Brett and myself, we didn't even mention demos or numbers? I don't get your point here.

(Brett talked about the demographics regarding Pulse seeing it as target demos, audience, etc. I'm just noting that there are those within those demos have children and if they are in a car, even though that station (and this can be ANY station) may not be targeting them, they still hear those things because their parents are tuning in. That is the outside picture.)

"Okay...let me get to that one track thinking....yes, a spot like the penile one would target folks such as myself. People within my demos (25-54) have children as well. And if I am listening to Pulse (or any station that airs this spot...let's not just target Pulse with this) then all of the passengers in my car (unless they have headphones) are hearing it too. That doesn't mean I want my child to hear it especially if I am in the car and the spot comes on during the day. It is called RESPONSIBILITY and this is where one has to take certain discretion. Do remember, my child is 5! She may not know what the ad is talking about, yet I still do not want her hearing it."

Yes, I got that. But what you call "responsibility" in this case, I'd call selective censorship or restriction. Responsibility to me would have been to turn the spot off if I thought even for a second someone would be offended or exposed to something that I wouldn't want them exposed to.

(I'm censoring it for my kid...guilty as charged. And I'll say it again..I did NOT do an anti-campaign on this ad. I said my peace but I wasn't out to get rid of it....just feeling that something like that should air at a time where little children will be the least likely exposed. If Pulse wants to dump the ad, that is their decision to do so. I've never told them that they should. Thus I hear the ad, I change the dial.)

There was nothing obscene in the ad. That's not even debatable. And "Bigger is Better" is a tag line that's been used many times before. Take for example the Carls Jr (a fast food place) that used the same tagline while talking about its chicken breasts. Is it offensive in this case if a child asked their parent, "why is bigger better?"

(There is a BIG difference with Carls Jr. and the penile spot. If my daughter asked me that, upon hearing a Carls Jr spot, at least I can say because there is more food in there. For things like that, yeah...nothing offensive. But when taken in a sexual manner, and my child asks, that is where I have to draw the line.)

"And John, you did read it wrong. I would change the dial on "If You Seek Amy" when it is on with my child in the car. "

But I really don't think I did. Again, I asked you for your opinion on sexually suggestive songs and their airing times but I didn't ask you about a specific situation which you are continually returning to. You did state that you'd change the song if you had a child in the car. Cool. But you also clearly stated that you are opposed to the commercial as you feel its message is "blunt" and you are only situationally opposed to "If You Seek Amy" and its suggestiveness. You also made of point of pointing out that the commercial was different by saying "it's a commercial, not a song" as if that would make some sort of difference in your reasoning. Which is why I asked the question about songs and the airing times. Which you didn't answer.

(Okay, I will answer. The Britney song has been controversial BEFORE radio played it. Yet the song charted and is being played all over. Pulse, Z-100, 'KTU, NOW, BLI, K-104 and every other CHR is on that song. Everyone knows what that song really means, but it was "technically" gotten around and radio plays it. It's all over the place, can't escape it. It's a song people request...can't get around that either. And if my child asks upon hearing her friends perhaps singing it, I would say "separately" If You Seek Amy". She wouldn't understand what it really comes off as....too young. Me personally, I have no problem with the track at all. But I won't tune in with my child around. Yet it is all over the place.

However, people don't request a commercial to air. A commercial airs based on the client paying for it or on a direct response level based on the phone calls of those wanting to purchase said product. Pulse and perhaps some other stations air that ad. I don't know what times that ad would air on different stations but if I was tuning in elsewhere and heard that ad, yeah I change that dial. In that, I am NOT (nor did I ever) single out Pulse on this. I mean, I didn't even start this thread!)


"Trojan ad....PRIME TIME. I've seen the spot with the rocketship. Most young children are asleep."

Actually, they aren't. That's why the FCC has the Obscenity rule for broadcasts between 6am - 10pm.

(That I do know, and older kids are up. I totally understand that.

"Besides, wasn't that the agreement the networks and prophylactic companies that this spot air beginning at prime-time anyway? "

Don't know but it's irrelevant. I don't care that the spots air. Simply pointing out that they do and that they are fundamentally the same as the ads that you so oppose. One being on TV and the other Radio.

(Well, from what I recall, the agreement is what it is. AND ONCE AGAIN, I don't personally have anything against that ad! I never requested that it get removed. Just air it at a time where children don't have to hear it.)

"So I'm getting slammed here for protecting my child?"

No one "slammed" you. And it is you that keeps bringing your kid into this. Neither Brett or myself or anyone else has said anything about your child. Nor do I think anyone would. I simply asked some simple questions and you seem to have taken offense to them.

(The only reason why I feel "offense" to this is because you guys are making it seem as if I did some heavy campaigning or something to get this ad removed. And in that sense it's my own fault based on the "perception" of what you guys think of me based on my actions. I've only spoken with Alex Shvarts, not even with a THOUGHT of campaigning against the ad, and in turn he took a poll on it. It was the results of that poll that decided his position on the ad. Not me. I never said to remove it...just air it later.

I bring my kid into this because she had asked me that question. And I didn't realize (so yeah I blame myself) it until she asked that question. I've heard that penile ad hundreds of times without a thought. And yeah, I laughed at it too like most people have! But when it came down to a deeper issue here, that is where I had to take notice and be even more responsible than I already was. If something aired that I would consider offensive for my child, as a responsible parent I change the station. And that's that. I am not a Terry Rakolta (the lady who did a boycott on Fox Broadcasting years ago regarding "Married With Children") who wanted everything bad totally off the air.

If you guys still want to further discuss the issue, I will. Though hopefully with the clarifications you can understand that whatever has happened was by NO means a campaign by me to get that ad out. If I'm going to campaign against an ad, PUHLEEZZEE remove those Optimum IO Cable ads for being too annoying! )

Let's say 101.3 aired ads for Prolixus, Viagra, fake Rolex watches, payday loans, weight loss pills, and penny stock investments. And 107.7 aired ads for McDonalds, Pepsi, Major World Auto, Geico, Continental Airlines, Citibank, etc. Which station would you think is more "upscale"? Here's a hint: the advertisers of 107.7 don't sound like your email spam. I'm not saying that I'm opposed to the Thicker and Wider ad, I'm saying that the advertisements a station airs also shapes the image of the station. Plus, the advertisers of 107.7 would be more likely to pay more per spot. If Prolixus paid Radio Disney more money than its average billing rate to advertise on that station, Radio Disney would not accept those ads as it ruins the image of the station.
Sure, kids may not be in Pulse 87's demographics now, but when they become teenagers, they will be in Pulse 87's demographics. If the kids are exposed to dance music a lot at a young age, they'll like to hear it when they grow up.

Those types of ads/spots are actually considered and classified as "Target and Response." These companies/agencies target a specific demo, station, area etc and as another poster noted, compensate the individual station for results/sales that occur as a result. For most of these stations its the spots for computers, DirecTV & Dish Network, Life Insurance, Life Alert (a monitoring system aimed at older folks) and many others. Given the current economic situation, most of these stations are obviously having a *greater difficulty* selling spots and gaining new advertisers so this is really a no-risk formula for these lower performing stations. Personally I find most of them quite annoying for no other reason than the fact that they have a higher rotation in an attempt to increase the chances of listeners taking the bait.

As far as the spot being aired on Pulse I would say that ideally it should be dayparted as Tony suggested to evenings and overnights to avoid any issues that may arise. Granted I **Do Not** have kids, I must say though that if the station did continue to air it 24/7 through the broadcast day I wouldn't have a problem with it. In this day and age and the fact that most kids are more advanced and knowledgeable about things they shouldn't be at younger and younger ages, I would MUCH rather have my kid ask ME what things mean so that I can explain them the best I can rather than it being discussed in the classrooms or on the playground in slang and not so accurate detail. It's just my opinion but for Tony's situation exclusively in which it involves a clearly observant 5 year old the spot seems to be a bit problematic. I didn't think most kids that young were that receptive to what they hear on the radio but I can say that I learned something new!

That's the long and short of it... :

Thank you Radio411!

And to reiterate, for me I don't have a problem with that spot personally. I actually wouldn't have a problem with that spot if my child was 10 or older because if she were to ask me questions about this, I would answer them in a pertinent manner, and for that same reason 411 said as well....I'd rather she hear it from me than her classroom pals. Being that my child is 5, how could (or for that matter...why SHOULD) I answer this? She is too young to understand. So I simply change the dial and only SUGGESTED that the spot run from 10P - 6A being that it is a "target and response" ad as opposed to an actual client (I should have clarified this before).

Well, to my understanding, the contract for that spot is going to run out soon anyway, so regardless of me bringing this up or not the spot obligation was ending anyway.

Aside from the tender young ears debate here, the bigger-wider and free computer commercials appeal to gullible or desperate listeners and demonstrate the desperation of radio stations that will take cash from any business to advertise just about anything. Yeah, I know, "desperate times call for desperate measures" and every client's money is green, but where do you draw the line? You can make an argument for day-parting the commercials, but everybody knows they suck in middays as much as they suck at 11 p.m. On average, I'll listen to a station through about four normal commercials, but whether or not there are kids in the car, when the bigger-wider, free computer or Las Vegas getaway commercials come on, I can't hit the scan button fast enough.

"You can't compare Stern to a commercial since a commercial will air when it airs. We don't have a log available at hand to know when that commercial comes up."

It was a situational comparison and your repeating exactly what I already said. I knew what could happen on the show so I didn't listen when I deemed it inappropriate. But as a listener, you also don't have a log available to know when a song that is questionable to your moral stance is going to pop on the radio. So shouldn't your outrage be equal against songs with suggestive or blunt lyrics?

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"Though I think something has to be noted here for the record.....I DID NOT do any sort of negative campaigning regarding this ad."

I don't believe anyone ever said you did.

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"There is a BIG difference with Carls Jr. and the penile spot. If my daughter asked me that, upon hearing a Carls Jr spot, at least I can say because there is more food in there. For things like that, yeah...nothing offensive. But when taken in a sexual manner, and my child asks, that is where I have to draw the line."

The only difference is that you know the content and context of the ad. But you first sold your arguement as if your child understood the penile ad and you didn't want to explain what the phrase "Bigger is Better" means. If a very young child asks why bigger is better while hearing a Carls Jr. ad sure it's an easier thing to explain because the parent isn't embarrased doing so. So my point is that in most cases it really isn't about the childs curiosity but about the parent being put in a situation that they are uncomfortable with.
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"The Britney song has been controversial BEFORE radio played it. Yet the song charted and is being played all over. Pulse, Z-100, 'KTU, NOW, BLI, K-104 and every other CHR is on that song."

Not really sure what that has to do with anything. Are you suggesting that because it was controversial before radio aired it that it was somehow ok to air during hours in which kids could hear? I mean, if your against "blunt" messages you're against them across the board right?

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"And if my child asks upon hearing her friends perhaps singing it, I would say "separately" If You Seek Amy". She wouldn't understand what it really comes off as....too young."

That's what I would think too as the child is very young. But you have inferred that she understands the commerical that you find objectionable.
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"However, people don't request a commercial to air. A commercial airs based on the client paying for it or on a direct response level based on the phone calls of those wanting to purchase said product. Pulse and perhaps some other stations air that ad. I don't know what times that ad would air on different stations but if I was tuning in elsewhere and heard that ad, yeah I change that dial. In that, I am NOT (nor did I ever) single out Pulse on this. I mean, I didn't even start this thread!"

Does people not requesting a commerical really relate to this discussion? Requests don't relate directly to the time anything is played and we've already determined that a listener can't tell when any programming element (song, commercial, sweepers) airs during a broadcast day. Also, thanks for the lesson on Advertising. I never would have know that. :

I mean we can go back on forth on this all day. You stated your case. I've played devils advocate here. And I'm now back to work.

John Parker as standard, earlier quotes on me underlined my response in italics...

"You can't compare Stern to a commercial since a commercial will air when it airs. We don't have a log available at hand to know when that commercial comes up."

It was a situational comparison and your repeating exactly what I already said. I knew what could happen on the show so I didn't listen when I deemed it inappropriate. But as a listener, you also don't have a log available to know when a song that is questionable to your moral stance is going to pop on the radio. So shouldn't your outrage be equal against songs with suggestive or blunt lyrics?

I turn the dial with my child in the car, simple as that when a song like "If You Seek Amy" or that new one by Livvi Franc gets played. If I have any sort of outrage in me, it's the fact that some of today's music has really gone down to the lowest common denominator. And I'm not a prude in any way, shape or form. It's like I said, I have no problem with that. My child is 5 and even though she is too young to understand what those lyrics mean, I still practice responsibility in that regards. When she does get to the age of reason, I would want to be the one to explain things, rather me than a friend from school.

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"Though I think something has to be noted here for the record.....I DID NOT do any sort of negative campaigning regarding this ad."

I don't believe anyone ever said you did.

No, no one did in here, but I needed to state that for the record.

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"There is a BIG difference with Carls Jr. and the penile spot. If my daughter asked me that, upon hearing a Carls Jr spot, at least I can say because there is more food in there. For things like that, yeah...nothing offensive. But when taken in a sexual manner, and my child asks, that is where I have to draw the line."

The only difference is that you know the content and context of the ad. But you first sold your arguement as if your child understood the penile ad and you didn't want to explain what the phrase "Bigger is Better" means. If a very young child asks why bigger is better while hearing a Carls Jr. ad sure it's an easier thing to explain because the parent isn't embarrased doing so. So my point is that in most cases it really isn't about the childs curiosity but about the parent being put in a situation that they are uncomfortable with.

Well, for me I certainly didn't want my daughter to hear that growth spot. She has absolutely NO idea of what that ad is, being 5, but it is still something that I'd rather she not hear. And yeah, it was uncomfortable, I admit.

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"The Britney song has been controversial BEFORE radio played it. Yet the song charted and is being played all over. Pulse, Z-100, 'KTU, NOW, BLI, K-104 and every other CHR is on that song."

Not really sure what that has to do with anything. Are you suggesting that because it was controversial before radio aired it that it was somehow ok to air during hours in which kids could hear? I mean, if your against "blunt" messages you're against them across the board right?

John, you were the one that skewed this argument towards music. I was only talking about a commercial. What makes the Britney argument tough is the technicalities (another radio board is having a FIELD DAY with this) of the words, though clearly everyone knows what she is saying here. Radio hopped on it and there you go. I turn the dial elsewhere with my daughter in the car. If we're going to go there, radio should have been a bit more responsible on it (any station) but the "technicality" is the excuse. A song like this goes through, yet when the whole Chris Brown "allegedly" beating up on Rihanna happened, most radio stations pulled everything Chris Brown. Radio wants to send out a clear message on domestic violence as a "responsibility" to their audience, and yet play a track like Britney? Hypocritical, I say.

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"And if my child asks upon hearing her friends perhaps singing it, I would say "separately" If You Seek Amy". She wouldn't understand what it really comes off as....too young."

That's what I would think too as the child is very young. But you have inferred that she understands the commerical that you find objectionable.

She may be 5 and not understand that spot. Doesn't mean she should hear it, right?

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"However, people don't request a commercial to air. A commercial airs based on the client paying for it or on a direct response level based on the phone calls of those wanting to purchase said product. Pulse and perhaps some other stations air that ad. I don't know what times that ad would air on different stations but if I was tuning in elsewhere and heard that ad, yeah I change that dial. In that, I am NOT (nor did I ever) single out Pulse on this. I mean, I didn't even start this thread!"

Does people not requesting a commerical really relate to this discussion? Requests don't relate directly to the time anything is played and we've already determined that a listener can't tell when any programming element (song, commercial, sweepers) airs during a broadcast day. Also, thanks for the lesson on Advertising. I never would have know that. :

I mean we can go back on forth on this all day. You stated your case. I've played devils advocate here. And I'm now back to work.

Sure, we can go back and forth all day. So here's my turn. The fact of the matter is a commercial airs when it airs, the same with music. It relates totally to this discussion because being that you wanted to skew this music, deflecting the original argument about the commercial, people do call in a station and request a track and it could be Britney. Unless something new developed (I don't know, technology, people's tastes or something...), I haven't heard of anyone making a request to an on air personality to hear a commercial. The gist of what I had said...SOLELY keeping to the commercial aspect which was the point to begin with, was the fact that ANY radio station that aired the growth spot should do so from 10P - 6A, so as to keep it away from children since it deals with mature subject matter. If my daughter was up past 11PM and that commercial aired, then I would have absolutely NO right to criticize on it airing...then it becomes, what the heck is your 5 year old daughter doing up past bedtime! And if Pulse or any station wanted to run a 30 minute "infomercial" on this spot at the late night of hours, I say go for it...and if it earns them money, then fantastic! No complaints. Radio is a business....I've understood that the longest.

I work in the broadcast industry myself (television) so I do know. As a matter of, when I had worked at Fox 5 doing commercial dubs back in the early 90's, there was an ad for St. Ides Malt Liquor featuring Ice Cube doing his rhymes. At one point he states "get your jimmy thicker with St. Ides Malt Liquor". It was actually rather funny because very few people on staff (the older folks) actually knew what a "jimmy" was, in relation to what Ice Cube was saying. Being knowledgeable, in my 20's, with the inner city slang, I had explained what it was, but just to explain it...not to suggest that they remove the spot. The commercial never saw air on Fox 5 anyway.

It all gets down to responsibility and the term in itself is totally relative to the person exercising it. There are parents who would blast Howard Stern in the car to a small child and never think about it. Yet you also have parents that wouldn't let children watch TV because "evil spirits" are in there (I saw that on a "Wife Swap" repeat). Generally speaking, I consider myself liberal. But I still want to protect my daughter when it comes to certain things especially that she is very young. I also want her to feel that when she does get older and starts understanding things; needing to ask about it, that I would be there to help guide her. Commercials and/or music. And of course there are parents that don't care....not going to judge, it's just how it is.

Tony - Could you please make your posts a little bit longer for all of us.

Thanks

radiogroupie said:

Tony - Could you please make your posts a little bit longer for all of us.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Just responding....pardon the length

in terms of morality in mainstream media, that bird flew the coop a long time ago....
I THINK it was called "DISCO"...
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, luv to luv you baby, uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

PUSH PUSH, IN THE BUSH!!


more more more, how do you like it, how do you like it....

I mean, REALLY, isn't it a little late*(three decades worth) for this discussion?
(luv you both....)