Howard Stern: Fighting the Good Fight - One Radio Listener at a Time

"Toto, I don't think we're In Kansas Anymore." (Wizard Of Oz)

Never has a single phrase rang so true as the above in 2004 leading into 2005. At one point I wasn't even considering Kansas, I wondered if I was still in America. Now before you get your knickers in a bunch, hear me out. 2004 started with a breast flash that rang around the world, via Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (thanks to the press, who shoved the footage in our faces every chance they got - in case you actually missed all three seconds of it the first time) at last year's Super Bowl half time show.

The firestorm that ensued was far reaching (at the time, seeming to have no end). Not only were Janet and MTV charged with indecency, but CBS, the network that carried the game, was fined $550K for the incident. Janet apologized, claiming MTV and CBS had no knowledge, but by that time the damage was done. Whether or not it was a "wardrobe malfunction," as Ms Jackson claimed, or a calculated PR move, the fact that Janet had a new CD coming out in a couple of weeks only incited the media's and the public's speculation. It was, unfortunately, a defining moment in this country's history. And it proved far more interesting than the CD she released (sorry Janet).

The Super Bowl was watched by an estimated 60 million people and approximately 1,000 people called and complained to the network about the now infamous "boob flash" incident. In addition, Kid Rock also came under fire for wearing an American flag shirt. So where is this going? Simple. A creeping atmosphere of censorship, in regards to American culture and personal rights and expression, had actually begun to break the surface of national debate way before January of 2004 and Janet Jackson - justly or not - was the scapegoat, the individual to be made an example of. If it was deliberate, it was a huge miscalculation on her part, and if it was a mistake, it's live television, folks, stuff happens. Should the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) have fined individual television stations that aired the game? Of course not. Why, are they clairvoyant? Did they foresee the controversy? That's just ridiculous.

It's this type of thinking that has brought the FCC to the forefront of the nation's burgeoning "morality" discussion. Directing their scrutiny at the public airwaves, i.e. television and radio stations, the FCC made a beeline for "shock jock" Howard Stern - an obvious target. Ahh, now we're getting to my point. Viacom Inc. paid $3.5 million to erase indecency fines filed by the FCC against New York radio station WNEW-FM's "Opie & Anthony Show" and another against Stern. The hosts of the "Opie & Anthony Show" were subsequently fired for describing on air "a couple engaged in actual or supposed sexual activity" inside St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Since their firing, they are now employed by XM Satellite Radio and are also now back on 'terrestrial' radio, taking many of Stern's old markets. Now, onto Stern's fight. Anyone who knows Stern's history or has heard or seen his show agrees that it's not for everyone.

That being said, the FCC has been after him for years, leveling fines against him, Viacom and Clear Channel (Stern was carried on six of their radio stations). On the heels of the Super Bowl fiasco, The FCC fined Clear Channel the maximum $27,500 for each of eighteen alleged indecency violations against Howard Stern. Stern was financial liability despite his high ratings, and in February of 2004, Clear Channel had had enough, firing him and dropping his show from all six stations. So, what was it that finally pushed the FCC over the edge? Depends on who you ask. It was supposed to have been the result of a caller getting through and using the N-word. Stern hung up on the caller (I heard that show and it's not something that hasn't happened before). Another assertion is that the fines were the result of an explicit interview Stern conducted with a guest. This is when it all gets hazy and blends into a mush. The FCC was heaving fines at Stern for shows he broadcast two and three years before this latest incident (whatever it was). Stern lobbied back that the FCC - and in particular, Michael Powell (Colin Powell's son, the head of the FCC at the time, who has since announced his resignation and moved on) - were on a witch hunt. The only witch they seemed to be interested in, though, was Stern himself.

Finally fed up with imposed self-censorship and the butchering of his on air television show, Stern struck a deal with Sirius Satellite radio and it has been reported he will net $500 million over five years for the move. Say what you will about Stern, he's no dummy. An interesting upshot of all this media hand-wringing about what's obscene versus what is appropriate for public viewing, is the reaction of dozens of ABC affiliate stations who balked at airing Steven Spielberg's Academy Award Winning film SAVING PRIVATE RYAN during Veteran's Day weekend a year ago, fearing the film's wartime violence and profanity would lead to indecency fines from the FCC. Remember cable in its infancy? Think of satellite radio the same way. You're literally paying for your First Amendment rights. Since when were they ever supposed to be for sale? I have an old fashioned idea; if you don't like what's on, turn the channel. You can do it from your couch with your remote. It's not brain surgery.

This is not a commercial for satellite radio. However, when Stern made his move in January 2006, I went with him. No commercials or advertisements, just music, talk, sports, whatever I choose. There truly is something here for everyone. So what does this ultimately mean to you the consumer? Well, many artists have jumped on the satellite bandwagon and have their own programmed stations. Enimem, Moby, Stern (he has two channels on the system - Howard 100: broadcasts his show and Howard 101 has other interesting programming - the Bubba The Love Sponge show (another shock jock type and Ferrell - fast talking sports guy of sorts) plus many other shows from his 'wack pack' gang. Of the two big satellite carriers, XM and Sirius, since Stern's move, the marked has overwhelmingly moved to Sirius. There are more Sirius installations in new cars and it just keeps growing. It has been reported before Stern's arrival at Sirius they had about 500,000 subscribers. Since his move, they boast over 4 Million with thousands more signing up every day. Can the growth be attributed completely to Stern and his massive following, to a degree, yes. Nevertheless, a good product is a good product. Add a personality like Howard Stern and his loyal to the core fans to the mix and you've spun gold.

So, what you're paying for is uninterrupted, uncensored music, talk and out of the mainstream programming for around $12.00 - $13.00 a month. Just think, you're actually able to hear an Eminem song without chunks of lyrics missing. You'll also be able to listen to Howard Stern and his crew, doing what they do best: irreverent humor, compelling celebrity interviews and unbridled commentary on the events of the day, without the FCC mandated (and enforced) constraints. And for the first time in a long time - possibly ever - you'll actually be able to hear a comic bit or interview in its entirety. Stern himself has said that his new show will not be one long expletive or colorful metaphor, but he will be able to speak freely, the way our Constitution intended. With the lawsuit filed against him recently by Les Mooves (the head of CBS for $500 million, they settled) Howard was able to retain all of his tapes dating back 23 years. There certainly is no end of programming in sight. Every now and again, he'll slip a little gem in to remind us of better times. This past Labor Day weekend it was all vintage Stern. To mark the anniversary of September 11, he played this abridged 9-11 show starting at 8:50 A.M. as the events of that day transpired in real time. I was listening to the original broadcast 5 years ago live and will never forget it. Howard was my eyes and ears for those hours since I was stuck at work. His team put together a brilliant newscast reminiscent of CNN. We the listeners were informed, shocked, saddened (as was Howard himself and his staff) and brought together by The Howard Stern show that morning. Thanks Howard.

If we begin to lose our personal rights, ask yourself, where will it end? In the atmosphere we live in today, the notion is not as farfetched as you may think. Take time to look around you, listen to what people are saying. I mean really listen; you'll understand what I mean. During a time when we should be coming together as a people, as Americans, we seem to be hell bent on not only tearing ourselves apart but defining our own division lines. We're more interested these days in the celebrity sound bites than what's around us. Are our attention spans really so short? Blue states, red states, it seems Americans are heading towards two very divergent paths. And, they're both in the wrong direction.