Radio...where it's happenin'.

In case you doubt it, consider this: Eliot Spitzer's payola settlement with Sony-BMG has only begun to unfold [take a look at the new FCC Chairman's statement--a pdf], and Mr. Spitzer slams WQHT New York in six figures for its "Smackfest" promotion. Before we can pick ourselves up, we hear that Air America's cofounder apparently "borrowed" part of his grubstake from a charity he worked for. Gonna be an investigation. Then there's the flap over ethnic slurs aimed at Caribbean-born SF Giants on KNBR for which three radio guys were axed.

Then there's the morning team in Grand Rapids who pretended to drown a dog on the air--you know, theatre of the mind? Lots of calls to 911. The radio bad boys said they were just calling attention to water's danger to children after a couple of local drownings. On their Web site, they wrote:

“What we did this morning, we feel needed to happen to grab the proper attention about the dangers of children and water related accidental deaths... “Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost there (sic) loved ones this week,” he continued. “We hope our actions over the coarse (sic) of the past few days had enough impact to make a difference.” [reported by Billboard Radio Monitor]

You're kidding, right, fellas? The stunt? It's a rock station, folks, where "outrageous" is the minimum promotion standard. The spelling? Radio guys are Hooked on Phonics.

For comic relief, check out the public radio station manager at the University of Kentucky who pulled Garrison Keillor's "Writer's Almanac" for a poetry reading containing the word "breast" and the phrase "get high." After lots of calls to his number and the newspaper, he relented, but stuck the show at 7:00PM and said he'd monitor and censor-edit it. He claimed FCC-paranoia, which is understandable, if stupid.

Yessir, this is radio in the new Millenium.