“freedom of speech … just watch what you say”
That is evidently what happened with Cowhead at 98Rock. Some things you just can’t utter over the airwaves, and some folks just don’t like barroom language and toilet humor.
Radio Rule No. 1 should be: Don’t invite anybody on your show that you wouldn’t let in your house. No they can’t break or steal anything on the air, and it’s a problem if you can’t trust them to keep from dropping an f-bomb over a live mic.
But let’s look at just how much of this is really 98Rock’s problem. Playing it safe over the last two years since punting Bubba didn’t work that well, and they know edgy conversation on local topics draws more listeners than piping in out-of-town blabbers.
Now 98Rock is reaping what it has sown. They absolutely loved Bubba The Love Sponge as long as the money rolled in and complaints were kept quiet. But how things change when the FCC hits them with huge fines, followed by negative publicity. Only then did they put up an appearance of “repentance.” (To be fair, Bubba tried to make himself bigger than his employer. Lots of people lose their jobs that way.)
Clear Channel Communications, the station’s owner, are just as much to blame. Had they not built a near-monopoly network of radio stations throughout Tampa Bay, maybe satellite radio would still seem like a bogus money scheme. Now they’re driving all their loyal listeners straight to Sirius and XM.
At this rate, people will soon listen to free radio only during hurricanes and breaking news.
In the meantime, I’ve got plenty of CDs I haven’t heard in a while…
Bubba (not the love sponge)
4 years ago
I have to wholly agree. I didn’t like the Monsters at all, and still don’t like them when I have to hear them in Orlando.
But you’re right. Part of Cowhead’s problem was bringing in people who most of us would never invite in our own living room.
editengine
4 years ago
IPOD plus car stereo with an Iplug = no lame radio stations. maybe I am in the minority, some people love these dj’s I guess, but my rule is always that if I don’t hear a drumbeat I change the station.
Bubba
4 years ago
I prefer talk radio anyway … but I definitely am attached to my iPod. In fact, I made sure my old pickup truck, when I bought it, didn’t have a CD player, but instead had a tape deck, so that I can go directly from my iPod to my stereo.
tommy
4 years ago
Poor cowhead. He had such a good show.
Rachel*
4 years ago
I’d have to say that for the most part radio is completely retarded. The music is garbage and there are constant commercials. Pay the twelve bucks a month and get the XM!
Ramajama
4 years ago
If an F-bomb is dropped on a Clear Channel station, and the FCC didn’t see it, did it really happen?
Brett
4 years ago
Sirius > XM.
Otherwise, yeah, what Rachel* said.
tommy
3 years ago
Technology will irrelevate the FCC. Long live satellite radio.
joe
3 years ago
With Howard and Bubba and 95% less commercials on Sirius, why listen to old fashion radio. It would be like giving up cable TV in favor of 5 or 6 local crap stations.
Cowhead
3 years ago
I’m not sure how this “stripper dropping the f-bomb” story has spread so fast, when in fact it is NOT related AT ALL to my firing. This was a seperate incident which CC didn’t even bring up to me.
There was ONE person who complained to Clear Channel that I was indecent on 3 seperate days and they fired me. That’s that. One person was all it took. NO FCC FINE, NO WARNING FROM THE FCC, Nothing. And again NOT RELATED to the F-Bomb by the stripper.
And if I followed your “living room” rule how interesting would I be? I do things most people don’t or can’t. That is what makes it fun. I have to go now…David Duke, Cowboy Troy, Prussian Blue, and Courtney Love are in my living room!
Thanks
-Cow
cowheadshow.com
anonymous
3 years ago
giving prussian blue any publicity at all is disgusting. definitely desperate for ratings and attention.
joe
3 years ago
Typical clear channel cowards. they hire talents like bubba and cowhead for high ratings and big money sponsers yet they fire them for the very reason why the hired them >> for being controversial. or maybe the a-hole at 93.3 was getting worried so he put pressure on management, after all he is the golden boy!
My Addled Brain » Straight Outta Geostationary Orbit
3 years ago
[...] The worst part about this? Now I’m a Stern fan. God help me, I tried to avoid it at first, but I just had to know what the big deal was. Now, I’m hooked. There are exceptions, of course, and his show isn’t always full-on strong (thus the channel flipping this morning) – but overall the man is entertaining in a way I never thought would be possible on the radio. And in a way, it isn’t – certainly not on terrestrial radio anymore. [...]
Anonymous
3 years ago
cc sux…they erradicate themselves.
free speech huh? radio is dead.
dennis
3 years ago
Still waiting for cowhead to return to radio. either free or sat. clear channel has tried to replace star with a flashlight,and they suck and shame for them. I will go where ever cowhead decides to raise the ratings of the next show.let us all know where you decide to go.