The Wires (Sep 3, 2009)

Kurt Hanson: Live365 sues to challenge the makeup of the Copyright Royalty Board. At least one appeals court judge opened the door in an earlier decision and (says Kurt HansonÆs RAIN newsletter) Internet radio biggie Live365 walks through it. The question is whoÆs supposed to pick the three members of the Copyright Royalty Board. The way things currently work, just one person does the choosing û the Librarian of Congress. But an earlier suit filed by Royalty Logic produced this comment from a appellate judge û The CRB ôexercises expansive executive authorityàunsupervised by the Librarian of Congress or by any other Executive Branch official.ö The Live365 theory is that the executive branch is supposed to appoint the Copyright Royalty Board û which turns out to literally have life and death power over webcasters, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

San DiegoÆs ôBlazinÆ 98.9ö will be doing it without the live jocks, and without some off-air people, as Mario Enrique MayansÆ XHMORE-FM, Tijuana stays hip-hop but cans the people behind the mic. The Radio-Info website talked with OM/Brand & Marketing Manager Lee Cornell, whoÆll probably remain on staff but not in that capacity. He identifies the missing jocks as Chris Loos (ex-mornings, at Loos626@gmail.com), Vanya (afternoons, reachable at MissVanya@gmail.com) and DJ Seph. Off-air layoffs include production room habituTs Chris Morrison and Noah Alaya and promotions manager Jeanice Lee. Cornell is at LeeCornell@cox.net. The San Diego Board is talking over the new all-music approach here.

Radio-info.com: Radio isn't "censoring" the word "satellite" from "Boom Boom Pow", says B96, Chicago's Erik Bradley. T-R-I reader Erik says contrary to what OrbitCast and the Arizona State University State Press paper were saying - that's the way the Black Eyed Peas tune came from the label. He emails to say "I'm playing the exact version that was sent to us by Interscope Records - which from what I understand was edited by will.i.am himself - and the word 'satellite' was edited out. It certainly wasn't some kind of effort by our station or radio [in general] to delete that word. It is just the way it was edited by will and approved by the label. A few other choice words were edited out to make it playable on radio.ö Erik's the music director at CBS Radio's WBBM-FM, Chicago.

OC Register: Firefighters kept watch on Mt. Wilson as the wildfire came within a half-mile of an observatory and the towers that provide FM radio, TV and cellular communications to the region. Radio stations broadcast advisories that if they had to switch to a transmitting site with lower power, on-air listening would be impacted.

Inside Music Media: The music industry died from self-inflicted wounds a long time ago. Failing to take Napster out when it reared its pirate's head. Failing to embrace online commerce because the labels were -- well, greedy. They didn't want to give up the album. You remember the album, don't you? Once vinyl, then plastic and about 99% of the time it gave you more of what you didn't want than what you wanted. Even when extra-cuts could be added to CDs. Who really cared?

Randy Dotinga: STATIC: Psst! Wanna buy 'Jeff & Jer'?

The Wires (Sep 2, 2009)

Gary Lycan: Firefighters kept watch on Mt. Wilson Monday and today as the wildfire came within a half-mile of an observatory and the towers that provide FM radio, TV and cellular communications to the region. Radio stations broadcast advisories that if they had to switch to a transmitting site with lower power, on-air listening would be impacted

San Diego Bits (Sep 1, 2009)

Is Blazin' 98.9 going to a format change soon? All Access reports that the on-air staff were pink slipped.

Mornings on Channel 933? Who cares?

Satellite a Censorable Word? (Sep 1, 2009)

The satellite-watchdog site quotes a report from the Arizona State University paper (The State Press, here) and is indignant that some terrestrial broadcasters are allegedly obscuring or covering over the word "satellite" in a very popular Summer hit by the Black Eyed Peas. The line goes like this - "Here we go, here we go, satellite radio." The college paper doesn't offer a source for its claim that "on some radio stations across America, the word `satellite' is censored." Nor does it say what percentage of stations might be doing that. And most of the State Press story's really about product placement mentions in pop songs, not the satellite-envy angle. OrbitCast says such word-snipping is offensive to the artist and to their intent for the song. Read its commentary.

Another Pirate Censored (Sep 1, 2009)

Most Played on Podcasts August

#1 Glenn Beck Easy Hang Up by David Tanny
#2 Dead Celebrity Tribute by Wayne Keyser
#3 Bald Guy by Nice Peter
#4 Cheetos by Paul and Storm
#5 Michael Angel's Cosmic Grab Bag by Jeff Ronay
#6 If F**ts Were Made Out of Superball Stuff by Lynn JULIAN aka CookieCutterGirl
#7 Jinx! Youre Gay! by Smart Bomb Radio
#8 Never Gonna Beat This Boss by Possible Oscar
#9 Lesbo Dog by Burle Squirrel
#10 Mac vs PC Spoof - Reagan vs Gorbachev by David Tanny

Southern California Fire Volunteer Information (Sep 1, 2009)

Chula Vista Park View Little League wins World Series (Aug 31, 2009)

Big Announcement vs. Big Announcement (Aug 31, 2009)