community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Is WYEP heading (closer) towards a Clear Channel format?
by Chris Holm
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 7:19 AM
chris@indypgh.org (email address validated)
Public stations with same format and policies as WYEP, moving towards voice tracks, and corporate sponsorship.
With WYEP�s fall pledge drive on the horizon, an interesting interview can be found on the indie-promoter, Michele Clark�s web-page. Michele Clark, WYEP�s cage cleaner, where the majority of WYEP�s new music comes from, and where WYEP is listed on her webpage,
http://www.micheleclarkpromotion.com/slinky.html
�has an interview of one of WYEP�s sister stations in Akron, that at least admits to using her services. She even jokes that she can make your songs leap charts with a single call. This is how music gets on the air. Single individuals pushing buttons regardless of quality. This also creates a sweat shop environment for artists, who maybe work in physically better situations, yet emotionally and especially financially can make less than sweat shop workers, even negative income.
http://www.micheleclarkpromotion.com/killeradspage.html
http://www.micheleclarkpromotion.com/toons.html
(one can also see her and cohort with World Caf�s WXPN on their heads)
The interviewee is both Production manager, and Music Director, and openly admits to 100% voice tracking, which means 0% live voices. Sound familiar?
�We are 100% voice-tracked and proud of it. As a music-intensive station, without any news or talk, and a small budget, there is no reason to be any other way.�
http://www.micheleclarkpromotion.com/featuredradio.htm
This is the road Clear Channel went down, laying off DJ�s and having single individuals multi-tasking director jobs for more than one station, as they buy multiple stations per city.
They have also gone to a much more underwriter supported system which is another word for commercial sponsor. The DJ says the commercial as apposed to a recorded commercial, otherwise it�s the same. WYEP�s pledge drives have become smaller progressively lately as well.
�we're much more focused on raising money from selling underwriting and securing grants rather than constantly annoying listeners with frequent on-air begging and/or program pre-emptions typical of public broadcasting since the dawn of time.�
http://www.micheleclarkpromotion.com/featuredradio.htm
Yet public radio has always been about an independance from commercial, corporate influence, and the public sponsors were implicitly their to keep it unadulterated. It now targets a less discerning audience that isn't as socially responsible, and is less likely to dig in their own pockets to keep the station running. Now stations like WYEP and WAPS are turning to Arbitron ratings, and corporate sponsors to pay for the dumbed down programming, which is essentially just another commercial station.
As we are becoming more and more aware, it�s precisely these commercial sponsors that are ruining our mainstream media, news, and arts. Public radio was started as an alternative to commercial programming yet with it�s corporate agendas and influence over programming, it is ending up the same, yet deceptively selling itself as what it used to be.
Bait and Switch is an illegal business practice.
This pledge drive is being pre-empted by Rosemary Welsch discussing the responsibility of a public station, yet she forbid staff and volunteers from being interviewed about the stations programming, as well as refusing herself, which doesn�t sound responsible or accountable.
Not only does WYEP appear to be heading down this same road as Clear Channel, and WAPS in Akron, but it still promotes and asks it�s listeners to support Clear Channel.
Instead of moving on to a commercial station, the small group controlling the station that have denied accountability and lied, mislead and refused to provide vital programming information to those who have paid their salaries, and citizens of Pittsburgh, have turned WYEP into a virtually commercial station whose play list�s majority comes from accused pay for play indie-promoter Michele Clark, and is dominated by mainstream, chick flick, pop movie sound tracks songs.
With WYEP�s programming being easily replaceable with a computerized set list, and the Clear channel ads littering the air time, which in some markets are $2000 a pop, the Akron/Clear Channel format may be right around the corner.
It is the result of a small group of individuals disregarding a better social existence and creating only a better stance for themselves. The staff at WYEP from the General Manager on down, have been alerted to this for nearly two years, and still sit in Inscrutable positions of power, answering to no one, and refusing information that they have a legal obligation to divulge. These individuals have been given literally years to right these wrongs, and have boldly refused. It�s beyond time for reform, and time for dismissal, and an FCC ban, for these individuals, from them being on radio in the future as they have betrayed the trust of the public that owns the airwaves.
You heard me. We own the airways. They are not privately owned, nor are public institutions. On air staff as well have participated in this deception, and volunteers have admitted to withholding information to the public in order to keep their positions that keep them in free CD�s and concerts, that come out of artist�s pockets as the labels deduct the costs of this from the artists pay. The whole house needs to be cleaned out.
Although WAPS in Akron declares it�s voice over, underwriter bent, at least it is honest about it, and gives it�s listeners the truth about how their money is spent. WYEP however cons it�s members, and if asked, blatantly lies about it.
Little media word was given alerting us to Clear Channel�s encroachment until one day it was just everywhere. The Post Gazette and City Paper have both been made aware of the situation at WYEP as early as 2001 at the Post, yet no mention or critique of WYEP�s policies have graced their pages. Like doctors covering for each other in malpractice suits, they all know they all do similar garbage, and keep each other�s secrets. The only way to take back our public station from the hands of these unethical individuals is to do it ourselves.
If you think withholding your subscription, or calling in to the station will have an effect, you may be wrong. They may be relying more heavily on commercial sponsors, and that�s where any effect will be felt. Emails boycotting their sponsors like the Warhol, City Paper, Clear Channel, (like they care) Calliope, Club Caf�, Moondogs, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Big Burrito, which is in partnership with the Warhol, and includes Casbah, Mad Mex, Soba, Kaya, and Umi, are a few major targets. I�m sure there are many more, but that would require listening to the station which is really unsavory these days.
The Warhol Information@warhol.org
City Paper Editor Andy Newman anewman@steelcitymedia.com
Calliope calliope@calliopehouse.org
Club Caf� feedback@clubcafelive.com.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust http://www.pgharts.org/misc/index.cfm
Mad Mex Oakland
370 Atwood Street, at the corner of Bates
(412) 681-5656, fax (412) 622-0735
e-mail: madmex-oak@madmex.com
madmex-oak madmex.com
Mad Mex North Hills
7905 McKnight Road, across from McIntyre Square
(412) 366-5656, fax (412) 366-5872
e-mail: madmex-nh@madmex.com
madmex-nh madmex.com
Mad Mex Robinson
Robinson Plaza II, Route 60 Park Manor Drive
(412) 494-5656, fax (412) 494-5616
e-mail: madmex-robin@madmex.com
madmex-robin madmex.com
Scott Towne Center
2101 Greentree Road
(412) 279-0200, fax (412) 279-7647
e-mail: madmex-sh@madmex.com
Kaya
2000 Smallman Street in the Strip District
(412) 261-6565, fax (412) 232-1506
e-mail: kaya1@bigburrito.com
kaya1 bigburrito.com
Casbah
229 S. Highland Avenue, Shadyside
(412) 661-5656, fax (412) 661-0616
e-mail casbah1@bigburrito.com
casbah1 bigburrito.com
Soba
5847 Ellsworth Avenue, Shadyside
(412) 362-5656, fax (412) 362-6189
e-mail: soba1@bigburrito.com
soba1 bigburrito.com
Umi Japanese Restaurant
5849 Ellsworth Avenue, Shadyside
(412) 362-6198, fax (412) 362-6189
e-mail: umi@bigburrito.com
umi bigburrito.com
bBRG Management Offices
5740 Baum Boulevard
(412) 361-3272, fax (412) 361-4318
e-mail: info@bigburrito.com
info bigburrito.com
Tom Baron, President
t-baron@bigburrito.com
t-baron bigburrito.com
Cary Klein, CEO
c-klein@bigburrito.com
Gloria Roberts Sciarappa, VP Operations
g-roberts@bigburrito.com
Bill Fuller, Corporate Chef b-fuller@bigburrito.com
b-fuller bigburrito.com
Gary Terner, Catering Director
g-terner@bigburrito.com
g-terner bigburrito.com
Carolyn Fletcher, Catering
c-fletcher@bigburrito.com
c-fletcher bigburrito.com
Denita Breneman, Drop Off Lunch Coordinator
d-breneman@bigburrito.com
d-breneman bigburrito.com
Anyone knowing of others, please post, and or email me. If a favorite band or exhibit will be missed, please email artists and management of your stance about the specific institution.
Feel free to write in your own words, and sending separate emails are best. You may also use the form letter below.
To whom it may concern,
I�m informing you of my boycott of your establishment for your support of WYEP in Pittsburgh.
The staff is unaccountable to their paying members and the greater population in general.
They have willingly lied to members and citizens of Pittsburgh to conceal unethical business practices, and deceive persons out of their money who have attempted to discern whether to continue financial support.
Their play lists are composed primarily of what is widely considered bribery and kick back play lists.
Their mission statement is completely contrary to their actual behavior.
Until WYEP discontinues promotion of Clear Channel, dismisses corrupt staff members, and either changes their programming policies, or honestly describes them to the public, and openly engages dialog with it�s accusers regarding these charges, I will be boycotting any and all sponsors that contribute to the salaries of the staff, and allow the positions of the volunteers at WYEP.
To write to the FCC regarding the withdrawl of WYEP's license and/or prohibition of staff from working in radio...
http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html
Chairman Michael K. Powell: mpowell@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy: kabernat@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: mcopps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kevin J. Martin: kjmweb@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: jadelste@fcc.gov
To Obtain Information via E-mail
General information, inquiries & complaints: fccinfo@fcc.gov
Dear ,
I�m informing you about station WYEP in Pittsburgh.
The station is a public station, yet their staff is unaccountable to their paying members and the greater population in general.
They have willingly lied to members and citizens of Pittsburgh to conceal unethical business practices, and deceive persons out of their money who have attempted to discern whether to continue financial support.
Their play lists are composed primarily of what is widely considered bribery and kick back play lists, yet they claim they don't follow consolidated playlists.
Their mission statement is completely contrary to their actual behavior.
Until WYEP dismisses corrupt staff members, and either changes their programming policies, or honestly describes them to the public, and openly engages dialog with it�s accusers regarding these charges, I am requesting an investigation of the station and staff to consider their license and allowing such individuals to continue to be allowed to work in this area.
Respectfully,
For documented proof of wrong doing, please feel free to refer to me for actual correspondence by the staff of WYEP.
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