They said it in 2004: January
As the old year exits stage right and the New Year makes its way to center stage, we thought we'd string together a compendium of quotes which appeared in RBR during the past year. Today: Joel Hollander, David Kantor, Natalie Swed Stone, Gary Fries, Mark Mays and Michael Powell had interesting quotes in January 2004
* "We would love to do business with Crystal Media, but if they go through the back door, the door is going to slam on them. I don't like people calling me, saying 'This guy is claiming he has your inventory and is selling it as a network'." - - Infinity CEO Joel Hollander on accusations that Crystal Media Networks bought up Infinity inventory without disclosing it was going to be used for a network (1/5 RBR #1)
* "Obviously Crystal is an unknown quantity - - and they have traded early on an association with David Kantor and David's considerable credibility. But - - ultimately they are on their own and they have tripped up early - - details were not fully disclosed, nor ironed out. They presented first class and came thru with stand by." - - Natalie Swed Stone, US Director, National Radio Investment, OMD, commenting on Crystal Media Networks (1/7 RBR #3)
* "This really goes back about five years, when Jeff Smulyan from Emmis was the Chairman of the RAB. Jeff and I worked out a plan to market, truly market, the radio industry." - - RAB CEO Gary Fries on the Radio Ad Effectiveness Lab's (RAEL) future plans to better educate the industry and public about the power of radio (1/8 RBR #4)
* "They haven't been candid or forthcoming with the Commission, with poor NAB, representing all of us, and I suggest the American people. They say they're a national service with no designs on local programming. But they are edging closer and closer. Now, with that announcement yesterday out of Las Vegas, they're at the door." - - Whitney Radio President Bill O'Shaughnessy on XM's announcement it had bypassed the nationwide repeater system to provide local traffic and weather to 15 markets (1/9 RBR #5)
* "I just don't see it as a significant threat to what we do." - - Emmis Communications CEO Jeff Smulyan discussing satellite radio. (1/9/04 RBR #5)
* "They're using TrafficPulse to get the content. So TrafficPulse just killed themselves. There's no radio station in America that's going to want to work with TrafficPulse for traffic - - no terrestrial stations - - now that they're fueling their competitors." - - Westwood One CEO Shane Coppolla gives an observation on XM's Weather and Traffic service, via TrafficPulse, not too long before announcing his own weather deal with Sirius (1/12 RBR #6)
* "As both the ACLU and we have stated, the seizure of Mr. Limbaugh's private medical records without due process is not only a violation of Florida law and the Florida Constitution, but also a threat to everyone's fundamental right to privacy." - - Rush Limbaugh attorney Roy Black, on the Florida ACLU saying state law enforcement officers violated Rush's privacy rights by seizing his medical records in their criminal investigation involving alleged "doctor-shopping." (1/13 RBR #7)
* "It is as though the Federal Golf Commission, too embarrassed to admit that it wants to ban golf, declares, 'oh, you can still play golf. You just can't use golf balls.'" - - David Honig, Executive Director of the Minority Media & Telecommunications Council, on an FCC ruling he believed damaging to the FCC's distressed property sale regulations. (1/13/04 RBR #7)
* "African-American women tend to be undervalued as consumers by manufacturers and service providers, yet this population wields considerable purchasing power and influence, and a consumer goods company that acknowledges and actively courts this market stands a good change of being rewarded at the cash register." - - Packaged Facts' Don Montouri on an unrecognized group of powerful consumers. (1/20/04 RBR #12)
* "Today's wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests." RBR reprise of a 2003 John Kerry statement on the FCC ownership ruling. (1/21/04 RBR #13)
* "Putting a liberal host on opposite Rush Limbaugh's show is great for our market, and really allows us to cover the entire political spectrum. If we're starting a national trend here at Clear Channel in Grand Rapids, I'm proud it started here." - - WOOD/WTKG PD Phil Power on adding Talker Thom Hartmann to his daytime lineup. (1/21/04 RBR #13)
* "Both the policy and the process through which the big interests prevailed on this issue in the Omnibus are deeply flawed. Both are unacceptable. If anyone thinks we're going to fold our tent and go home, they can think again." Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) on passage of the backroom conference committee deal setting the national TV audience reach cap at 39%. (1/23/04 RBR #15)
* "...we continue to look to Congress to dramatically increase the enforcement penalties available to us to prosecute clear indecency violations." FCC Chairman Michael Powell, looking for a bigger Billy club on the occasion of the Bubba the Love Sponge indecency fine. (1/28/04 RBR #18)
* "We believe the time has come for every sector of the media to join together and develop consistent standards that are in tune with local community values. While the government's role is important in this area, there are limits established by the First Amendment to our Constitution. The task of developing guidelines about what is and what is not appropriate is the job of every one of us that delivers content into the home." Clear Channel President/COO Mark Mays, also on the occasion of the Bubba the Love Sponge indecency fine. (1/28/04 RBR #18)
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