Stern returns, meets with Hollander
Howard Stern returned from his one day suspension yesterday opening the show with a montage of songs which included Led Zeppelin's ''Babe I'm Gonna Leave You'' and ''I'm Free,'' ''Hey, hey, hey goodbye,'' ''The end of the innocence'' (Don Henley), ''This is the end'' (The Doors), ''Seen the Lights go out on Broadway'' (Billy Joel), ''I Feel Free'' (Cream) and ''American Idiot'' (Green Day).
He then discussed a meeting about his suspension over too many on-air mentions of Sirius with Infinity CEO Joel Hollander. As we figured, it may get legal soon (11-8 RBR #219).
Stern mentioned he received another legal letter about what he can and can't say about Sirius on his show and said, "This doesn't feel right, it feels like you guys are preparing a case against me."
More from the meeting, from Stern site Marksfriggin.com
...Howard got up the next day and went to this meeting with Joel and his agent but they had a problem setting up the meeting spot. They had to find a neutral ground because Howard wouldn't go to Joel's office and Joel wouldn't go to Howard's apartment. They agreed to go to a restaurant called The Beacon instead. He said it was almost like a scene out of The Godfather. The meeting actually went pretty well at first. Don (Howard's agent) started it off and remained calm.
Joel apparently got loud and upset about the stuff Howard said about him on the air and about the promotion of the new place. Howard said he stayed quiet through most of the meeting but eventually said that this was all stupid and he only has 22 shows left to do on the air. He said he's happy with whoever replaces him and doesn't feel competitive with any of them. He told Joel that it's been a great thing working for Infinity for the past 20 years. The show was successful, the company was successful and they were able to merge with CBS. He said he was fine with everything until they (Infinity) took out a full page ad [in AdAge] where they bashed him and his show. He doesn't get the hard feelings coming from Joel and the rest of the company. He knows they have to make new plans but he's not leaving because he doesn't like the company.
Howard says he's leaving the company because he can't do the show he wants to do due to the FCC and the way he's not allowed to speak like an adult. Joel apparently told Howard that he thinks he's a great radio personality so Howard asked him to just say that instead of bashing him in their advertising. Howard also told Joel that this whole satellite thing is it's infancy and it's not a threat to terrestrial radio (at this time).
Joel was kind of upset about the things Howard said about him so Howard had to explain to him that he does that when his back is up against the wall. Joel thought that Howard had wished cancer on him but Howard wasn't sure he did that... but he doesn't actually have the power to give him cancer, so he shouldn't be so worried about it. He was also saying that he doesn't have the ability to expand his show on terrestrial radio so that's why he's leaving.
Howard said that his listeners are fascinated by his life and they want to know what his plans are. He thought he was operating in a way that didn't promote the new service but he would look at it and change things if he has to. Joel asked Howard not to pre-promote things on Sirius so Howard agreed not to do that. He said Joel told him that he can let callers comment on the stuff after it's happened but no promotion of the stuff.
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