FCC Commissioner Takes On The Media and Government…

Tuesday, June, 10, 2008 by Mel Phillips.

It wasn’t the FCC Commissioner Kevin Martin but a Commissioner by the name of Jonathan Adelstein who lowered the boom in a speech Sunday night at the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis.  Adelstein leveled charges of “thinly disguised payola fueling homogenized corporate music that leaves no room for local and independent artists.”  He also took on the government by accusing the administration of paying retired military analysts “to echo the administration’s themes and messages on the Iraq war and foreign policy.”  So what’s Adelstein’s agenda you might ask.  Well for one thing, Adelstein is a self-labeled “life-long public servant” who has dedicated his career to fighting for the public interest.  For another thing his political leanings go left.  Adelstein was sworn in as a member of the FCC in 2002 and re-upped for a new five-year term in 2004.  Born and raised in South Dakota, he’s Harvard and Stanford schooled…

Politics aside, Adelstein raised some solid points during his tirade calling for “the development of new rules to clarify that sponsorship identification has to be clear and understandable.”  He also added “we need to fight product placements turning news and entertainment shows alike into undisclosed commercials.”  Like those super-sized “Coke” glasses that the “American Idol” judges chug-a-lug, commissioner?  You have to hope that we don’t see Charles Gibson take a sip out of a giant mug of “Starbucks” between stories but the way it’s going, you never know.  Good point, commissioner…

Adelstein also favors “opening up our airwaves to low-power FM stations and minority voices, restoring public interest obligations on broadcasters and protecting access channels on cable that are under siege today.”  In reading the commissioner’s remarks (available at http://www.fcc.gov/ ) I’m thinking that this guy should take part in the Performance Rights Act hearings that begin tomorrow in Washington.  You think he would want broadcasters to ante-up with artist performance fees???

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1935]  The birth of AA:  Alcoholic Anonymous  is founded by William G. Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith…
2. 1944]  Knucksie sighting:  Cincinnati pitcher Joe Nuxhall becomes the youngest major leaguer at 15 and change…
3. 1959]  Back-to-back-to-back-to-back:  Cleveland slugger Rocky Colavito becomes just the third American leaguer to hit 4 home runs in one game (against Baltimore)…
4. 1978]  Affirmed and confirmed:  Affirmed with jockey phenom Steve Cauthen wraps up the Triple Crown with a win over Alydar in the Belmont Stakes.  Affirmed is still our last Triple Crown champ…
5. 1984]  Celtic Pride:  The Boston Celtics do it again by beating the Los Angeles Lakers to take NBA title #15.  The Celts are just 2 wins away from taking title #17 now…
6. 1985]  Acquitted:  Socialite Claus von Bulow is acquitted by a jury in Providence (RI) in his second trial on charges of attempted murder of his heiress wife Martha “Sunny” von Bulow…
7. 1991]  Storming down ticker tape:  Desert Storm troops get a hero’s welcome home with a ticker tape parade down the “canyon of the hero’s” on Broadway…
8. 1991]  Motown funeral:  Michael Jackson pays for the funeral while Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin sing at the burial of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin…
9. 2002]  ‘Happy Trails’:  John Gotti dies in prison at 61 from throat cancer…2004]  The great Ray Charles passes away from liver disease at home in Beverly Hills.  Ray was 73…
10. 2005]   Bambino bling:  Babe Ruth’s original contract is auctioned off at Sotheby’s in Manhattan.  Yankee fan Pete Siegel wins the contract.  All proceeds go to America’s Second Harvest, a hunger-relief organization…

Music Memories:

• 1966]  Gold Standard:  The Mamas and Papas go gold with “Monday, Monday“…
• 1966]  The Pearl debuts:  Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company debut at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco.  Here’s Janis singing “Me and Bobby McGee“…
• 1967]  Released on this date:  “I Was Made To Love Her” - Stevie Wonder…1978]  “Life’s Been Good” - Joe Walsh…
• 1972]  Elvis takes New York:  Elvis Presley makes his first performance in New York with a press conference, which I attended and shows at Madison Square Garden, which were special.  Here’s a clip from the one I saw…

Commentary:

Off Track Betting (OTB) is about to become history in New York.  Mayor Mike Bloomberg has threatened to shut all of the city’s OTB parlors on June 16 if the state doesn’t come up with a more equitable revenue-sharing solution.  Although I only use OTB to place bets on the Triple-Crown races, it will be a damn shame if it’s shut down.  It provides enjoyment for many, a recreational outlet for some, win-or-lose.  Let’s hope that another vanishing part of old New York doesn’t disappear like a fading horse in the stretch…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”:

Tara Lipinski (26), Elizabeth Hurley (43), John Edwards (55), Jeff Greenfield (65), Shirley Owens (Shirelles) (67), F. Lee Bailey (75) and Britain’s Prince Philip (87)…

Timeline Countdown:  5 days until Father’s Day, 12 days until summer and 25 days until July 4th… 

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