FCC Slaps 'Shock Jock' Mancow for Another $21,000     11/5/2002 By Martha W. Kleder Meanwhile, He Made $3 Million and Company Made $533.8 Million Paying the Piper Shock jock Erich "Mancow" Muller has been socked with another Forfeiture Order by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The order, announced on November 1, imposes a $21,000 fine – three $7,000 fines for indecent broadcasts aired on March 6, March 7 and May 1, 2001. This is the second Forfeiture Order issued this year to Emmis Radio License Corporation, which owns WKQX-FM in Chicago, the station from which Mancow broadcasts. A $14,000 Forfeiture Order was issued on January 8, 2002, for broadcasts that aired on March 20 and May 15, 2000. This is the second Forfeiture Order issued this year to Emmis Radio License Corporation, which owns WKQX-FM in Chicago, the station from which "Mancow" broadcasts. A $14,000 Forfeiture Order was issued on January 8, 2002, for broadcasts that aired on March 20 and May 15, 2000. This action brought Emmis' FCC indecency fines to $35,000 in a year when the Indianapolis-based company reported a net revenue of $533.8 million. Muller's salary from Emmis is $3 million a year. Along with his syndicated radio show, "Mancow" is a regularly featured guest on FOX News Channel's Fox & Friends morning show. Communications attorney Arthur Belendiuk told C&F Report that broadcasters don't get the message when the FCC only imposes fines that have little impact on a station's bottom line. "The purpose of an FCC forfeiture is to tell a licensee that it did something wrong and to advise it that it needs to change its behavior," he said. "Emmis, the real culprit, has no intention of changing its behavior, because its bad behavior makes money." An August 1, 2002, press release from Emmis Communications lauds "Mancow" Muller for having Chicago's #1 rated morning show among male listeners aged 18-34. While Emmis maintains that the Mancow in the Morning show is aimed at adults, his popularity with children cannot be disputed. TARGETING SCHOOLKIDS In late October, Muller began a tour of Chicago-area schools. The Illinois Leader reported that Muller took part in Chicago Public Schools "Principal for A Day" program. That was followed by a November 1, 2002, report in the Chicago Sun-Times that Muller continued "his world tour of elementary schools and pre-schools." The paper reported that "Muller made a Halloween appearance at the Montessori School in Oak Lawn. He showed up dressed as Spiderman." "It is inconceivable to think that school officials would be willing to promote someone like shock jock 'Mancow,' whose means of livelihood isn't much different from that of a drug-dealing prostitute," said Dave Smith, executive director of Chicago's Citizens for Community Values (CCV). "In essence, that is exactly how 'Mancow' makes a living," Smith added. "His show revolves around obscene sexual rhetoric, drinking and/or recreational drug stories. His show is not only sponsored by beer and hard liquor companies, but adult book stores and strip clubs as well." Smith directs the Mancow Project for CCV and has been the complaining citizen of record in all FCC actions against Muller. At the time Muller was making his visit to the Montessori School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, he was also promoting illegal drug use, along with promiscuous sexual activity. According to a complaint filed with the FCC, Muller's show on the morning of October 31, 2002, contained the airing of a pre-recorded parody of the hit song Monster Mash. The parody, titled Monster Hash, repeated the phrase "we smoked some monster hash." Belendiuk says the promotion of illegal drug use on the public airwaves – particularly to minors –blatantly violates a broadcast licensee's public interest requirement. "The FCC prohibits radio stations from promoting or glorifying the use of illegal drugs," Belendiuk said. "Until recently, radio stations had enough restraint not to openly promote drug use on the radio. The Commission has made it clear that a radio station could lose its license for this type of broadcasting." Belendiuk noted that open promotion of illegal drugs is a trend among shock jocks nationwide. "What happens if you get one too many speeding tickets?" asked Belendiuk. "The state takes your license away. The same principle applies to FCC licenses. Fines are not enough anymore. When Emmis' licenses come up for renewal, pro-family activists should argue that Emmis has not taken its responsibilities as a licensee seriously and therefore its licenses should not be renewed. "I can guarantee you that if the FCC sets even one licensee for hearing, based on its repeated failure to comply with FCC rules and policies, there will no longer be any problem with indecent programming on the radio." Emmis owns 20 FM radio stations in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana. It also operates two radio networks and owns 15 television stations. To contact the corporate offices of Emmis Communications, write: Jeffrey H. Smulyan Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Emmis Communications One Emmis Plaza 40 Monument Circle, Suite 700, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 (317) 266-0100