Response to the Hot97 Debacle:
SUMMARY as of February 4th, 2005
Almost two weeks after the initial airing on Hot97's morning show, I'm taking a moment to debrief those who have actively helped to make our collective conscious voice heard by summarizing all that has happened since I first found out about the incident on January 21st. Initially, after the first few days, word had spread to only a few reporters and journalists around the world and the news was largely unnoticed but by a few local news stations in the US, but as time passed, the voice speaking up against Hot97's actions only grew louder, resonating with support from all walks of life. There are now over 50,000 signatories to the initial petition, which represented only the first step in the campaign to create global awareness of the incident. News outlets such as the BBC, BET, MuchMusic, FOX, the WB, and CNN have all either done news features investigating the incident or have actively discussed the incident on air. In addition, a heated rally took place in NYC on Jan 28th, seeing hundreds of citizens and media unite in the streets to protest the recent atrocities committed by the radio station despite the freezing cold. Amongst those who have spoken out avidly about the matter are various NYC councilmen, who have demanded that yet more serious punishments are handed down to the radio stations from the governing bodies.
So far, as a result of ALL of these actions against Hot97:
- Todd Lynn (co-host of the Morning Show) has been terminated for his involvement in the production of the offensive song, and for his racially insensitive comments on air.
- Rick Delgado (producer of the Morning Show) has been terminated for his role in writing, producing, and airing the "Tsunami Song." Delgado is basically being blamed for a lot of what Miss Jones is believed to actually have been responsible for.
- Miss Jones (who "didn't write the song" and "didn't wish to play the song" - ha ha ha, right), DJ Envy, and Tasha Hightower have been suspended for two weeks ending Feb 9th, with their salaries during the suspension period going towards the relief effort in Southeast Asia. Miss Info was not suspended. Miss Jones has also apologized on air multiple times for her misdirection and poor discretion.
- Emmis Communications, owner of the Hot97 radio station, has offered to donate an additional million dollars to the Give2Asia relief fund. Councilman John Liu is apparently demanding that the corporate giant Emmis donate 10 million instead.
- Coca-Cola, Toyota, Reebok, H&R Block, and Babies R Us have ALL WITHDRAWN their ads from the radio station. Other sponsors like Spring and McDonalds have expressed their dissatisfaction with the station's actions and have withdrawn their support from the Morning Show segment only.
If you still haven't spoken up against the radio station and would like to, you can still contribute by either signing and spreading the petition @ http://www.petitiononline.com/endhate/petition.html
You can find alternative ways to contact the station's sponsors or the FCC @ http://www.hiphopmusic.com/
Peace,
Prizm
http://www.emceeprizm.com/
SUMMARY as of February 4th, 2005
Almost two weeks after the initial airing on Hot97's morning show, I'm taking a moment to debrief those who have actively helped to make our collective conscious voice heard by summarizing all that has happened since I first found out about the incident on January 21st. Initially, after the first few days, word had spread to only a few reporters and journalists around the world and the news was largely unnoticed but by a few local news stations in the US, but as time passed, the voice speaking up against Hot97's actions only grew louder, resonating with support from all walks of life. There are now over 50,000 signatories to the initial petition, which represented only the first step in the campaign to create global awareness of the incident. News outlets such as the BBC, BET, MuchMusic, FOX, the WB, and CNN have all either done news features investigating the incident or have actively discussed the incident on air. In addition, a heated rally took place in NYC on Jan 28th, seeing hundreds of citizens and media unite in the streets to protest the recent atrocities committed by the radio station despite the freezing cold. Amongst those who have spoken out avidly about the matter are various NYC councilmen, who have demanded that yet more serious punishments are handed down to the radio stations from the governing bodies.
So far, as a result of ALL of these actions against Hot97:
- Todd Lynn (co-host of the Morning Show) has been terminated for his involvement in the production of the offensive song, and for his racially insensitive comments on air.
- Rick Delgado (producer of the Morning Show) has been terminated for his role in writing, producing, and airing the "Tsunami Song." Delgado is basically being blamed for a lot of what Miss Jones is believed to actually have been responsible for.
- Miss Jones (who "didn't write the song" and "didn't wish to play the song" - ha ha ha, right), DJ Envy, and Tasha Hightower have been suspended for two weeks ending Feb 9th, with their salaries during the suspension period going towards the relief effort in Southeast Asia. Miss Info was not suspended. Miss Jones has also apologized on air multiple times for her misdirection and poor discretion.
- Emmis Communications, owner of the Hot97 radio station, has offered to donate an additional million dollars to the Give2Asia relief fund. Councilman John Liu is apparently demanding that the corporate giant Emmis donate 10 million instead.
- Coca-Cola, Toyota, Reebok, H&R Block, and Babies R Us have ALL WITHDRAWN their ads from the radio station. Other sponsors like Spring and McDonalds have expressed their dissatisfaction with the station's actions and have withdrawn their support from the Morning Show segment only.
If you still haven't spoken up against the radio station and would like to, you can still contribute by either signing and spreading the petition @ http://www.petitiononline.com/endhate/petition.html
You can find alternative ways to contact the station's sponsors or the FCC @ http://www.hiphopmusic.com/
Peace,
Prizm
http://www.emceeprizm.com/
