Fybush: Hot 97 (87.7) raided, shut down

[DG02816]

Agree totally with WNTI. Those pirates should be blacklisted for violating FCC rules. I'd jail them, too, with heavy fines.

[mescutia]

I don't know why they just didn't go all internet in the first place. Was the tiny boost they got from that transmitter stuck in a tree really worth the headache?

I'm guessing they liked the thrill of doing something illegal.

Either that or they want to force people to listen to their crap.

[dumber than a box of hair]

I'm guessing they liked the thrill of doing something illegal.

More likely, they knew it would take a very long time to catch them, and even longer to catch them and really make it stick.  The frustrating thing is that even as pirate radio is exploding, especially in areas like NYC or south Florida, Congress keeps cutting the FCC's budget, which means that there's ever dwindling resources to catch the pirates.

Either that or they want to force people to listen to their crap.

I'm sure that plays into the mentality.  If they have a large enough ego to believe they can thumb their nose at the law, they certainly can believe that others must need to listen to what they're playing.

[MickeyD]

Marc Coleman used the host for "Time Tunnel" was one of their best radio host on HOT 87.7

i thought Skippy White was the host? now i see this post talks about "the original" Time Tunnel, vs the Skippy version? confusing.. who owns the "Time Tunnel" trademarks. 106.1? 87.7? Hot97 out of NYC? CBS? Entercomm. shame i dont have access to fybush's "Premium Content" to clear it up for me

Skippy White is still alive? He must be ancient now he used to advetise on WILD back in the 60's.

[robotique]

Yes, the bottom line is that they were illegal and were going to be shutdown.


The intricacies of the situation and how people feel about it are more wide and varied.  A lot of people (myself included, at times) perceive radio as a service and not a business.  Obviously this is wrong however perception in this case seems to dominate peoples minds rather than facts. 

Its easy for white people in the suburbs to sit and say "the format wont work because its not profitable, oh well" and not give it another thought.  Its not a big deal because their cultural interests are still being served on 85% of the remaining stations.  But just imagine if there was absolutely no rock music on the radio?  You would feel cheated and that your demographic was widely socially ignored.  When RadioOne sold Hot 97.7 my coworkers at the time (all young urban minorities) felt this and were ready to RIOT. 


So when people express an opinion other than "its the law, they should be shut down and jailed", its not that someone is ignorant of the law and the basics of an orderly society.  Its a more complex issue - its a situation that adds fuel to an ongoing social issue. 

Yes they were illegal and breaking the law.  Should they be jailed?  I dont think so.  They didn't cause anyone harm.  There are repeat drunk drivers that endanger the lives of others over and over that do not serve jail time.  People stab other people and never serve jail time.  I believe in justice, but punishments should be relative.

[WNTIRadio]

Yes they did cause harm.  Legitimate businesses put their ad dollars into an illegal operation instead of legitimate radio stations.  I know of a couple of noncomms, one in particular, that got screwed out of a lot of underwriting dollars because they went to "Hot 97".

And just because people feel under-served, doesn't mean that it's okay to set up shop and do radio without a license, paying taxes, and royalty fees.  If I feel under-served by my paycheck is it okay to walk into the bank and take what I want?

It's not a complex issue with the internet these days.  Go online, make your station.

IF you really want a radio station, I'll bet there are plenty of AM operators in the area willing to lease time to you.  The group that did HOT 97 could have easily done that and not have had the problems of being shut down.  They could have done an LMA to buy a station.  But no, it's easier to operate outside the law.

Should the jocks be jailed?  No.  Not given real radio jobs, yes.  The "owners" however should face some form of punishment other than a fine that will never be collected.  They weren't a couple high school kids running a 2 watt transmitter for a few hours on an empty frequency that will eventually become engineers (know of a few, myself included), that was a 24/7, high power operation taking business away from legitimate stations.  There's a big difference there.

And would you have wanted to be their neighbors with a few kW coming from a tree near your window??? 

[robotique]

what noncomm lost underwriting to hot97boston    i've never seen a listed underwriter of a noncomm or commercial sponser on Jamn with an address anywhere between dudley sq and mattapan sq ever.  I could be wrong though.  And maybe those stations that lost $$$ should look at why the money went to hot97boston and not them.


I agree about paying taxes.  I work with a few guys who do things like use a PO Box in Maine to register their car and car insurance.  They are scumbag tax evaders.  That pisses me off.  I'm with you 100% on this issue.

I also am not denying that they broke the law on purpose on are responsible for their actions. 

[robotique]

Yes they did cause harm.  Legitimate businesses put their ad dollars into an illegal operation instead of legitimate radio stations.  I know of a couple of noncomms, one in particular, that got screwed out of a lot of underwriting dollars because they went to "Hot 97".

I had a friend fix my car with a car part I bought online.  I paid my friend cash.  He's not going to report that cash on his taxes as income.  I suppose I vaguely interrupted the revenue stream to my regular mechanic.  Is this "harmful" ?

[Will]

Taking business away from legitimate stations?  Seems to me that many of Hot 97's advertisers bought Hot 97 because they're the only ones playing rhythmic/urban music that isn't charging Jamn's rates.  These guys weren't buying Jam'n.  It was the cheap pirate station or nothing for radio advertising for them.

[MickeyD]

maybe this will show the (Professionals) to put a "Urban AC" on a Legit station, perhaps 97.7, if they don't or can't afford radio hosts, at least put "The Touch" From Cumulus Media Network on there, or (put Funkytown 93.7 HD2 -put it on 97.7) and have some weeknight "Keith Sweat Hotel" and weekend Urban AC syndicated shows, do something. You know?

This has been discussed umpteen million times already.  If urban-AC was a viable format in the Boston market, it would already be on a licensed station.  It isn't.

Oh...did I mention that radio is a business?

Probably not viable on a 20 KW station but if there were such an animal as an LPFM in Boston it may have worked out.