http://www.ink19.com/news/2003/35/345.htmlNEGATIVLAND PRANKS CLEAR CHANNEL, FORCES RADIO FORMAT CHANGE
An online media prank has changed the programming of a major market Clear Channel FM radio station.
Seattle's KJR-FM, a Clear Channel radio affiliate, quickly and quietly altered its playlist, following an amusing online tirade accusing the station and its Program Director of "false advertising."
Negativland, known for their media-critiquing music collage and culture jamming hoaxes and pranks, outed KJR-FM on charges that it played at least 114 different songs from the early to mid-1980's, despite marketing themselves as being a "Just the Greatest Hits of the '60's and '70's" radio station. Negativland members noticed that it was virtually impossible to listen for even a short period of time without hearing hits from such quintessential 80's artists as Huey Lewis and the News, Air Supply, Men at Work, Cyndi Lauper, and many others. KJR recently pushed the envelope further by adding "Kokomo," a 1988 hit by The Beach Boys.
In a moment of maniacal inspiration, Negativland decided to point out this ridiculous deception by sabotaging the public's perception of the station. The group created an online rebuffing of Clear Channel, KJR-FM, and KJR Program Director Bob Case, in a tabloid-style internet magazine parody, complete with damning evidence and scathing audio commentary. Disguised as the abrasive, misguided and over-the-top outlaw media journalist "Jack Diekobiscz", Negativland cited Clear Channel's contempt for its listeners and willingness to lie and re-write music history for profit. Negativland claims their stunt was an obtuse and funny way to draw attention to Clear Channel's much-criticized involvement in the general dumbing-down and homogenization of radio as the company, with the blessings of the FCC, continues to gobble up station after station across the USA.
Timing of the event added injury to insult. Negativland's expose was unveiled August 10th on the eve of a massive promotion by Clear Channel to improve KJR's continued poor ratings. Popular local celebrity Pat Cashman was poised to make a much-heralded debut as KJR's new morning announcer, with festivities that included a high-profile live broadcast at the base of Seattle's famous Space Needle. Pat Cashman is well known across the country as the co-star of Disney's "Bill Nye the Science Guy," and had a series on Comedy Central a few years ago. In Seattle, Pat is a phenomenon with a huge fan-base known as "The Pat Pack."
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