petition to deny renpetition to deny: wqht hot 97 broadcast license renewalewal scrubbed

8/12/2019 Petition to Deny RenPetition to Deny: WQHT Hot 97 Broadcast License Renewalewal Scrubbed

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2/24

PETITIONTODENYRENEWALOFSTATIONLICENSEWQHTHot97

SUMMARY

PursuanttoSection309(d)(1)oftheCommunicationsAct,NewYorkareajournalistandradio

host,writingas,andprofessionallyknownasMannyFacesrespectfullysubmitsthispetitionto

denyrenewaloftheabovementionedapplication.

MannyFacesisfounder,ownerandeditorinchiefofBirthplaceMagazine,aninternetbased

publicationfoundedin2008withafocusonNewYorkHipHopmusicandculture,and

creator/hostofTheNYHipHopReport,aweekly,internetbasedtalkradioprogramfoundedin

2012whichfocusesonissuespertainingtotheNewYorkHipHopmusicandculturelandscape.

MannyFacesisasavidlistenertoWQHTHot97,aswellasanadvocatejournalistwhoanalyzes,

critiquesandprovidescommentaryonHipHopmusicandculture,withafocusontheNew

Yorkmetropolitanareaandadditionalfocusonthemedia.

AsWQHTHot97purportstobeWhereHipHopLives,WhereHipHopLivesinNewYork

andThemostimportantHipHopradiostationintheworld,andMannyFacesisajournalist

whocoversHipHopmusicandculturewithintheNewYorkmetropolitanarea,MannyFaces

fulfillstheobligationnecessarytosubmitsuchapetition,provingstandingandmorethana

passinginterestinthebroadcaststatusofWQHTHot97.

Asfurtherdemonstratedinthispetition,grantofthisapplicationisprimafacieinconsistent

withthepublicintereststandardsetforthinSection309(a)oftheCommunicationsAct.

Accordingly,theapplicationofWQHTshouldbedesignatedforhearing.


3/24

INTRODUCTION

ThispetitionchallengestherenewalofthebroadcastlicenseforradiostationHot97,

operatingunder

the

call

letters

WQHT,

based

in

New

York

City.

This

challenge

is

based

on

the

assertionthattheradiostationfailstoserveintheinterestofthepublicitclaimstorepresent.

Specifically,WQHT,whichbillsitselfasthestationWhereHipHopLives,doesnotoperateina

mannerconsistentwithservicingtheHipHopcommunity,particularlyasitrelatestothe

regionwithinthestationsbroadcastrange.

WQHTANDHIPHOP

Anenormousamountofbranding,marketingandonairverbiagerevolvesaroundWQHTHot

97beingthemediaoutletofrecordforHipHop.Infact,initsfrequentlyutilizedtagline,

WQHTHot97definitivelypositionsitselfastheplaceWhereHipHopLives,asevidencedby

usageinthefollowinglocations:

Visualheaderofstationwebsite WhereHipHopLives Titletagofstationwebsite,www.hot97.com WhereHipHopLives Titletagofstationsinternetlivestream,www.hot97.com/streamhot/index.aspx

WhereHipHopLives

TitleofstationsentryoniHeartRadioBroadcastapp WhereHipHopLivesinNewYork

Radiopromotionalspots NewYorksHipHopandR&B


4/24

RepresentativesofWQHTHot97repeatedlymakepublicclaimsthatsuggestWQHTHot97is

synonymouswithHipHop,makingnoattemptstodifferentiatebetweenHipHopasaculture

andHipHopmusic,whichismoreaccuratelyknownasrapmusic.

Thereisnodenyingthatbasedonplaylists,stationcontent,subjectmatter,guests,DJsand

personalities,thatWQHTHot97isanadequatepurveyorofrapmusic,however,thestation

exhibitsagrossmisrepresentation,andegregiouslackofregardforHipHop theculture

despiteitscavalierusageandoverrelianceontheterm.

HIPHOPCULTURE,DEFINED

WhileauniversallyaccepteddefinitionofHipHopisimpossibletosource,thereisplentyof

deeprootedevidencetoassertthatHipHop,bydefinition,referstomorethanagenreof

music,butrather,anencompassingculture,orattheveryleast,asubculture.

First,letsexaminethewordculture.MerriamWebsterdefinescultureinthefollowing

ways:1

thebeliefs,customs,arts,etc.,ofaparticularsociety,group,place,ortime aparticularsocietythathasitsownbeliefs,waysoflife,art,etc. awayofthinking,behaving,orworkingthatexistsinaplaceororganization

LetsthenexaminehowHipHopisdefined:

1http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/culture


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AmercianHeritageDictionary2

Anurbanyouthcultureoriginatinginthe1980sinNewYorkCity,involvingsuchforms

ofexpressionashiphopmusic,bboying,andgraffitiart.Oforcharacteristicofhiphop

culture.

EncyclopaediaBritannica3

Althoughwidelyconsideredasynonymforrapmusic,thetermhiphopreferstoa

complexculturecomprisingfourelements:deejaying,orturntabling;rapping,also

knownas

MCing

or

rhyming;

graffiti

painting,

also

known

as

graf

or

writing;

and

Bboying,whichencompasseshiphopdance,style,andattitude

HarvardDictionaryofMusic4

Whileoftenusedtorefertorapmusic,HipHopmoreproperlydenotesthepracticesof

anentiresubculture.AndfurtheracademicdescriptionsofHipHop

TheHiphopArchive&ResearchInstituteatHarvardUniversity5

TheHiphopArchive&ResearchInstituteworkswithothergroupsandindividualswho

supporthiphopculture.

2http://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=hip+hop3http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/266545/hip hop/288175/Originsandtheoldschool4http://bit.ly/1lmdjIo5http://hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu/hiphoparchiveresearchinstitute


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CornellUniversity6

ThemissionoftheCornellHipHopCollection(CHHC)istocollectandmakeaccessible

thehistoricalartifactsofHipHopcultureandtoensuretheirpreservationforfuturegenerations.

Yale TheEvolutionofRapMusicintheUnitedStatesbyHenryA.Rhodes7

OnecannotstudyAmericanrapmusicwithoutstudyingwhatisknownastheHipHopculture.Rapisanintegralpartofthissubculturethatdidnotevolveorexistinisolationfromitsothermajorcomponents.Thus,oneofmyunitobjectiveswillbetonotonlydiscussandstudyrapmusicbutalsotheothermajorpartsofthissubculture.

HipHopculturewasalsocomprisedofgraffiti,breakdancing,andtheattitudeanddressofthepeoplewhosubscribedtothemoresandtraditionsofthissubculture.

Further,inthewordsofthemanwhoiswidelyregardedasoneofthefoundingfathersofHip

Hop:

AfrikaBambaataa8

HipHopmeansthewholecultureofthemovement..RapispartoftheHipHopculture..Theemceeing,theDJingispartoftheHipHopculture.Thedressing,the

languagesareallpartoftheHipHopculture.Thebreakdancing,thebboys,bgirls..

Howyouact,walk,look,talkareallpartofHipHopculture.

6http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/hiphop/7http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/4/93.04.04.x.html8http://www.daveyd.com/whatisbam.html


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Andlastly,asuccinctsynopsisfromoneofHipHopsearlyandlongestlastingparticipants,who

haslectured,spokenonandadvocatedforthepreservationofHipHopculturefordecades:

KRSOne

Rapissomethingyoudo.Hiphopissomethingyoulive.9HipHopcametobeasaconfluenceofbeliefs,waysoflifeandartisticexpression,and

contrarytosomepopularbelief,continuestoincorporatemuchmorethanmerelythemusic

thatisassociatedwithit.

ItiswiththismindthattheuseofthetermHipHopmustbequestionedinconjunctionwith

promotionandmarketingofWQHTHot97,andtheamount,orlackthereof,ofattentionthat

thestation,asapropertyentrustedtoprovidecontentinthepublicinterest,isprovidingto

thatcommunityandconstituencymustbequestionedaswell.

EVIDENCEOFAPURPOSEFULAVOIDENCETOSUPPORTHIPHOPCULTURE

TherearemanyexamplesofwaysthatWQHTHot97ignoresthebreadthanddepthofHipHop

culture.Thereisevidencetoshowthataconcertedeffortismadetocaterbroadcastcontent

andstationoperationstoonlythatwhichisprofitable,orthatwhichthestation,orits

surrogates,have

afinancial

stake

in.

9http://rapgenius.com/Krsonehiphopvsraplyrics#note1317463


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Yet,thestationclaimsalliancewithandleadershipoftheentireHipHopculture.Despitethis

claim,thescopeofcontent,musicandotherwise,fallsextremelyshortofrepresentingthe

publicinterestofthecommunityitislicensedtoserve,evenasadditionalevidence

demonstratesthatthestationanditsrepresentativesareawareofthatobligation.

FromalengthyinterviewontheCombatJackShowpodcast10withWQHTHot97sEbro

Darden,whowasProgramDirectoratthetime:

EbroDarden:Whenyourelisteningtotheradiostation,everysongthatgetsplayedis

an

investment

in

the

airtime.

This

corporation

bought

the

license

from

the

FCC

to

broadcast,ownsthisfrequency,courtesyoftheFCCandthefederalgovernment,and

hasbeenlicensedtogooutandgetadvertiserstospendmoneybasedonairtime.So12

to14minutesofeveryhouronthisradiostation,isworthmoney.Sothentheyusethe

musictocaptureacertainaudience,sothattheycansellthataudienceto[advertisers].

SowhiletheconversationisaboutHipHop,becauseyouinHipHop,andalotofculturalradio,youhavewhatwecall,like,aresponsibilityCuzZ100dontgiveafuck.Z100playsthebiggestrecords,getstheirmoneyandnobodysaystoZ100how

comeyourenotbreakinglocalacts..

DJBenHaMeen:Hiphopisdifferentthanrockandotherformsofmusic.Hiphophas

alwaysrepresentedthepeople

EbroDarden:Yes.

10http://thecombatjackshow.com/show/theebrodardeninterview


9/24

DJBenAhMeen:Andespeciallyinitsearlystages,like[PublicEnemys]ChuckDs

quote,ItsCNNforblackpeople

EbroDarden:Mmhmm.

DJBeAhMeen:Andnow..

EbroDarden:Butyoureexpectingabusinesstocareaboutwhatyouretalking

about

DallasPenn:Weare!Wereexpectingacorporationtosay,Partofthereasonwhy

wevebecomerich,becomeempowered,isbecausewevetakenthiscultural

movementandwevecapitalizedonit.

EbroDarnen:Mmhmm.AndtheywillsayYeah,butwedo.Wedo.Youresayingwe

dontdoitenough.

DallasPenn:Yeah!

EbroDarden:Yeah.

DallasPenn:Yeah!

CombatJack:WhatIseeitthat,whatisplayingnow,thedangeris,itsdamagingthe

culture.Itsessentiallydamagingtheculture.

EbroDarden:Yes.

CombackJack:Youtweetedearlierthisweek,Whatarewefightingfor?Oneofthe

thingsImfightingforisthatwhathappenedtoKISS(98.7KISSFMalongstanding


10/24

stationcateringtotheolder,blackdemographicwhichwasboughtoutbyDisney/ESPN)

doesnthappentoHot97.Themusicbecomessoculturallyirrelevant,thatattheend

ofthedayitgetsboughtout

Mr.DardenthenproceedtoexplainthatKISSFMandWBLS,theotherNewYorkstationthat

cateredtoasimilardemographic,werefightingforthesameaudience,andthatitmade

financialsensetocombinethetwostations,keepingitundertheWBLSbannertopreserve

thelegacyoftheblackownedstation.Thosestations,Dardenexplained,recognizedthevalue

ofservingtheircommunity.WBLSistheheritage,blackownedradiostation,Dardenstated.

TheydecidedtokeeptheWBLSbrandalivebecauseitrepresentedblackownership,it

representedblackcommunityandlegacy.[Theysaid,]Wecanthavetheblackownedradio

stationinmarketnumberonebetheonetogoaway.

ThisdemonstratesthatMr.Darden,andbyextension,themanagementofWQHTHot97,

understandstheconceptthataradiostationcan,andshould,meansomethingmoretothe

communitythanjustaplaylist.

Infact,laterinthesameinterview,CombatJackbroughtupamorepointedquestion,

specificallyregardingtheabilityandwillingnessforWQHTHot97todomoreintheinterestof

theHipHopcommunity:

CombatJack:

You

made

aquote

in

2009:

[New

York

City]

is

unique

culturally,

which

allowsustoplaymusicandtalkaboutthingsotherstationscannot.RadioinNewYorkCityhasalwaysbeenmorethanjustajukebox.Youhavetobeaboutsomethingmorethanmusictobesuccessfulhere.


11/24

EbroDarden:Thatsright.

CombatJack:Howdoesthatstandtoday?

EbroDarden:

Today

Ifeel

like

were

out

of

whack.

But

the

reason

were

having

this

discussionisbecauseIwanttoseewhostandsup.Iwanttoseeit.

Laterinthatinterview,whenaskedifthestationwouldberecognizingtheinductionofPublic

EnemyintotheRockandRollHallofFame,Ebroclearlyacknowledgedthatthestationindeed

hasanobligationtosupportthelargerspectrumofHipHopmusicandculture,while

admittingthat

there

may

be

avoid

in

fulfilling

that

obligation.

He

also

sounded

fairly

untroubledbyit,partiallydeflectingtheresponsibility:

EbroDarden:TheresbeenthingsthatHot[97]sdoneinthepasttosupportwhatever.I

saythattosaythatyoudonthavetobeontheradiotohaveacareerandmatterinHip

Hop.Andifpeoplearewillingtodoworkandbeaboutsomeshit,youregonnaget

yours.Its

gonna

come

to

you

whether

or

not

Hot

[97]

supports

you

or

not.

Iunderstand

itstheHipHopstationinNewYorkandwehaveanobligationWetrytofillthatobligation.Tosomepeopleitssatisfactory,toothers,itsnot.Werecomfortablewiththat.

Furtherareexamplesthatdemonstratetheideathatthestationisinfactnotfulfillingthat

obligation,knowingly

choosing

to

focus

on

only

one

aspect

of

Hip

Hop

culture,

the

music,

and

anevennarrowerstrainwithinthatfocus,whileneglectingotheraspects,includingalargepool

ofuntappedmusic,butalsonews,events,activeparticipantsandgeneralmembersofthe

publictheypurporttoserve,theHipHopcommunity.


12/24


13/24

MikeEppsAccusedOfPunchingAWomanInTheFaceAtTheHauntedHouse2Premiere!

AugustAlsinaSays106th&ParkGotHimLookingLikeTheBadGuy&He'sNotToBePlayedWith![VIDEO]

ChelseaClintonAnnouncesShe'sExpectingHerFirstChildWithHillaryClinton! T.I.DebutsNewMusicAtBMIShowcaseInAtlanta[Video] 50CentSureKnowsHowToPickEm'!Baby'sMotherDaphneJoyStuntsPoolsideIn

VegasAndHerBodyIsSpectacular

NewMusic:FutureFt.Andre3000 'BenzFriendz'(Whatchutola)[Audio]Ofthislist,thefollowingaretheonlystoriesthatcontaininformationofrelevancetotheNew

YorkHipHopcommunity:

ListenToNittyScottMCsNewTrackFengShui[AUDIO] JayElectronicaSetToPerformThisSummerInNYCForTheFirstTimeInYears! 50CentSureKnowsHowToPickEm'!Baby'sMotherDaphneJoyStuntsPoolsideIn

VegasAndHerBodyIsSpectacular

However,NittyScott,MCwasarecentperformerontheHot97WhosNextconcertseries.Jay

ElectronicasperformancewillbeattheBrooklynHipHopFestival,whichWQHTHot97has

been

a

sponsor

of

in

the

past,

and

50

Cent

will

be

a

performer

at

the

stations

Summer

Jam.

Thus,thenewssectionofthesitedoesnexttonothingtoservethepublicinterestoftheHip

Hopcommunity.


14/24

Whilethisisameresnapshot,thetruthisthatthevastmajorityofinformationdisplayed

throughouttheWQHTHot97websitefocusesonthegeneralentertainmentindustryand

gossip.TheremaininginformationandoccasionalHipHoprelatedcontentisseemingly

presentedonlyinconjunctionwithafinancialconnectionbetweenthestationandtheparties

involved.

Whilethisiscompletelysuitableforanyforprofitradiostation,itprovidesfurtherevidence

thatWQHTHot97doesnotappreciate,orpurposefullyignores,thegreaterculturalrelevance

ofHipHopasdemonstratedbyathoroughlackofsuchintheireditorialcoverage.

LACKOFSUPPORTFORTHENEWYORKHIPHOPCOMMUNITY

Onseveraloccasions,representativesofWQHTHot97havegoneonrecordwithresounding

remarks,disparagingthelocalHipHopmusicscene.Again,ProgramDirectorEbroDarden:

OnmytimelineonTwitterallyouguysjumpontheresaying,Yo,youshouldbeplayingmoreNewYorkhiphopYousitaroundonyourlittleFacebookpage,onyourlittle

YouTubechannel,sharingthoughtsaboutrecords,butyoudontgooutandexperience

hiphopandsharetheexperiencewithanyone,andthenyouexpectpeopletobeinto

NewYorkhiphopTheresnoclubs.Theresnorappersworkingtogether.Great

musicsnotbeingmade.11

11https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxKT7jMJBSc


15/24

PeterRosenberg:B.DotfromRapRadar.comwasaskingthequestiontoEbro,AsthegatekeeperatHot97,asthemanwhomakesthedecisions,whyareyouplayingallthe

wack,outoftowngarbagemusic?WhatsupwithHot97supportinggood,local

undergroundhiphop?

EbroDarden:Oh,sohewants,like,[Brooklynrapgroup]FlatbushZombies?[Veteran

Brooklynartist]SeanPrice?Oh,thatswhathewants?Hewants[Bronxartist]Denzil

Porter?[Brooklyns]JoeyBadass?Yeah,no,wesupportthoserecords,butthosearefor

theminorleaguesrightnow.WeputthemonRosenbergsRealLateshowuntilthey

makeittoprimetime.Hot97sliketheNFL,itsliketheNBA.Youdontjustgetaslot,

youearnaslot.Youdoyourwork.Smokingweedinthestudiowithyourboys,putting

outrecords,aintgonnagetit,B.Itsfun.Itscute.Butyougottagetthepeoplemoving.

Yougottagetthepeopletalking.Andwhenyoudothat,youstartgettinglooks.12

EbroDarden:ThereasonHot97doesnottakerisks,thesamewayitusedtohappeninthe

90s,

is

because

Clear

Channel

radio

has

commoditized

radio

to

the

point

where

whenwetakeariskonarecord,theresnobodyelsecaringinthecityButtheysay

theyreHipHopTheydontbreakanymusic[oncompetingradiostationPower105.1]

becauseitsasyndicatednationalprogramthatdoesnotcareaboutlocalmusic.Until

thepeopleinNewYorkwhosaythattheyrehiphop,cometothetableandstart

breakingmusic

for

New

York

and

New

York

artists

start

making

songs

that

are

good

to

great whicharentthere Andradioisdifferentnowbecauseoffragmentation.Im

notgoingtotakearisk,whenIknowtheaudienceisspreadouteverywhere.Imgoing

12https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTSfCdkzLzg


16/24

tofocusonthemainstream,becausethatsgoingtogetmethebestratings,andthe

mostmoney.13

BasedonseveralyearsintimatelycoveringtheNewYorkhiphopmusicsceneasajournalist,it

isabundantlyclearthatthesefactorsadisdainforlocalmusic,aninsistenceonplayingonly

themusicwhichgarnersthemostratings,notplayinglocalmusicbecauseanotherstation

wontfollowsuitdemonstratealackofservingintheinterestofthelocalHipHopmusic

scene.

While

WQHT

Hot

97

has

no

requisite

obligation

to

place

any

particular

artist

into

prime

time

rotation,thecommentsmadeacknowledgethatthereisapublicoutcryformorelocal

representation,anoutcryfallingondeafearsorbeingsubjectedtoanunattainablethreshold.

Despitetheseexamples,andinresponsetotheaforementionedcriticismfromthepublic,

representativesofthestationoftenprofessthestationseffortstosupporttheNewYorkHip

Hopcommunity

at

large.

Evidencehasnotbeenverystrong.

DespitearegularconcertseriestitledWhosNext?whichpurportstobeabreedingground

forlocalraptalent,fewartistswhoparticipatereceiveanyfurtherattentionfromWQHTHot

97.UnsignedartistsinthepastfewmonthshaveincludedCharlieRED,MelaMachinko,Ms.J

Lynn,Ak

69,

Bishop

Nehru,

Yungstar

63,

Travi$

Scott,

Doley

Bernays,

Apollo

The

Great,

Doug

E.

FreshkinTripsNSlim,Gliffics,Tijon,NittyScottMC,RugzD.Bewler,noneofwhich,noteven

13https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQtIaNKKjZY


17/24

AtlanticRecordssigneeDymeADuzin,canberegularlyheardonHot97airwaves,norseenon

stageaspartofmajorconcerteventssuchasWQHTHot97sannualSummerJamevent.

In2013,thestationtoutedanallNYartistlineupforthesecondaryfestivalstageattheir

massiveSummerJamevent,inasupposedefforttoshowsupportfortheNYareaHipHop

artistcommunity.Itwasfairlycurious,however,thatoutoftheeightperformersscheduledto

performatthatevent,sixwererepresentedbyasingularrepresentative,TheAgencyGroup,a

bookingandpublicitycompany.Aseventhartist,TroyAve.,receivesainexplicably

disproportionateamountofmentionandsupportbyradiopersonnel(radioappearanceon

February22,2013,SummerJam2013appearance,radioappearanceonSeptember22,2013,

mentioninOctober15,2013JuanEpsteinpodcastdiscussion,radioappearanceonNovember7,

2013,radioappearanceonJanuary26,2014,mentionduring50Centinterview,April15,2014,

multipleappearancesatWQHTHot97orchestratedWhosNext?concerts).Whilesuch

imbalancedattentionwouldconceivablyraisearedflaginofitself,TroyAve.stillhasnot

bubbleduptoreachmainstreamairplay,despiteseeminglyfulfillingtheobligationsDarden

setforthinhisearlierdescribeddiatribe.

Takenasawhole,allofthesestatementsandincidentsmakethestationsassertionof

supportingthelocalartistcommunityseemmuchlessgenuine.

Muchmoretroublinghowever,isacontinuationofthestationsfocusonlyonrapmusic,and

itsindifferencetothebreadthofHipHopculturetheyclaimtorepresent.Equallyimportantto

theoverallartisticexpressivenessofHipHopculture,areartformssuchasgraffiti,BboyandB


18/24


19/24

2/9/14Instanthookupsvs.truelove 1/26/14Shootingsvs.school:ViolenceinNewark

While

the

3/3/14

episode

was

directly

relatable

to

Hip

Hop,

it

again

demonstrated

the

fact

that

WQHTHot97doesnotplacevalueinanyaspectofHipHopcultureasidefromthemusic.

Whilethereisnodebatethattheseareextremelyimportanttopicsworthdiscussingwiththe

WQHTHot97listeningaudience,theattentiontoHipHopasaculture,andthemanyissues

thatdirectlyfacethoseinvolvedinthemanyaspectsofNewYorkHipHop,arenearly non

existent.

SomerecentexamplesofmajormilestonesandeventsintheNewYorkHipHopcommunity

thatcouldhavebenefittedifWQHTHot97wasproperlyservingtheirpublicsinterest:

Wheninternationallyknown,LongIslandCitygraffitiMecca5Pointzwasfacingeviction,supporterswereurgingthepublictopetitiontheCityandattendCityCouncil

meetingstoassistinthecause.

Hiphopcultureiscelebrating40yearsofexistence.OnoneoftheunofficialanniversariesofHipHop,afoundingfather,DJKoolHerc,whoisstillaliveand

participatinginHipHopeventsinNewYorkCityandaroundtheworld,receivedlittle

morethanapassingmention.Theoccasionwasmarkedwithlittlemorethanaspecial

mixby

radio

DJs.

YearlyeventssuchastheRockSteadyCrewanniversary,acelebrationofalltheelementsofHipHopandthecontinuingeffortsoftheworldrenownedorganization,are

conductedwithnomention,nosupport,noobviousattendancebyWQHTHot97.


20/24

HiphoppioneershavebeenrepeatedlyrecognizedbyNewYorkCity,includingaproclamationgiventoVideoMusicBoxiconandtelevisionpioneerRalphMcDaniels,

andHipHoppioneersincludingAfrikaBambaataa,GrandmasterCaz,MelleMel,Grand

WizardTheodore,CutmanLG,RockyBucano,JorgePopmasterFabelPabon,PeteDJ

JonesandKurtisBlowwererecentlyhonoredwithproclamationscelebratingtheirrole

inlaunchingaglobalculturalrevolution.14

Smallandmediumsized,nonprofitorganizationswhocatertoservingNewYorkCitycitizens,particularlyitsyouth,throughHipHop,suchastheRebelDiazArtsCollective,

MommasHipHopKitchen,UrbanArtBeat,FreshPrep,UrbanWordNYC,are

continuouslyoperatingwithouteverreceivingassistancefromtheCityspurported

homeforHipHop.

Inadditiontothesemilestoneeventsandinspiringorganizations,therearecountlessotherHip

Hoprelatedevents,concerts,seminars,panels,exhibitions,performances,etc.,thatoccurin

theNewYorklisteningarea,manyofwhichwouldbeconsideredofinteresttothegeneralHip

Hoplisteningpublic.However,thestationforNewYorkHipHoptypicallydoesnotseefitto

speakon,announce,coverorotherwisegivecredencetosuchevents.

Inaddition,theWQHTHot97websitecommunitypages,containingPublicService

Announcementsandvariouslinksleadingtoinformation,educationarticles,ascholarship

applicationthroughthestationsHipHopHasHeartfoundation,etc.,arealloutdated.Again,

whileinformationsuchasthisisvitalandcanbehelpfultothegeneralcommunity,notonlyisit

14http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music arts/citycouncilhonorsfoundersraparticle

1.1719858#ixzz2zRgxlMbz


21/24

uselesslyoutdated,butthereisagainnothingthatdirectlyrelatestoHipHopcultureorthe

breadthoftheartstherein.

Asfurtherevidenceofthispatternoflacklusterdevotiontothepublicinterestoftheir

community,anexaminationoftheCalendarofEventsontheWQHTHot97websiteatthe

timeofthiswriting(4/18/14)showsalistlessattemptatprovidinganyservicetothepublicin

thisregard:

EVENTSANDAPPEARANCES

4/184/27NewYorkInternationalAutoShowHot97StreetTeamappearances,fulfillingadvertiserobligation

4/21MetroPlus(Bronx)Hot97StreetTeamappearances,fulfillingadvertiserobligation

4/254/26ComedyStepandStrollShowA

WQHT

Hot

97

sponsored

comedy

show

in

Washington,

D.C.

4/29MetroPlus(Brooklyn)Hot97StreetTeamappearances,fulfillingadvertiserobligation

5/7MetroPlus(Bronx)Hot97StreetTeamappearances,fulfillingadvertiserobligation

5/18

AIDS

Walk

New

York

CONCERTCALENDAR

4/20KidInk(IrvingPlaza)SummerJamperformer,concertticketgiveaway


22/24

4/20Fabolous&FunkMasterFlexatWebsterHallFunkMasterFlexisaWQHTHot97onairDJ

4/26Hot97sPeterRosenbergpresentsTechN9neatStarlandBallroom 6/1Hot97SummerJam 6/7MikeEpps:AfterDarkTour

MikeEppsisacomedian.Thereisacoincidingticketgiveaway.

TherearenootherlistingsuntilAugust.

Recognizingthat

they

are

the

station

for

Hip

Hop

in

New

York

with

an

obligation

to

serve

thepublicinterest,thisfurtherpointstoalackofinterestintrulyservingthecommunity,

preferringtoparticipateintheculturetheyclaimtorepresentonlywhenprofitable.

WhileWQHTHot97certainlyhastherighttobeinvolvedintheeventproductionand/or

promotionbusinesstosupportitsrevenue,hasnoobligationtoprovideprobonoadvertisingto

anyindividual

or

organization,

and

has

no

obligation

to

play

music

from

any

local

artist,

the

blatantlackofrecognitionofanyHipHophappeningsotherthanonestheyhaveafinancial

stakeinisfurtherevidenceofablatantdisregardforthecommunityandcultureitpurportsto

serve,andwhosebanneritproudlyflies.

CONCLUSION

WQHTHot97mayverywellbeconsideredahighlysuccessfulradiostation,achievingthe

ratingsneededtodrawprofitableamountofadvertisingdollarsbyplayingproperlyresearched


23/24


24/24

Hopculturebefurtherbastardizedbythosewhoseekonlytoprofitfromitsmostlucrative

sectors.

Bysiphoningonlyriskfreerapmusicfromanvastpoolofartisticcreativity,bywearing

blinderstoHipHopsculturalactivitiesoutsideofrapmusic,andbyprovidinglittletono

programmingtosupportthecultural,artisticandcommunitymindedendeavorsoftheHipHop

communityinNewYorkCityandsurroundingareasatlarge,itismycontentionthatWQHTHot

97isfailingtoservethepublicinterestofthecommunitythatitpurportstorepresent,anda

renewaloftheirlicensetobroadcastwillallowthispatternoflackofresponsivenesstothe

needsofthiscommunitytocontinue.

ItisthereforethatIsubmitthispetitiontodenytherenewalofWQHTHot97sFCClicenseto

broadcast.

Respectfullysubmitted,

By___________________________________

petition to deny renpetition to deny: wqht hot 97 broadcast license renewalewal scrubbed

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