Emmis Communications - Controversies

Controversies

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Most of the controversies involving Emmis Communications have involved its stations in the New York City market. Among them:

• WQHT-FM provoked a controversy in January 2005, a month after the Asian tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, by playing the Tsunami song entitled USA for Indonesia, a parody sung to the 1985 tune "We Are the World." Listeners, politicians and civil rights groups protested in front of the station. Three persons associated with the production were suspended for two weeks, and two were terminated.
• Also involvng WQHT, there have been controversies involving slapping, indecency, and violence around the station's broadcast location. In 2004, as a result of continued indecency complaints, Emmis signed a consent decree with the FCC and paid a $300,000 fine..
• In 2009 Austin,Texas affiliate KLBJ's "Todd and Don Show' the host Don Pryor used the term "Wetbacks" to describe Mexican-Americans. KLBJ "AM Morning Show" has also been the focus of bigoted, and Religious overtoned commentary by Non-Austin resident Samuel Cox who is a retired Austin Police Department officer who in the past has said unkind words about African-Americans.