US Radio Station Alter Playlists for War on Iraq

Source: New York Times, February 24, 2003 "After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, listeners denounced many radio stations for playing songs insensitive to a nation in mourning. Now, program directors are planning to adjust their playlists if the United States goes to war with Iraq. Expect to hear more patriotic tunes, and songs that appear right for the moment. ... Music stations will also increase their news reports if war breaks out. Because radio has become so segmented in the last 15 years, news had vanished from many music stations. But since Sept. 11, stations have added feeds at the top of every hour. 'We're certainly stepping up our news coverage,' said Gabe Hobbs, vice president of news for Clear Channel Radio, part of Clear Channel Communications, which owns 1,200 stations. 'We have all sorts of plans and they vary from market-to-market. But overall, we're prepared to offer news twice an hour on our music stations.' "