Boston Globe Article On Lowell Spinners Return To WCAP

[Mission Control]

It is my understanding that Lydon does in fact own the rights to "Open Source." Distribution is being handled by Public Radio International (PRI), so questions about affiliate dollars would have to be put to them. But his salary is being paid by the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Speaking of affiliates, the show is currently on on 4 stations (WGBH, WUML, KUOW in Seattle, Washington, and KCPW in Salt Lake City, Utah) and one day a week (Wednesdays?!) on WVPR in Windsor, Vermont. The program is supposed to launch nationally on July 4th. And FWIW,, WUML is NOT listed on PRI's station locator.

I thought it odd that the article did not mention that there was some concern among students over the legality of having a commercial for-profit entity such as the Spinners broadcasting over the non-commercial airwaves of WUML. Is (was) that a real concern? Are there precidents elsewhere that would either support the students fear of breaking FCC rules, or rather endorse the University's right to broadcast the Class A team's games?

Mike



---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Joseph Pappalardo" <joepappalardo2001@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Joseph Pappalardo <joepappalardo2001@yahoo.com>
Date:  Tue, 28 Jun 2005 14:38:04 -0400

>From: "Mark Watson"
>Subject: Boston Globe Article On Lowell Spinners Return To WCAP
>
>
>>     Also mentioned in the article is Christopher Lydon's new show "Open
>> Source"  which airs live evenings on WGBH-FM and airs on one day delay at
>> 9AM weekday mornings on WUML. U Mass administrators are hinting this
>> schedule will change.
>>
>> Here's the link for the article on the Globe's website:
>>
>http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/06/26/spinners_out_at_umass_station/
>
>I just got around to reading this article.
>
>Interesting quotes.
>
>Even more interesting is Lydon's quoted salary......$12,500 a MONTH!
>($150,000 a year!  ...for one hour of radio a day.)
>
>Here's the question:
>
>....does Lydon *own* this show?
>(The salary would say no....but knowing his public beef with Jane Chisto, I
>would assume yes.)
>
>So, he pulls in even more $$$ for every affilliate that carries the show?
>
>Anyone know how that works?
>
>Joe
>
>