Imagine a blacklist: Is the Clear Channel list censorship?

When will Drowning Pool fans hear "Bodies" again? Unless they have a CD or MP3 song, it might be a while. "Bodies" is on a list of songs that have been suggested as inappropriate for airplay and most stations, whether influenced by the list or not, have shied away from bringing the song back on air.

The list in question began circulating on the Internet after it was published by FuckedCompany.com. Almost immediately, censorship opponents and music fans were up in arms. Some called radio stations to find out if the DJs were able to play certain songs; the DJs fielded calls from worried fans.

The seemingly-disjointed list includes 150 songs that reference flying, New York, war and death, as well as "unpatriotic" songs like the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" and songs about peace, like John Lennon's "Imagine."

To clear up any rumors of corporate censorship, Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE: CCU) released the following statement, Sept. 18:

"Clear Channel Radio has not banned any songs from any of its radio stations. Clear Channel believes that radio is a local medium. It is up to every radio station program director and general manager to understand their market, listen to their listeners and guide their station's music selections according to local sensitivities. Each program director and general manager must take the pulse of his or her market to determine if play lists should, and if so, for how long.

"In the wake of this terrible tragedy, the nation's business community is responding with a degree of hypersensitivity," explained Mark P. Mays, President and Chief Operating Officer of Clear Channel. "Even some movie companies have altered some of their release schedules in light of the mood in America today. Clear Channel strongly believes in the First Amendment and freedom of speech. We value and support the artist community. And we support our radio programming staff and management team in their responsibility to respond to their local markets."

Despite the fact that Clear Channel did not officially ban any songs, Nina Crowley, executive director of the Massachusetts Music Industry Coalition, a free speech organization, told The Boston Globe, "It's a very dangerous thing. It's a blacklist. The minute you allow people other than yourself to edit what you can listen to, you're on the road to total censorship."

Locally, WWDC 101.1 and WOCT 104.3 are owned by Clear Channel, as is the country station WPOC 93.1 Scott Lindy, the WPOC 93.1 program director, says that it is not unusual for radio stations to respond to local or national tragedies by pulling advertisements or putting a hold on playing certain songs. "You have to use your mind and your heart," Lindy said. He emphasizes phrases such as "best judgment" and "personal decision" when referring to any changes that Clear Channel stations have made.

When asked when programming will return to the way it was before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Lindy says that while most songs have re-entered the WPOC playlist, the decisions are made "moment to moment."

WHFS 99.1 and 98Rock are not owned by Clear Channel, but many of the songs on the Clear Channel list are staples of the rock stations. 98Rock Assistant Program Director Rob Heckman says that certain songs, including Drowning Pool's "Bodies" and Saliva's "Click Click Boom" have not been brought back and that the station is still deciding on when and how to bring the songs back.

The songs that were pulled off-air after the terrorist attack included many songs that seem to have something to do with death, but in actuality do not - Heckman points out that "Bodies" is about a mosh pit.

It's time to get the "mood back in the other direction," says Heckman on the station's decision to bring back aggressive rock.

And, in what is perhaps an ultimate reversal of tones, 98Rock is now playing a Jackyl song called "Open Invitation (Kiss My Ass bin Laden).