No stranger to controversy, popular rap star Andrew E. is once again in the limelight as a result of one of his songs being pulled off the air again. This time however, the beleaguered rap artist may find some solace in the fact that many people are starting to complain about what they call the "tyranny of the airwaves". As many radio stations continue to pull the comedian's songs off the air, people are starting to debate about whether or not all this can be healthy for the country.

On one hand is the right of people to choose what they want to listen to, and on the other hand, is the right of people to safe guard the public interest.

Last week, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a story about one radio station in Baguio that pulled the song "Banyo Queen" off the air because of a complaint the station received. That incident sparked a huge controversy in the province as incensed listeners complained about the station acting "outside of the interests of their listeners". "I don't understand why Campus Radio did that" says Arthur de los Santos a resident of Baguio. "The song was voted by the station's listeners and just because one person claims the song is bad they immediately pull the song off. That person probably doesn't even listen to Campus Radio in the first place, so why punish all of us that do. If that is the case, I' m switching to another station that listens to what I want."

In the PDI article, a certain lawyer, Conception Luis petitioned the city council to ban the song "Banyo Queen" claiming that the song "… corrupted the minds of the youth." The song which had risen to the top of the charts in many Baguio radio stations as a result of listener requests, has since been pulled off the play lists of the major stations, prompting many irate youngsters to complain about the action. "If my station won't play the song, then I'll just tune into one that does. Sila rin ang mawawalan ng ratings when we start patronizing other radio stations" says Christopher Banta.

At the heart of all the controversy is the on going debate about whether or not people have the right to impose their standards on other people who may not share their opinions. "The whole issue has become very politicized" says Mar Policarpio an ad agency executive following the case. "Kids are asking why something like "Banyo Queen" can be banned, when the MTRCB can allow bold movies which feature a lot of rape scenes to be shown in theaters. Surely these contribute to "corrupting the youth" with their television ads more than a song can."

In all honesty, majority of the complaints most radio stations have received are from people who do not really listen to radio. It therefore poses a question whether or not radio should entertain these people and risk their ratings in the process. "Even if the major stations don't play it, the minor ones will, and people will tune into them because of this. " Remarked one radio station programmer who refused to be named. "People tune into the radio to listen to songs they want to hear. If your station doesn't play what they want, they will switch to one that does. In the end, I don't think it is fair that we sacrifice our ratings just to please a few people. We should have the right to compete, not allowing us to play certain songs gives us a disadvantage. This is a ratings business and the smaller stations playing "Banyo Queen' are stealing our listeners.

It is remarkable that a civil rights discussion on people's right to choose should be instigated over a song on radio. However controversial this becomes, most open-minded people feel that it is about time people start questioning these issues now rather than ignore them.

PROUDLY BUILT BY CHRIS MASICLAT 2000

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