Action line - 80304 CAC music

  • Published
  • By Anonymous
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Complaint:

I was watching the CAC this morning to stay updated on the latest info and heard a song that was playing in the background that I find quite offensive.

The song repeated the phrase, "You're a crazy bitch" over and over. Not only is this offensive, but it is degrading to women. Is this the type of music that is condoned as representation of our leadership since it is the Commanders Access Channel?

I know the programming is done by AFNI here at Incirlik so there should be some sort of control over what is played.

Response:

Thank you for your efforts to stay well informed, please continue to watch the Commander's access channel daily! You're right, there is not special programming on the CAC, the channel carries our AFN-I signal which is the same as you hear on the radio.

I share your concern with the lyrics of some of our current popular music so thanks for the opportunity to share some information on American Forces Network programming. AFN packages DoD and command based internal information in and around a representative sampling of popular American radio programming. AFN Incirlik, by regulation, cannot air music that carries a "contains severe lyrics" warning and although wing leadership does not approve of or condone what is aired, my experience is that our station absolutely adheres to this policy.

Since AFN plays a representative sampling of popular music, programming choices are based on industry radio charts to determine the hottest hits in many genres: top 40, country, rock, hip-hop etc. Within the bounds of the severe lyrics criteria, songs on these lists are played in a conscience effort to give the audience the same type and quality of radio programming provided by stateside stations.

Of course the issue becomes what constitutes severe lyrics and the fact is that your definition may be different than that of other folks on base. Because AFNs audience is diverse, their programming choices cannot make everyone happy. The bottom line is they conform to industry broadcast standards and regulations.

Thanks for your understanding.