Bubba the Love Sponge Show
 | |
| Genre | Talk show, Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Running time | 6am-10am, Mon-Fri |
| Country | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | WBRN-FM |
| Opening theme | "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" by AC/DC |
| Ending theme | "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" by AC/DC |
| Website | www.btls.com |
The Bubba the Love Sponge Show is an American radio show hosted by Bubba the Love Sponge Clem (born Todd Allen Clem) from his own facility in Tampa, FL.
History
1996-2004: Morning show
In December 1996, WXTB "98 Rock", hired Clem for the morning drive time slot.[1] During January 2001, The show went into syndication. During its run in syndication, it aired on stations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Hartford, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Wichita, Shreveport, Macon and XM Satellite Radio.
On February 27, 2001, while on the air at WXTB in Tampa, Clem aired "Bubba's Road Kill Barbecue" segment, which consisted of the killing of a feral hog named "Andy" that had been captured by a hunter. Sound effects of hogs feeding were broadcast to lead listeners to believe the hog was being harassed and aggravated. Andy was castrated live and then killed. Based on the incident Clem, his Executive Producer Brent Lee Hatley, and two other people were charged with felony animal cruelty.[2] The trial received coverage outside Florida including Court TV. All four defendants were acquitted by the jury.[3]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Apparent Liability of $755,000 against four stations owned by Clear Channel Communications (including its parent station, WXTB) on January 27, 2004 for objectionable segments of "Bubba the Love Sponge" show. The fine consisted of the maximum of $27,500 for each of 26 airings of a segment plus $40,000 for record-keeping violations. The segments included graphic discussions about sex and drugs and according to the FCC were "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners". One segment featured the cartoon characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, George Jetson and Scooby-Doo discussing sexual activities.[4]
Clear Channel Communications discontinued Clem's show on February 23, 2004 and two days later, Clear Channel Communications CEO John Hogan testified in front of Congress, stating that the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show would no longer be broadcast on Clear Channel Communications.[5]
2006-2010: Hey Now!
Bubba the Love Sponge was Howard Stern’s choice to join him in his launch on Sirius Satellite Radio on Jan. 9, 2006, where the show was broadcast nationwide weekday afternoons, on channel Howard 101.
For one year starting in 2008 the team did two shows a day, a censored show on WHPT and uncensored on Sirius in the afternoons. In 2009 Sirius opted for just FM replays during the week and one live uncensored show every Friday afternoon, though Friday live shows from Clem were few and far between. Sirius and Clem decided not to renew their contracts at the end of December 2010 so that Clem could work for the Internet radio company that his agent, Thomas Bean, was then the CEO of.[6]
2008-2014: Terrestrial Re-birth
Clem began broadcasting a live morning show from Tampa, FL radio station WHPT 102.5 "The Bone" on January 8, 2008 which was simulcast on the Jacksonville, Florida radio station WFYV-FM 104.5 "Rock 105".[7] During the second quarter of 2008, Bubba's show received a number one rating [8] in his home market of Tampa, FL. (In 2015, the show's ratings came under investigation for possible Nielsen Ratings tampering.)[9] The show is also syndicated to other stations.
2011-present: Bubba Army Radio
Clem announced on January 3, 2011 he would have an internet show on RadioIO (A company which Clems Agent was the CEO of) and feature several programming features throughout the day starting on January 10, 2011.[10]
Syndication
Affiliates
- RadioIO Bubba1 "Bubba Army Radio" Worldwide
- WBRN-FM 98.7 "98.7" in Tampa, FL
- WBGF-FM 93.5 "The Bar" in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- WRXK-FM 96.1 "K-Rock" in Ft. Myers, FL
- WYBB-FM 98.1 "98 Rock" in Charleston, SC
- WTRS-FM 102.3 "My Country" in Ocala, FL
- KRZQ-FM 104.1 "The Real Alternative" in Reno, NV
- WZLB-FM 103.1 "The Blaze" in Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL
- WROK-FM 95.9 "95 Rock" in Sebastian, FL
Red-letter Syndication dates
- On April 29, 2010, WDYL changed formats to Rhythmic CHR as "HOT 100.9",[11] dropping the show in the process.
- On Oct 18, 2010, Bubba's show debuted on WYBB in Charleston.
- On December 31, 2010, Clem left Sirius/XM Satellite.
- In March 2011, WZLR/Dayton announced that they were dropping the show in order to present more music during the morning drive hours.[12]
- On August 15, 2011, WHTQ in Orlando (now WDBO-FM) and WFYV-FM in Jacksonville dropped Bubba the Love Sponge from their morning lineup, in WHTQ's case, it was due to a format change in which the station began a simulcast with WDBO.[13]
- On January 4, 2012, it was announced that the program will be carried on W232CA 94.3 FM and WGPR-HD3 in Detroit, Michigan, beginning January 11, 2012.[14] Yet on January 31, 2012, Martz Communications Group ceased operations of WGPR's HD Radio feeds, due to financial and signal difficulties.[15][15]
- KFNS (AM) announced on April 30, 2013 that they were changing formats from "The Fan" to "The Man" it was announced that they will be airing the show, replacing then current morning host Tim McKernan when his deal runs out.[16] After not making an impact in the market, in December 2013 the last live show aired on KFNS (AM) and Clem was replaced.[17]
- The show was picked up by WTRS 102.3 in Ocala, FL on September 3, 2013.[18]
- On September 23, 2014, WBGF-FM in Palm Beach Gardens, FL recently purchased by JVC Broadcasting signed on playing an all day long marathon of the show followed by 10,000 songs commercial free. The station started carrying the show on a regular basis in the morning time slot starting October 6, 2014.
- On March 25, 2015 WOTF-FM in Orlando dropped the show.
- The show was picked up by Cumulus Media station WSJZ-FM in Sebastian, FL on April 6, 2015.
References
- ↑ "WXTB - A History". Radio Years.
- ↑ "Florida shock jock faces animal cruelty charges". CNN News. 2002-02-25.
- ↑ "Cleared of cruelty, DJ vows revenge". St. Petersburg Times. 2002-03-01.
- ↑ "FCC Issues Steep Indecency Fines". CBS News. 2004-01-27.
- ↑ "Let's Get Clear (Channel) About Indecency". Poynter. 2004-02-26.
- ↑ Eric, Deggans (January 4, 2011). "Tampa shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge leaves Sirius XM for Internet radio". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
- ↑ Basch, Mark (December 11, 2007). "Bubba the Love Sponge returning to Jacksonville airwaves" (Original). Florida Times Union. Online: Florida Times Union.
- ↑ Saghir, Ryan (May 5, 2008). "Bubba The Love Sponge regains No. 1 spot in Tampa Bay" (Original). Orbitcast. Online: Orbitcast. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
- ↑ "Bubba the Love Sponge investigated for ratings tampering".
- ↑ Osborne, Spencer (January 16, 2011). "Radioio Credits Bubba The Love Sponge With Fast Growth". Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ↑ AllAccess.com (April 29, 2010). "Alternative Y101 Now Top 40/Rhythmic Hot 100.9/Richmond". All Access Music Group. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ↑ AllAccess.com (March 8, 2011). "WZLR Drops Bubba". All Access Music Group. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ↑ Jacksonville.com (August 17, 2011). "Rock 104.5 drops Bubba the Love Sponge show". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ↑ All Access: "Bubba Is About To Get Boned In Detroit", January 5, 2012.
- 1 2 Venta, Lance. "Detroit's Bone and Oasis Go Dark". Radio Insight. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ↑ Lance, Venta. "Two St. Louis Sports Stations To Become The Man & Woman". Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ↑ Caesar, Dan. "Media Views: The wildest year in St. Louis sports media". Retrieved December 27, 2013.
- ↑ Allen, Rick. "Bubba the Love Sponge's morning show to air in Ocala". Retrieved August 15, 2013.