Radio Spat: Johnson Jabs, Liggins Lunges
House Judiciary Courts and Competition Policy Subcommittee Chairman Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was among the most vocal lawmakers at Thursday's hearing on issues confronting minority-owned media. While Judiciary Chairman John Conyers was critical of Radio One founder Cathy Hughes and her son, CEO Alfred Liggins, for refusing to appear before his panel, Johnson took his criticism of their absence a step further.
While humorously pondering what might have taken precedence over the hearing, the former DeKalb County Commissioner suggested that Hughes -- who has been critical of legislation Conyers introduced that would end a royalty exemption afforded to AM and FM radio -- was "out spending some of that 700 percent increase in salary" that she was reportedly gifted as matriarch of the largest minority-owned media company in the United States. And Liggins? "I guess he's out spending the $10 million bonus that he received last year in the midst of these difficult economic times," Johnson riffed.
But during a hearing recess, Tech Daily Dose reached Liggins by phone and he was definitely not on a shopping spree. The Radio One executive explained that he did not want to testify at a hearing that would further bash broadcasters for opposing the Conyers performance rights legislation. Had the session focused solely on slipping advertising revenue and other challenges facing his industry, he might have been on board. Liggins also clarified that the purported bonus was, in fact, not as steep as Johnson indicated and "compensation at our company should be irrelevant."
Read more coverage of the hearing in CongressDaily's PM Edition here and in Friday's AM Edition (subscription required).
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