This would be a great storyline for the show Damages. Have you ever noticed that any TV show based on the industry flops?
It’s a great thing that D.L. Hughley is getting fairly good ratings on his morning show at WRKS (98.7 FM) in NYC. Listeners have been none the wiser that his free time has been spent in the middle of a financial battle between Emmis, URBan Radio (who a LOT of other people have been signing up with even WITH their “reputation.”) and Hugley himself.
The morning show launched last August with a common radio deal: URBan Radio, which hoped to syndicate the show, put it on WRKS largely in return for commercial time. After many months and a half a million dollars (never received) later it was discovered that the host Hugley was not being paid. URBan allegedly said that responsibility was with Emmis and Emmis said it was on URBan radio to pay him. As Hughely has been a comedian for years, it would be no surprise if this was not the first time he was in a situation like this and he quickly (and wisely) worked out his OWN deal with Emmis. Emmis then sued URBan radio to recoup damages and URBan radio is now suing Emmis saying THEY are the ones who have breached the agreement. URBan is claiming the contract is still valid (perhaps DL was not aware he was supposed to work for free) and I’m willing to bet it was a situation where URBan was waiting to collect from ad agencies who are NOTORIOUS for paying very late because they can’t pay until THEY are paid by the advertiser. Whatever the case may be URBan is claiming that WRKS owes $800,000 in commercial time and 168 commercial minutes a week. URBan also wants $2.5 million in damages. I’m willing to bet on Emmis winning this one.
