By Demian Russian
Jay Severin
Could talk radio host Jay Severin, who was recently suspended from Boston’s all-talk WTKK, be destined for Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI)? While Sirius XM’s uncensored platform has become the home for other controversial terrestrial radio talent, such as Howard Stern, Opie & Anthony and Dr. Laura Schlessinger, could Jay Severin be even too controversial for Satellite Radio?
Jay Severin was suspended last Wednesday by WTKK management following controversial comments Severin made on air during his Monday afternoon-drive show. While not going into details, WTKK spokesperson Heidi Raphael said that “Jay was suspended after we received serious complaints about the recent content of his show.”
The comments in question occurred during last Monday’s show while Severin was discussing American Apparel (AMEX:APP) CEO Dov Charney, who is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit brought on by several female ex-employees. Severin referred to the women filing the lawsuit as “liars” and “whores.” Severin went on to explain that during the time that he owned his own company earlier in his career, he employed “mostly attractive young women” and that he had sex with almost all of them over a 20 year period.
“I slept with virtually every young college girl I hired to be an intern or an employee for my firm. That’s not the purpose for which they were hired, but it certainly was an ancillary dimension of the job. I don’t think of myself as a monster or strange in any way because of that. All I was was a young man who was the boss and I did it because I could.”
– Jay Severin
This isn’t the first time that Severin has been suspended for making controversial comments. In 2009, he was suspended from the air for a month after making comments regarding Mexican immigrants. Severin called Mexico the world’s leading importer of women with mustaches and venereal disease.
There is speculation that WTKK would like to oust Severin and get out of their expensive contract with him. In 2006, Severin signed a seven-year deal with WTKK worth north of $1 million a year. Media analyst Brian Maloney of Radio Equalizer says, “They’re continuing to look for any excuse to stop paying Jay. They can’t possibly be making a profit on his show with that kind of salary.” According to MediaBiz, WTKK earned $6.4 million in ad revenue in 2010.
Would Jay Severin be a good fit for Sirius XM or would he be too controversial and/or expensive? Leave your comments in the comment box below.
How can I guy be “to controversial” for Satellite radio? This article has to be a plant, written by a publicist. Both stories are not at all outrageous. The second one was only half way funny and a stolen bit. This goof has a long way to go to be heard on a worlds stage if he only has “borrowed” warmed over material. Better luck next time dude. Buddy your not Howard Stern. Howard is an original comic. Now go dust off some good materal and get back to us. We’ll call you.
Thanks for your comment, but I’m neither a plant nor a publicist. I’m just a reporter. Notice the question marks in my article. I’m leaving the questions for the reader to answer.
no thanks, satrad doesn’t need to be the dumping ground for every person that does something stupid.
let’s focus on younger conservative talk show hosts. we have stern, let’s get the other side of the spectrum
i HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE REMARKS HE MAKES ABOUT PROMINENT FIGURES: IE PRESIDENT OBAMA, hilary Clinton AMONG MANY OTHERS. I OFTEN WONDER WHY HE IS ALLOWED TO MAKE THESE REMARKS. HE FOMENTS HATRED AND IAM GLAD HE IS OFF THE AIR. we DON’T NEED ANY MORE HATRED IN THIS COUNTRY
T,
You don’t know why he is allowed to make “these remarks”? He is allowed to make his remarks for the same reason you are allowed to make your ridiculous ‘lets all hold hands and sing friend songs and think happy positive thoughts’ remarks; it’s called FREEDOM of SPEECH!!! If you want censored speech, move to China.
What is this “hatred” you speak of? Because he makes fun of Hillary Clinton’s “large backside” and criticizes Obama’s policies that are ruining this country, doesn’t mean he “hates” either of them nor does he try to promote hatred of them by anyone else.
We need more media personalities like Jay who are not afraid to speak the truth. Jay says many of the same things as Limbaugh and other right-wing talk show hosts, but he does it in a much more entertaining manner (one that makes me want to listen to him every day).
T,
I find your hatred toward Jay Severin to be overly hateful.
Please, I beg you to stop the hate!!!
After all: life is supposed to be free of hatred; we should love everything(!) including but not limited to terrorists and genocide.
…please: cut the naive crap and grow up; nobody FORCES you to listen to the radio. Don’t like what you hear? Then turn it off or switch the station like one of the big kids.
There are two great liberal stations in Boston: NPR/WBUR-FM 90.9 and “Revolution Boston” WWZN-AM 1510. T, do NOT anymore listen to WTKK-FM 96.9 since clearly you’re too full of hate.
-Brian Henchey
Talk Show Host / Comedian (Seeking next radio/TV opportunity)
CLIPS & DEMO: http://www.youtube.com/user/BrianHencheyShow
Boston, MA
Heard on WBRS-FM 100.1/Waltham, MA 4 PM Mondays&Wednesdays — http://wbrs.org
“The Brian Henchey Show” on http://www.facebook.com
http://twitter.com/brianhenchey
PS. Answer to Demian’s question: No; there’s no such thing as “too controversial” for satellite.
Clearly you have not been watching any liberal commentators if you don’t want to listen to hate speach.
Jay was allowed to make those remarks because it is a free country. If you were so offended, why did you listen? It is your right to turn the dial to another station if you don’t like the content of the show. We need to go back to the time when the majority ruled-when we weren’t so concerned with a few whiners. Political correctness if killing the country.
Good riddance to Jay! Maybe satellite radio is dumb enuf to take him. They do have a history of this.
Jimmy Severino – another legend in his own mind.
This was a set-up. WTKK has been “courting” and training Bauer (at Jay’s expense, on Jay’s show) for quite some time now and in my opinion, was just itching for an excuse to axe him and let Bauer take over. I am a woman and I don’t find his latest remarks controversial at all — they’re meant to give some shock factor, but really, people, lighten up. It’s 2011, not Victorian England. If WTKK doesn’t bring Jay back, I will boycott every single one of their advertisers. This is getting ridiculous.
Well, that’s funny. I’m boycotting all of their advertisers as long as he and Michael Graham (another professional whiner) are on the air.
And people thought I was a blowhard.
This bird Severino is as phony as a three dolar bill (if you know what I mean) That old saw “those who claim to score the most usually score the least” could most certainly apply to old Jimmy Severino.
Mr. Fussy, that obtuse Yankee at the other newspaper in town wrote a well documented column on Jimmy. It’s a good read and put Mr. Fussy on Jimmy’s enemies list. Alas, it’s not like Frazier being on Nixon’s enemies list, but it is a list anyone can be proud to be found on.
Good riddance Jimmy. See you around the Napoleon Room sometime. You’re a mean spirited, bigoted, S.O.B. and make me want to throw up on live satellite radio!
All of the people who are SO OFFENDED by Jay crack me up! I don’t enjoy Howard Stern, David Letterman ANYTHING on MSNBC etc. and therefore, I don’t watch them. I have to wonder if these poor offended souls are being tied to their radios and forced to listen daily. It makes absolutely no sense to me to spend even a minute worrying about a person you care nothing about. If I tuned in to the Rachel Madcow show daily I would likely throw something through my t.v, which is why I don’t.
This is hard to believe. We are in the 21st Century and still have media bosses who don’t understand what freedom of speech is. We may not always agree with what we hear, but neither of the suspensions were warranted. Jay is truly one of the best and brightest and his conservative “open your eyes” kind of truth is needed in this area.
Well, all I can say is that if TKK is afraid of losing revenue with Jay Severin, they ain’t seen nothing yet because the idiot that’s filling in for Jay, Bower is turning the 2-6 slot into amature hour. Not to mention that while Jay is out, they are still paying him and no doubt have to pay this Bower fool AND they’re losing audience by the minute.
Nothing against Bauer…he seems to be a perfectly fine person, but my brain is falling asleep!!! I’m reluctant to change that dial because I have listened for so long, but this is BORING! As others have said, I don’t always agree with Jay, and a lot of his comments are over the top and uncomfortable at times, but he was so entertaining and thought provoking. I only hear the “same ol’, same ol’” now, everywhere I turn. I heard the live show he was supposedly suspended over, and yeah, I was turned off for a minute or two, but it’s really nothing I haven’t heard him say before. Just like with political statements he makes that I disagree with, I just take it or leave it. I’ll miss listening to Jay and I want him back! Best of luck Jay!
To answer the question: Definitely not too controversial. We constantly hear controversy on the left, but we laugh it off. Keep it colorful…bring Jay back!!!
If Severin’s show was successful, Greater Media would not have fired him, regardless of anything he would say.. It’s really simple. I don’t see Severin on satellite radio. He is not entertaining…
Great guy we will miss him in Bean Town. Driving through rush hour and not hearing him on TKO makes the drive boreing and lonely.
Like all business….they have to protect their bottom line…Jay’s salary (much deserved if you look at the TKK’s revenue before Jay and after Jay came on board)had exceeded the inflow of cash from sponsors and was greater than the outflow. It was because of less ratings…due to the economy our sponsors were not in a position to fund the station in the same manner that they were….Probably 1/3 of sponsors were looking to re-negotiate their contracts because they were unhappy with their revenue stream….That was across the board…meaning all on air talent was not bringing in the revenue that was expected. In fact, I was in receipt of an e-mail from Ruth’s Chris that admonished the station for not being pro-active in reciprocating business……and you have not heard a word about Ruth’s Chris for a while now. Wonder why? The only reason I am saying this is because I am not worried about being fired….I am in the back office for TKK and I have just accepted a new position elsewhere…..just wanted to shed some light on this matter….I am not for or against Jay Severin….just wanted to put in my 3 cents since I know firsthand what is going on….
Nik & Taylor are correct. The drive home will never be the same. I still miss McPhee. Now with Jay gone there is no reason to listen to TKK at all. I think Jay and Michelle should start their own station. Those two got me hooked on politics and current events and regional corruption. There is no substitute for their insite and commentary. Sure there were times I might change the station if they go off on a rant but now I don’t even bother tuning in. Who is going to help the Tea party in 2012?