By Robert Lawrence, President/CEO  http://www.p-m-w.com

What do we do when someone like Kanye West creates such a stir like he did Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards?  Do we rush to judgment and ridicule the outburst and disrespectful display, or do we reach down into the souls of our own humanity and search for a deeper meaning and cause?

Is it really about what West did?  Yes, he humiliated a young woman of obvious character and strength. Yes, it was reprehensible. Indeed, it was disgraceful but it doesn’t seem to all be about what he did as much as why?  Was anyone else shocked recently, to see Miley Cyrus “pole dancing” on stage, as well? I know she is trying to shed the Hannah Montana image but pole dancing? That’s my 11 year old daughter’s hero.  What about the Serena Williams outburst at a line judge this weekend? Has being rude and disrespectful to others, in order to get your way or make some sort of statement, become acceptable and normal?

Are we all not responsible in some way, for what took place on stage? Young people seem to talk to parents and adults in general, with such disdain and disrespect. Ever stand in a crowd, or walk past a group of teens or young adults only to be splattered with an array of foul language; oblivious to the adults and young children around them?

Who’s issue is this really?  My fear is that Kanye West represents where the values of our youth have gone!  We as parents bring home the R rated movies, let them buy video games with T or M ratings, let them talk to people they don’t know on the Internet, and have nothing to say when they sit in front of the TV watching endless episodes of South Park and Family Guy.

Please don’t misunderstand me, Kanye West’s behavior was despicable and Taylor Swift and Beyonce both responded with incredible dignity. My only concern is that many have rushed to judge West; calling him racist and myriad of other names.

The Bible says, “Judge not lest you be judged” and “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”  Society certainly has some issues that need to be addressed; exhibited by not only Kanye West but by the values of young people in general. Let’s work on removing the stone from our own eye before worrying so much about the pebble in another’s.  I’m just saying!

Robert Lawrence

All we can say is… “It’s about time!”  We’ve been talking about the need for hardware improvements in radio over the past several years!  For way too long you couldn’t find a retailer that sold portable radios, and there was no way to carry one with you like we did when I was a kid. I know, I know… I’m dating myself but when I was a teen, we all had a transistor radio! Stations gave them away with the tuner glued to only one station (which really upset a lot of listeners!)

Today Apple released the new iPod nano which goes well beyond being just an iPod for which to store music!  Now, your station is BACK in the pockets and in the hands of your consumers! If that isn’t good enough to make you want to run out and buy one… how about the TiVo like feature of Live Pause, which allows you to actually pause the radio.  You have to get out of the car for something and don’t want to miss your favorite song or a bit from the morning show? Pause it!

Leave it to Apple! But if you’re still not convinced… how about video recording now on your iPod (even though my iphone 3Gs does that too!)  Still don’t want to give away iPods? Well, I’m happy to say it is time to rethink that philosophy!

The possibilities are endless and the playing field just changed for you and every other brand manager!  Your brand just got a big boost!  Radio has left the proverbial building… and is also now in the pocket of your consumers!  Whether you’re in a diary market, or with a PPM headphone adapter, that translates into ratings!

Robert Lawrence