What's New
BY RadioToday Network April 18, 2024
What's New February 2, 2018
“You could talk about their fannies”: Mike Hammond on WSFM
One thing that has come out of the #metoo campaign has been a long overdue calling out of sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation.
And quite rightly, too. It shouldn’t be and mustn’t be tolerated in any work environment. Or at home. Or in social settings.
Just as insidious is ‘casual’ sexism. A throwaway comment that’s dismissed as just ‘banter’ that’s not to be taken ‘seriously’. It’s usually followed up with ‘you’re just being too sensitive’.
But out of #metoo has been a line drawn in the sand and it’s a line that everyone should be aware of. Perhaps, some old dogs can’t be taught new tricks.
Newly installed WSFM morning announcer Mike Hammond came out of a ZZ Top song with a cringe-worthy rave on Thursday, albeit lyric-inspired, but tired and out of place on any radio station, perhaps, especially, on a female-skewing station.
“Back to a time that was a lot less PC, you could say things about girls. You could look at their bodies. You could ogle them. You could talk about their fannies, which of course in America means their bottoms”.
Have a listen. Then have another listen. You be the judge.
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 18, 2024
No problem with it. Too many snowflakes that need to melt away. Good on Mike for telling it like it is.
What an offensive old dinosaur. You’re telling me the legendary Ron E Sparks got boned for this guy?!?!
Love me some casual sexism on the radio…
Oh wait, no I don’t. What sane human being thinks this is an appropriate way to talk…?
Maybe if you’re senile and 80. Even this it’s understandable but still not acceptable. I hope management have had a strong word about the kind of content that is appropriate for any audience regardless of target demo.
Geez people are easily offended.
It’s as if they WANT to be outraged.
Hey Jake … thanks for the welcome to Radio Today!! I think you missed the point I was trying to make … the song itself (“Legs” ZZTop) is truly out of place in today’s environment … the song objectifies women. You might also note that the song I ran into (“White Flag” Dido) is all about what??? Standing up to and overcoming domestic abuse. Listen again and ask if I endorsed that track (therefor it’s message) as opposed to highlighting the dinosaur themes of ZZ Top by paraphrasing its lyric. Then consider also incorporated the station ID, station positioner, hooked to a contest, pre-sold the “key track” all whilst mixing from 128 bpm to 90 bpm and segueing it with my live vocals to perfectly hit the post … and all in 29 seconds!!
Yet somehow this makes me part of the #metoo problem?? Overreach perhaps?? Have a listen. Then have another listen. You be the judge.
Mike – I suggest you stop playing the victim. You got caught out being a blatant misogynist whose outdated and horrific views should’ve stayed in the 80s. Jake did a fine job bringing this to the industry’s attention so that we now all know who the real Mike Hammond is.
It doesnt matter if its a female pop station or a male rock station not cool. Jenny what decade are you living in ?
Duncan’s “strategy” 101.7- Jonesy and Amanda…then Mike…(who replaced Ron E) then Steve (who replaced Lars).. then Jason (off-air replaced Eddie). KIIS- Kyle and Jackie O, then Gordie… Will and Woody. Gold- Christian O Connell… Craig… and Gavin. KIIS -Jase and PJ, W and W #jobsfortheboys
I would have thought this was fairly mild compared to the Kyle and Jackie O show?
Mike Hammond is one of the best broadcasters in Australia.
Hi Mike….I listened recently to another comment you made during the Xmas holidays on drive and was taken back…as that was offensive to females and me as a listener, something about getting the old fella out….and now your referring to fannies, that we all know is an American term, but Mike we are in Australia and that term is offensive, why do you have to drop to this level, do you really feel that uncomfortable about who you really are, or is this all fear driven?
We can all change how we talk and act towards each other, today is the start of that change…..
Disgusting and offensive and management should tell Mike it is not on.
Mike then tries to justify his demeaning opinion of women? No idea Hammond.
did you notice theres no response from the company about what Mike said (wrong to say the least) which shows they don’t care about their female listeners or female employees.
I WAS on board with Mike’s back announce until I saw his writing on here.
Maybe everyone is getting just a little too precious.
ZZ Tops Planet of women maybe would have been a better track.
Mike, the audience doesn’t get the opportunity to go back and listen. I’m one of the dozens or hundreds of radio people who heard this break go round and “not get it” . Perhaps you might just need accept this was a very poorly crafted talk break. If you need to explain it, it’s broken mate. Perhaps you could take some break structure tips from the other new WS host who spoke so eloquently this week to the workday audience about weeing on your own face. He nailed that message first go.
Every word, every phrase, every song in this mic break is out of touch. Why even argue? Why even listen?
Not cool Mike.
Playing almost the same songs every day, and making sexist comments like that is not going to get you listeners.
Where’s Ron E Sparks?
Funny how we like to take men to task for any commentary they make that could be deemed to be un-PC but OK for a certain female breakfast TV host to ask Tim Robards live on air to take his shirt off as happened last week on The Today Show. You can imagine the reaction if Karl made the same comment to an attractive hot female guest.
“Then consider also incorporated the station ID, station positioner, hooked to a contest, pre-sold the “key track” all whilst mixing from 128 bpm to 90 bpm and segueing it with my live vocals to perfectly hit the post … and all in 29 seconds”
In all honesty I reckon I can say sixteen words and turn a switch within 29 seconds as well.
Mikes attitude to women are terrible. Male content boss hiring male after male for yonks. Where are the females on WS during the day? Breakfast is the only slot with a female announcer Amanda
Mike’s explanation is totally justified, albeit totally unnecessary. You lot REALLY don’t get it even when you have luxury of listening to the break over again. There’s was absolutely nothing offensive about his back announce. This is what Mike has already tried to clarify in his post above, but basically, in a kind of layman translation, for those of you who are simply bandwagon jumping, he said this… “Remember this huge hit song from the 80’s by a band that featured scantily clad women and cars in their videos and sang songs boasting about woman’s sexuality. How wrong it all was but those attitudes seemed to be everywhere back then. Thankfully these are now very different times are and obviously for the better, we don’t do that stuff any more”. Wise up folks. I welcome anyone who “misinterpreted” his B/A. (back announce for the novices here) to realistically explain what you heard in comparison. Oh and Beth, just my opinion, but there are many female jocks, and I will add programmers within ARN, BUT, are they yet strong enough to be on a leading Sydney station?
Nothing wrong with Mike’s comment. It is not sexist to discuss the way things used to be.
That’s the way it was back then, people who weren’t born wouldn’t understand. Everything is to PC