Industry analyst Kurt Loder, whose music history and music news programs are regularly featured on the network, expressed relief when contacted in Los Angeles, and a hope that the plans would quickly be realized: "How many times can you act as though drug overdoses are relevant to music? Some of us have been raising the issue of the moral consequences of our work for some time. --and from a purely economic viewpoint these changes are long overdue, since druggie superstar artists are the only ones profiting from our current setup. These kids who plaster themselves to the boob tube have neither time because of their viewing addiction nor money to buy our advertisers' products, and when they do get a CD they are more likely to shoplift it than they are to put any money into the music industry. Opera fans are fewer in number but have enormous purchasing power. I know Mercedes, Learjet, Cray, and Lexus are waiting with much interest for MTV to finalize its plans so they can plan advertising." Loder also suggested that the only need for fundraising drives on Public Broadcasting stations results from their "head-in-the-sand attitude toward advertisers."
Some features from current programming may survive in different form or with different personnel, according to Lowell. Vladimir Oshkanahzi has been asked to study VJ (video jockey) Kennedy's techniques with an eye toward production of a similar show. Lowell would not supply more details, but Beavis and Butthead reputedly may be replaced by YoYo and Itzhak. Beverly Sills also refused to comment, saying legally she is not allowed to respond to questions, but a source in the MTV Fort Lauderdale office who refused to be identified confirmed that a pilot of a show patterned on Singled Out, the inane and hormone-soaked matchmaking program (if match means a one- night-stand consisting of food and lust), with Sills as the "facilitator," has been taped and is being discussed.
Rupert Murdoch's shares of stock in MTV have reportedly been sold, but Lowell refused to comment. He also refused to confirm reports that Howard Stern has been approached by current staff to organize and lead a protest movement to block the proposed changes. Apparently advertisers on Stern's show are viewing the changes on MTV "with intense interest," according to a source in Boston who refused to allow her name to be used. Lowell announced that a major press conference has been scheduled for January first in Manhattan.
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