Madonna’s Best Friend: Channel One News

April 21, 2003

When Channel One News agreed to use its in-school TV service to
promote Maverick Records’ recording artists, the Channel One knew
they would be pushing parents to their breaking point.

Maverick Records is Madonna’s own recording company. Many artist
are given their own "recording company" but they have little
to no control over the company. Maverick is different. Warner Brothers
agreed to give Madonna near total control over Maverick. The first
CD from Maverick was Madonna’s vulgar Erotica CD. This CD marked
the first time that a Madonna CD had a parental warning label for
explicit lyrics. The second CD from Maverick was Bedtime Stories.
(These are not the bedtime stories parents would read to their children.)

According to Randy Taraborrelli’s "Madonna – An Intimate Biography",
Madonna is very involved in the running of Maverick Records. Madonna
signed other artists to record for her label. To make her company
successful, Madonna needed teens and pre-teens to be informed about
the music Maverick is putting out.

That problem was partially solved when Channel One News executives
met and agreed they would aid in promoting Madonna’s company.

By advertising on Channel One News, children would HAVE TO be exposed
to these artists – their school would make them listen and watch
these artists as they paraded on their classroom TV screens.

Obligation’s Jim Metrock said, "You have to imagine Madonna
laughing all the way to the bank. It has got to be amusing to her
that taxpayers are paying for school time to be used to give her
roster of artists a chance to plug their CDs and tours. Madonna has
pushed the limits of outrageousness with her "Sex" book,
her movies like "Body of Evidence" and her often offensive
music. It is sad to think that public school teachers and principals
are allowing this company to usurp school time. Channel One News
is making money. Madonna is making money. Schools are burning money
like it grows on trees and kids are being robbed. There is little
to sing about."

The full resources of Channel One News have been used to pump up
the sales at Maverick. Not only has the in-school TV show been used
to advertise Maverick recording artists, but the Channel One web
site has been used extensively to aid in the marketing campaign.

Madonna received some bad press for her latest music video that
shows her throwing a hand grenade into the lap of a George Bush-look
alike. A re-edited video is suppose to come out soon. Should public
schools be aiding this woman’s company? Obligation has written Jim
Ritts and Jeff Ballabon of Channel One and asked if Channel One News
plans on continuing their promotional efforts on her behalf. If we
receive a reply from these gentlemen, we will post it here.

Alanis Morissette is signed to Madonna’s
Maverick Records.

Madonna’s company convinced Channel One
to allow Ms. Morisette (best known for her song about
performing oral sex in a movie theater) to actually co-host
Channel One News the very week of her new CD release.
Morisette was given permission to speak directly to Channel
One’s captive audience of children down to age eleven.

See for yourself.

Paul Oakenfold needs a lot of help selling
his CDs. This obscure British DJ was signed by Madonna
and is unknown to many American teens.

Channel One News showcased Oakenfold and
his music on a show this school year. This Maverick artist
was allowed to play new songs from his upcoming CD during
class time on Channel One News.

Madonna has a big investment in Oakenfold.
Channel One surely boosted sales for this singer at the
expense of taxpayers.