Dailytakes

Michael McGee Senior’s radio ’show’ may have been taken off the air months ago, and his son may still reside in jail, but Dailytakes has learned the FCC is finally investigating the incident back in February between the McGees and then-WISN radio producer Keith Conrad.

Late last winter, in the run up to the recall election that McGee would eventually win, the now-defunct Early Spin morning radio show on NewsTalk 1130 WISN in Milwaukee produced a parody song about the Alderman titled “It Ain’t McGee Babe.” Eventually a copy of the song made its way to the younger McGee, who then played it on his father’s ’show’ and gave out Conrad’s personal cell phone number, telling listeners to call Conrad and tell him what they thought of the song. This resulted in over a hundred calls to Conrad’s cell phone, many of them of a threatening nature.

Conrad filed a complaint with the FCC and was just recently informed that they have decided to investigate the matter. Note, that although the FCC frowns on giving out personal information like phone numbers on the air, there aren’t any regulations against it. The problem lies with the fact that the McGee’s called Conrad’s cell phone and left a voicemail on the air and aired Conrad’s voicemail message on the air, which is against the rules. WNOV could face a fine even though both McGees are already off the air.

But here’s where the story gets even more strange. WNOV was supposed to submit their account of what happened by early last week. Instead, according to an individual with ties to the case, WNOV owner Jarrel Jones asked for an extension that was denied. Dailytakes has learned that, not being content with just being late in providing his statement to the feds, Jones then called Conrad himself, asking him to provide WNOV with any information he had on the incident.

So Jones contacted the person who filed the complaint against him, while the federal investigation was still on-going. Despite the fact that it was covered briefly in the Journal Sentinel, Jones claimed that he didn’t even know that the incident had ever happened. Conrad refused to give Jones any information, but he did immediately contact the FCC to let them know that Jones was fishing for info.

The FCC likes cases that are straight forward. Not only is it against regulations to put someone’s voice on the air without their permission, but thanks to Patrick at BadgerBlogger, Conrad was able to give the FCC the actual audio from the show that day of the McGee’s calling his cell phone.

It would appear bleak for Jones and WNOV. Also, with the FCC taking the matter seriously enough to investigate it, the possibility of Conrad (now working in the larger Atlanta market) filing a lawsuit against WNOV, Michael McGee, Sr. or both becomes a little more likely.

Stay tuned.