US radio chain denies song ban...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) - The largest chain of radio stations in the US has denied banning songs from its affiliated stations in the wake of the attacks on the US.
But Clear Channel Radio admitted to circulating a list of around 150 songs which its stations might avoid playing because they could cause offence.

There was criticism of the list after it was posted on various web sites.
The list included John Lennon's Imagine, Ticket To Ride by The Beatles, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel and What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

'Market pulse'

In a statement, the San Antonio, Texas-based radio station chain said that contrary to some reports it had not banned any songs from any of its radio stations.

"Each programme director and general manager must take the pulse of his or her market to determine if play lists should be altered, and if so, for how long,'' the statement said.

The original list was circulated by Jack Evans, vice president of programming for Clear Channel Radio's Western Division, according to a company spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman said that Mr Evans compiled the list to help stations seeking guidance on how they might programme music in the wake of the 11 September attacks.

Pro-love sentiment'

Some artists have been critical of Clear Channel for circulating the list. Two songs by Peter and Gordon, World Without Love and I Got To Pieces, were on the list.

The duo's Peter Asher told the New York Times on Wednesday that he was surprised by World Without Love's inclusion: "'I can't live without love' is a sentiment that's as true in crisis as it is in normal times.
"It's totally pro-love sentiment and could only be helpful right now," he said.

The Clear Channel spokeswoman told trade newspaper Variety: "It's one person's attempt to help people be sensitive to the market - we are not banning these songs."