Incredible as it seems, five school principals have approved the use of
their school to promote Michelle Branch, a new artist for Madonna’s Maverick
Records. The sponsors of this contest/promotion are Maverick Records and
Channel One.
The five schools announced on Channel One’s web site are;
Alexander Jr. High School, Brookhaven, MS
Antonian College Preparatory High School,
San Antonio, TX (Private School)
Timberstone
Jr. High School, Sylvania, OH
Burney Jr./Sr.
High School, Burney, CA
Santa Rita High
School, Tucson, AZ
Obligation’s Jim Metrock said, "The Wall Street Journal nailed Channel
One earlier this school year by exposing Channel One’s $500 offer to teachers
to get new schools to sign up for C1. (The loss of schools and the failure
of new schools to sign up apparently lead to this bizarre offer to teachers.)
Channel One tried to get teachers to do something that was unethical.
Channel One dropped their ‘contest’ for teachers when the press caught
wind of it.
A principal who would allow his or her school building to promote Madonna’s
Maverick Records is asking for controversy. One of these schools will be
a big loser when they are announced on April 19 as the ‘winner.’"
Once the school is chosen, Obligation will send a letter to that state’s
superinendent of education and will send a press release to the newspapers
and TV stations in that schools community.
Metrock said, "A school may not be violating any laws or regulations,
but the community should be aware of public property being used to push
a new recording artist that badly wants to sell more CDs. The fact that
Madonna is behind this promotion should add to the controversy. Each school
should ask for a written opinion from their school attorney before they
proceed."
Note: Antonian Prep is a private school. This is the only school that
can win the contest and not be concerned with possible misuse of school
assets.
