But the Hillsborough, N.C.-based distributor of adult videos and sex toys and novelties claims foul, and that the CBS radio station with marquee names such as Tom Leykis and Adam Corolla pulled their ads because its ad content was “deemed too racy.”
“That is totally inaccurate,” said the Free FM station exec who handled the account (XBIZ has agreed to withhold the name of the representative). “All we asked for was ‘friendlier’ edited copy, material that wouldn’t offend the [blue-chip] accounts we have sandwiched around their spots.”
The Free FM rep said that Adam & Eve, which has purchased a “healthy” 25 weekly spots since February, has been told that their ads can resume next month. “This is the fourth time they’ve revised their copy,” she said.
But Mary Ann Bautista, who handles Adam & Eve’s radio placements nationwide, told XBIZ that negotiations aren’t just about the ad copy. She noted that current negotiations with the station are over placement.
“They want to move the ads to an alternate schedule,” she said. “We want the ads in prime time, but [Free FM executives] wants them in the evening and overnight. And, of course, we’ve been asked to come up with tamer copy.”
The ads, which are targeted to adult consumers who use the Internet, are placed in every state of the nation, said Bautista, who runs Alameda, Calif.-based Bautista Direct Marketing.
She wouldn’t reveal how much the spots cost Adam & Eve but confided they’ve found success with the campaign and will continue negotiations with the Los Angeles station.
Friday morning Adam & Eve’s corporate office sent a press release to media outlets nationwide claiming that its executives were “shocked when its tame ads were pulled.”
“Corolla … is as famous for having a bevy of adult stars on his program as he is his for irreverent behavior, received so many calls from upset listeners that the show was forced to pull the ads,” the release said. “[But], interestingly, a visit to Corolla's homepage brings up images of XXX stars Sunny Lane, Jesse Jane and Sunset Thomas, who all have appeared on his show.”