Los Angeles Times February 6, 1991, Wednesday, Home Edition O'CONNOR MOVE SPARKS DEBATE By STEVE HOCHMAN and CLAUDIA PUIG, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES Sinead O'Connor's withdrawal from the upcoming Grammy Awards and harsh condemnation of the music industry's "false and destructive values" have been met with equally harsh reactions from the recording and radio communities. Responses by radio programmers, artist managers, press agents and record company executives to her actions Friday range from angry to cynical. "I think she must be from another planet," said Jeff Pollack, chief executive of the Pollack Media Group, which programs more than 100 radio stations and music television outlets worldwide. "How she equates an awards ceremony with all the ills of the world is beyond my comprehension." Scott Shannon, KQLZ-FM (Pirate Radio) morning deejay and program director, echoed those sentiments. "I think she's a fine recording artist, but as far as her personal life goes she's dazed, confused and completely out of touch with reality," he said. If O'Connor wins a Grammy during the Feb. 20 ceremony in New York City, she will be the first person in the 33-year history of the awards to turn it down. She is nominated in four categories, including best record of the year for "Nothing Compares 2 U." Since O'Connor's announcement, her stance has been a hot topic on radio airwaves, both with deejays and listeners. "I had no idea of the venom that is out there for this girl," said KIIS morning personality Rick Dees, who reported that he got more than 150 calls from his Southern California listeners Monday. "I asked listeners how they felt and before I even finished my sentence people started calling saying, 'Look, music is one thing, but don't jam your political beliefs down our throats.' " Not all the reaction has been negative. Elaine Shock, the singer's New York-based publicist, said her office has received "overwhelmingly positive" response. "We've gotten a ton of people . . . who said it was about time and who better than Sinead O'Connor to take a stand." Rock critic Dave Marsh, a longtime critic of the Grammy process, was sympathetic with O'Connor's views, but felt she could have made a more effective protest by appearing on the Grammy telecast. "I think it's an honorable thing to do, but not a helpful thing," he said. "I'd rather see her show up at the Grammys and make an anti-war statement." The passion of her stance and stated intention to "shake the consciousness of the music community" did win some admiration, even among those who disagreed with her actions. Jeff Wyatt, program director of KPWR (Power 106) in Los Angeles, said of her giving up the Grammy appearance, "That's quite a price. . . . In the world of Don Henley, Paula Abdul and M.C. Hammer, those (Grammys) are very coveted and here she's willing to say, 'I don't even want to be considered. I don't want your Grammy.' " The Irish-born singer-songwriter had already raised the ire of many last summer when she refused to allow the national anthem to be played before one of her New Jersey concerts. She had also earlier spurred controversy by refusing to appear on a "Saturday Night Live" episode hosted by brash comedian Andrew Dice Clay, who she claimed was insensitive to women and minorities. And even before that, her radical, shaven-headed appearance had made her the butt of jokes. "She likes to get on the soapbox," said New York-based publicist Leyla Turkkan, who represents controversial rappers Public Enemy. "But there's so many other things to get excited about besides the Grammys, so many other things that deserve attack." Said Carey Curlop, program director of KLOS-FM in Los Angeles, "Certainly, you can respect someone for having an opinion. But it seems to be a bit hypocritical. Did she give back all the money she made? Why is she in the recording business in the first place rather than being a homeless troubadour?" But the current attacks against O'Connor have fallen short of any calls for the outright boycott of the artist -- calls that briefly followed the national anthem flare-up. Most people surveyed said that they expect the brouhaha will blow over long before she releases another album. "I'm ambivalent about playing her music," said Dees. "But if she has (a new) hit, absolutely, I will play it. I'd be a fool not to." Still, opinions differed as to how this protest would affect her career. Some cite the conventional wisdom that controversy sells. Elliot Sekular, a Los Angeles-based publicist, said, "She'll sell another 300,000 records off this controversy. I don't think her constituency is the mainstream middle American pop fans. She appeals to the people who perceive themselves as being a little to the left of all that. There's a couple million kids out there looking for a hero with a little bit of rebel in them." However, a Los Angeles promotion director for a major record label predicted the move might hurt O'Connor commercially. "This action could cost her a million records," said the executive, who asked not to be identified. "Look how Bonnie Raitt took off after winning all those Grammys last year."