RADIO WARS

Regarding “ABS/Westwood War: A Report From the Front” (by John Horn, July 8), the lawsuit filed by Westwood One against ABC and Worldqide Sports & Entertainment the producers of the Live Aid concerts, was hardly, as Horn frivolously reported, a “battle for backstage passes.”

What it was was a case where the producer sold a broadcast package that included broadcast rights owned by Westwood One. Our position from the beginning was to find a solution that allowed the artists to be broadcast for a worthwhile cause, without putting ourselves in the position of abrogating our rights and responsibilities to our affiliate stations, advertisers and shareholders.

To imply, as Horn did, that Westwood One was suing because we were not on the guest list, and to time and time again quote me out of context, is irresponsible as well as inaccurate. One would certainly expect a more professional journalistic approach from The Times.

NORMAN PATTIZ

President, Westwood One

Culver City

Radio program syndicator Westwood One has exclusive broadcast riights to such artists as Tina Turner, Elton John and Hall & Oates who were scheduled to appear at Saturday’s Live Aid concerts broadcast over the ABC radio network. On July 10, Westwood One dropped its suit against Live Aid producers ABC and Worldwide Sports and waived its exclusive rights in exchage for being allowed to conduct hourly live reports from backstage at the concerts.