I'm not sure I can answer that. I wasn't any kind of central decision maker - My role was limited to suggesting songs that might be appropriate to avoid from the format in which I was working, which was classic rock. Individual Program Directors made the play/no play decisions for their own stations.
"Smooth…

On the subject of certain songs on the list that don't seem to make sense: "What A Wonderful World" and "Imagine" would seem to be odd inclusions, but the other side of the coin is that playing such beautiful, optimistic compositions would make the station seem oblivious to what was going on or dismissive of the scale…

Because it was good programming to be aware of the impact a set of lyrics can have on a traumatized listener. In broadcasting, we make our living through the power of the words and music of the artists we play, and realizing that we have the power to use those songs to make people feel good means that we should also…

How did taking a few songs off the air for a few days following a national tragedy ruin American radio?

Proud to say I helped develop that list from my position in the programming department of KZPS/Dallas