Chilly Response to Ice-T’s Move : Entertainment: Police groups are angry despite the pulling of ‘Cop Killer.’ And some in the industry worry that artistic license has been compromised.

When Warner Bros. Records Chairman Mo Ostin called rap artist Ice-T last Friday and asked him to stop by his Burbank office to discuss security precautions for a North Hollywood concert that evening, the record label chief had no idea what he was in for.

Ostin and Sire Records subsidiary chief Seymour Stein opened the meeting with a review of the media firestorm ignited by the song “Cop Killer” before suggesting a security strategy for the upcoming show. But moments into the 90-minute closed-door session, Ice-T, whose real name is Tracy Marrow, pitched a different solution: Why not just pull the song off the market?

“You could see the jaws drop,” said one person who attended the meeting. “Ice-T had not given anybody a clue as to what his plans were. Everybody was shocked. Their mouths almost hit the floor.”

While momentarily defusing the controversy surrounding the song, however, by Wednesday it was clear that Ice-T’s decision and Warner Bros.’ move to pull back remaining copies of the album containing “Cop Killer” had done little to ameliorate the underlying anger of police groups and others, who have called for a boycott of Time Warner Inc. for distributing the controversial song.

At the same time, record industry insiders and free speech advocates worried that Time Warner had compromised the artistic license of other artists by honoring Ice-T’s request.

“I think this sets a very scary precedent,” said Michael Hudson, vice president of People for the American Way. “We fear that by pulling this record it may appear that Time Warner caved in and it could heighten threats and blackmail against other artists.”

Ice-T could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But his manager, Jorge Hinojosa, said: “The reaction of the police groups and the officials and the media is just proof to us that no matter what Ice-T does, these people are just never going to understand.”

Before Ice-T’s announcement, there were reports that the controversy had forced Time Warner to consider a new company policy that would restrict future distribution of potentially offensive music. Company officials denied it and say they did not pressure Ice-T to take any action.

“I don’t think they had to,” said one industry analyst, noting that the singer has “always been a friend of the (record label) management. I think he made his own decision.”

Ice-T’s call to pull the song sparked a run Wednesday on remaining copies of the album at retail outlets in the Southland.

While “Body Count” has sold about 330,000 copies in the United States since it was released 17 weeks ago, industry experts estimate that at least 150,000 copies are still available across the nation.

Tower Records in West Hollywood had sold more than three dozen copies by the afternoon on Wednesday, nearly depleting its entire stock.

“The publicity is what seems to have kept this record kicking so far, but now, with this development, the thing has been turned into a damn collector’s item,” said Russ Solomon, president of Sacramento-based Tower Records, which has 75 stores. “It’s bound to sell out before most retailers even get a chance to take the company up on their offer to accept unwanted returns.”

While Time Warner’s move seems to have appeased some of the company’s critics--including members of the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Police Protective League--many still are demanding an apology.

The New York State Sheriffs Assn. and the Combined Law Enforcement Assn. of Texas said their boycott of Time Warner will continue, despite the announcement.

“This thing is not over yet,” said Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the National Rifle Assn. “This isn’t just about ‘Cop Killer.’ We’ve been complaining all along that the amount of gratuitous violence and abuse of firearms exploited by corporations in the entertainment industry has got to be addressed. Them pulling this record just adds to it.”

Vice President Dan Quayle, who has repeatedly criticized Time Warner for its distribution of “Cop Killer,” said the company’s decision should send a message to the entertainment community.

“I hope this establishes a precedent that companies that produce these types of record have a responsibility,” Quayle said Wednesday in a statement to The Times. “That they can’t just hide behind the Constitution. To broadcast a message that killing cops is OK--that’s simply outrageous.”

Several recording artists, who requested anonymity, criticized Ice-T’s decision to pull “Cop Killer.” One referred to the entertainer as a “sellout who buckled under.” Civil libertarians viewed the move as a blow to artistic freedom.

Warner Bros. Records spokesman Bob Merlis dismissed speculation that the Ice-T controversy will affect other potentially offensive records released on Time Warner-affiliated labels.

“I don’t believe that this is the beginning of ex post facto censorship,” Merlis said. “We took this as an individual case. This was based on Ice-T’s reaction to the situation surrounding a specific cut on this specific album. We did not extrapolate it to the rest of the roster.”

However, reaction in the music industry to the recall was not positive.

“I think that what happened here is inevitably going to force record label executives to take a closer look at the content of what they are releasing,” Giant Records owner Irving Azoff said.

“I think that subconsciously, even those of us who are strong First Amendment defenders, I think in the back of our minds, we’re going to say, ‘Do I really want to go through this pain. Is it really worth it?’ ”

Ice-T’s manager, Hinojosa, said: “All these people still remain as deaf and dumb and blind as to why the song was written as the day they first started complaining. They don’t understand the Rodney King verdict or why the riots happened, and I guess they will never understand why Ice-T decided to pull ‘Cop Killer.’ ”

Times staff writer Kathryn Harris contributed to this report.