MALLOY NEWS: Sacramento interview w/Mike (from Bartcop)

[choie]

Mike was interviewed today on an AAR affiliate in Sacramento. The gist is given in this post sent to Bartcop -- http://www.bartcop.com/malloy9-1-06-update.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Bart, I'm listening to Mike talk to our Air America affiliate here in Sacramento...

He said that it WAS a financial decision...one of the big wigs wasn't seeing a big enough return on their investment apparantly and was looking to cut expense(maybe he shoulda tried Haliburton??)

Mike says that that Laura Flanders will be taking over his spot and since Flanders comes with her own sponsors, Air America doesn't have to pay her...as Mike said, it took them about 7 seconds to make the decisions to can Mike- who was the lowest paid in the bunch by the way...

He mentioned the lack of radio background that more than one of the CEO's have. Goldberg, who came from the record industry, screwed up things pretty bad, thus was given a nice golden parachute in Mike's words, and they brought in a guy who's from the freakin' cosmetics industry (oy, my head is starting to hurt)...

He was asked if there was a chance that his stance on certain political issues (Israel, 9/11) played a factor is his being fired. He didn't dismiss it, but I didn't get the feeling from him that that was a main reason...he said that it was important to discuss those issues especially cuz they're politically taboo - what a concept, eh?

He says there's no chance of him coming back to Air America- even if they begged him. They embarrased him, let him talk about his upcoming renewed contract and return to NYC, then finds out ON HIS WAY TO WORK that he's fired.

He was on our affiliate for an hour, took some calls, ranted a bit with our local hosts, and it felt like our own little personal Malloy show- as good a swan song as anyone could hope for, I guess...

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a head's up from what I heard this morning... I'm pissed off to be sure and sent a comment to AA saying so. Way to be an example of how a liberal/progressive radio network deals with employment/business issues- fire him on his way to work...assholes.

Cheers and best Bart,
xoox
Fran
Sacramento, CA

----------------------------------

So he won't return even if asked. Can't say I blame him. :(

[princehal]

1. Oh hell

Mike will land somewhere. And I will follow.

[choie]

2. amen.

I have no doubt he'll be snapped up. It's just a damn shame that someone of Mike's caliber was treated with such shabby disrespect.

[judy]

3. Thanks a lot choie, for the update...

I am still in favor of letters and also the petition.
If he is asked back and says no, that will probably feel very good to him and Kathy.

As for the petition, it will look really good on his resume, to have a petition with 10,000 signatures asking to get him back on the air :)

Aside from that, I'll follow, even if I have to buy a satellite radio!

[WillyT]

4. Thank You For This Update !!! - K & R !!!

:kick:

[Selatius]

5. You people have to understand that AAR is a for-profit enterprise

The main goal, as a result, is not liberal commentary per se. The main goal is to make money for the shareholders. Liberal commentary is subordinated to that goal, and if liberal commentary broaches the issue of capitalism and the state, you can be sure the shareholders will ensure few voices that challenge the dominant position of capitalism will be allowed.

[mountainvue]

8. AAR is not a publicly traded company. n/t

[Selatius]

18. You don't have to be publicly traded to be a for-profit enterprise

You can be, but you don't have to be. Perhaps I should've said "stakeholder" instead of "shareholder" in that respect.

[RethugAssKicker]

9. BS... Are you saying that if AAR had a chance to hire

Rush Limbaugh because he can bring in more bucks, they will
change their stance from liberal to rethug?

I don't think so !

[PresidentWar]

12. Gee I didn't read that in their comments at all

They were simply stating the truth: that AAR is a business, and as such, must raise sufficient revenue to stay alive or make a profit. Radio overwhelmingly does this through ad sales. When a host has high Arbitron ratings and also brings in the ad bucks to his show, yes, he'll stay. But that in no way says to me that AAR would go out and hire Limbaugh because that would go against their very reason for being - and that is probably the only restrictor to the pursuit of the bottom line. And when you think of it, it makes sense. Even though doctors stand to make more money when more people are needing lung cancer treatment, you don't usually see them as personal investors in Phillip Morris, for example.

[nolabels]

11. That's their problem not ours

The majority of America is so brain washed that they get angry when people start to tell them the truth. It would probably better if Mike did go to satellite radio somewhere at least the ax of corporate sponsorship wouldn't weigh so heavy

[glitch]

13. For profit doesn't have to mean unethical. What they did to Malloy was

not cool, whether you like him or not.

In fact, behaving unethically is not good for long-term profits and therefore not good for business. So now they are both unethical and dumbasses.

[never_get_over_it]

19. Liberal commentary

is why AAR was founded - to give some opposition to all the right wing shit out there on the radio - whoever this guy is that made the decision is a FUCKING IDIOT and I for one will no longer be listening to AAR - execpt for Sam because I love him - since I was an internet listener I'll just head on over to the HORN

[Selatius]

29. Well, my only hunch as to the reason he got axed was because he

kept questioning what happened on 9/11, and somebody probably didn't want that.

[proud patriot]

6. Fired on his way into work

:grr:

[EFerrari]

10. Really. That's disgusting.

:mad:

[PresidentWar]

15. That is a common occurence in radio

I have friends in radio, two of whom now have syndicated shows, that told me it was very common to simply walk into work one day and see people hauling their stuff out to the lobby, with a "good luck in your future endeavors" note attached.

Cruel? Sure. Common? Absolutely.

[Shakespeare]

24. Your friends are right.

I used to work in radio, and that's the way the business runs. It's not right, and it's not nice, but that's radio.

I walked away from my gig as a DJ with stellar Arbitron numbers after getting badly burned (job advice: never pull down better numbers than your boss), and I never went back. I turned down offers from two competing stations--if you're good, there's always work somewhere (and Mike will get picked up somewhere soon, I'm sure). Nasty, ruthless, ego-driven business.

[bdamomma]

23. that's terrible I won't blame Mike if he didn't go back

he shouldn't be treated like that, there is such a thing as respect.

[patrioticliberal]

7. Thank you

[cpamomfromtexas]

14. I JUST LOVE HIM, IT'S LIKE LISTENING TO MY DAD

I first discovered Mike when I was working in a big sweatshop accounting firm. I would take my earphones and hook up to the net and listen while working all the while sitting right next to rethuglicans. A couple of times, he had me laughing so hard I thought Dr Pepper would come out my nose!

[Wanet]

16. Mike was also interviewed

On other other Sacramento liberal talk station, AM 1240, on the local Christine Craft show (about 3:00 p.m. 8-31-06). We in the Sacramento area are so lucky to get two chances to hear Mike! -- Wanet

[Union Thug]

17. Thx for the update. AAR can go to hell. Good bye A-Holes! n/t

[femrap]

20. The business suit who came from the cosmetics

industry to radio.....would someone please inform me as to how this kind of shit happens. These guys know squat about WTF they're doing and get paid big dollars for it. I'm surprised American Industry hasn't collapsed sooner.

United States of Corporations.

[The Wielding Truth]

49. Poorly run hmmm sound like "Heckavajob" doesn't it?

Darn, Malloy I miss ya already.

[B Calm]

21. Far as I'm concerned AAR is DEAD!!!!!!!!

[Peace Patriot]

22. Well, for once I'd say, don't believe Mike. This reminds me of Al Gore

saying he won't run for president. It can change with changed circumstances.

Financial bottom lines are idiocy lines. They are why our country's economy is tanking (that, and a $10 trillion deficit). Capitalism ran out of ideas around the time the Gap started outsourcing all their clothing manufacture to sweatshops in Saipan.

Lack of creativity.
Lack of daring.
Lack of courage.
Lack of loyalty.
Lack of real competition.
Lack of long term thinking.
Lack of proper regulation and taxation (focus on the common good).
Global monopolies.
Exploitative practices.
Dependence on oil (ocean, air pollution).
Lack of loyalty to the U.S. and its workers.
Vast political corruption.
Utter stupidity and greed in the country's business and political establishment.

When the rich get richer, and that is all that is going on, the customer base dries up. Because the workers are the customers. (Even that asshole, Henry Ford, knew this.)

And so, when you squeeze the bottom line, the line of idiocy--and ax a PRODUCTIVE, CREATIVE, TALENTED worker like Mike Malloy--you kill the "golden goose."

Anyway, I don't believe this either--that the decision was financial. If Mike was the most poorly paid, why ax him--their VERY BEST commentator and talk show host? They were getting a bargain! High quality for peanuts.

It was political. Worms like the AAR managers get their dictates from on high, and then MAKE UP excuses. It's B.S.! This came from financial backers of the war wing of the Democratic Party. And in that sense--and only in that sense--was it "financial."

AAR is over, folks. It has been destroyed. They've cut or axed its THREE BEST OFFERINGS: Mike Malloy, Majority Report/Sam Seder, and Randi Rhodes (cut back--and she'll be next to be fired).

Coming up: The Bilderberg President of the United States of Corporate America--Christopher Dodd, who brought us Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY vote "tabulation." He launched his "campaign" on the Al Franken Show yesterday. You wonder why Al Franken never mentions BUSHITE CORPORATIONS now running our election system under a veil of corporate secrecy? This is why. Dodd is one of the most disgusting traitor Democrats of all--the one who colluded with Tom Delay and Bob Ney to destroy our election system. And this is the kind of toadyism and pablum we're going to get on AAR from now on.

----------------------------------

I have to add this hopeful edit: I'm speaking, above, of the TREND at AAR. They've now axed or cut back their THREE BEST commentators: Mike, Randi and Sam. I think it's still possible to change their minds about Mike. They're going to lose half their listener base. NOT. GOOD. BUSINESS. The "financial" thing is B.S. They've made a POLITICAL decision to abandon a good portion of their listeners, and hard-hitting political commentary. That CAN be turned around. BECAUSE it's a bad business decision. The marketplace may win out yet. We ARE the majority. Hit 'em hard! Get this AAR management removed--and I think Mike will reconsider.

[never_get_over_it]

25. Do you know for a fact that Sam has been axed

I thought they were changing him to Jerry Springer's spot?

[NYCGirl]

28. He is moving to 9am - noon in mid-September:

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2006/08/23/failure_is_an_option/

Franken was Air America's marquee name. Most listeners had never heard of Seder, whose ``Majority Report" was promoted this week to the midmorning slot -- 9 a.m. to noon -- on more than 70 stations across the country, including New York and Los Angeles.

[waldnorm]

32. In L.A.?

I doubt it. Stephanie Miller's on during that time (and I'd be very surprised if they moved her)--unless Seder is being played later in the day.

[NYCGirl]

33. I have no idea what LA's AAR station is doing. You might have to ask them.

But Sam will be on 9-noon on the AAR lineup.

[never_get_over_it]

34. Thank you so much for the article

I love Sam got to know him when he substitued for Randi and others - and would only listen to Majority Report when Janeanne was gone - love her politcs but the pyscho babble she use to go on and on with really did drive me crazy - so I'm really glad Sam will still be around but this Mike Malloy thing SUCKS!!!!!

[B Calm]

27. Good post!

[Nite Owl]

26. Finalcial stupidity

Who is going to listen to Flanders at 10-1am? Bringing her own sponsors or not if there is no audience what good will it do them or us. They screwed themselves. Hope Mike lands someplace soon and we get to listen to him at least online.

[patrioticliberal]

30. She can sing lullabies to people

[bullwinkle428]

31. Why didn't they just fire him via e-mail, like Radio Shack?

:sarcasm:

[NABNYC]

35. Mike Malloy

It probably is all about money. There is no such thing as talent, profession, skill, or competence being rewarded anymore - it's all just sales - go out and sell yourself, we don't care how, and bring money in the door. We will judge you only by the bottom line. We do not care if you lie, cheat, or steal, as long as you bring in the money. And don't tell us how you do it, either. It's the dominant trend in business, and the investors who bought Air America probably read some article in Forbes and decided to adopt it. So all the on-air talent have one responsibility: sell themselves to advertisers.

It used to be that people called "management" were responsible for sales, on one side, and production/talent/creativity, on another side. Now management just sits back, does nothing, and tells the talent to sell themselves.

Everything is about money. If the talent was dealing crank on the side and bringing the bucks in that way, the investors wouldn't care. Just bring in the money.

So talent like Mike Malloy is less likely to get Ford, or American Express, for example, to advertise, because he is more controversial. And therefore, because he is not endorsed and supported by corporate America, the investors get rid of him.

If the investors had any commitment to even "liberal" talk radio, they would use the revenues from their more moderate hosts to fund the more radical hosts who, by their exemplary talent and content, actually bring listeners to the moderate hosts and allow their advertising dollars to increase.

Such a shame. I listen to Randi Rhodes, Sam Sedar, Mike Malloy. Mike's gone, Sam is supposedly in danger. I think I may just remove Air America from my radio listening habits. Too bad, I really enjoyed it. I just can't stand having corporate fascists screw me even in these most private, radio-listening moments. They have to ruin everything.

[NYCGirl]

36. Sam's been promoted to drive time.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/08/23/failure_is_an_option/?page=3

[GreenTea]

37. So fucking AAR executives are going to split Mike Malloy's salary isn't

that great...That's what it comes down to...What will they buy with that money - that is worth the firing of an important progressive truthful liberal voice & family man?

The small and only consolation is that Laura Flanders is very good, and a class act.

However, the AAR "suits" are simply disgusting!

[NYCGirl]

38. Where do you get THAT from? NT

[GreenTea]

39. Gee dear, not very difficult to deduce-

"Laura Flanders will be taking over his (Malloy's) spot and since Flanders comes with her own sponsors, Air America doesn't have to pay her...as Mike said, it took them about 7 seconds to make the decisions"

"He (Malloy) said that it WAS a financial decision...one of the big wigs wasn't seeing a big enough return on their investment apparently and was looking to cut expense..."

So Mike and his salary were expendable it seems, at least that's the way the "big wigs" see it...Malloy's salary is going to end up where do you think?

[NYCGirl]

40. There is no money to take. Air America is LOSING money! They are NOT

making a profit...yet. (And it may be a few years before they do.)

[B Calm]

41. They will be losing even more money now, they silenced the King

of Talk! Pretty stupid move for AAR!

[NYCGirl]

42. But Malloy didn't bring in any advertisers, so it's a zero sum game, so to

speak. (Even he acknowledged what they said.)

[B Calm]

43. Apparently you never listened to his show or his commercial! Name one

commercial Randi Rhodes has done!

[NYCGirl]

44. HUH? I mean he didn't bring in any advertising dollars. They ran

Satellite Sisters on WLIB because they were making more from ABC paying to run the program than they were from Malloy and all his commercials.

[B Calm]

45. Well don't be surprised when Randi Rhodes is replaced with

Rush Limburger because they'll make more from advertising...

[NYCGirl]

46. Bull. That would be against the station's business plan— which is

presented to investors.

[B Calm]

47. According to you its all about being a business and a business is

out to make a buck anyway they can. Even if it means firing their most popular talk show host!

[NYCGirl]

52. No, you obviously have no idea how businesses start, and what is expected

by investors. And Malloy was no where near the most popular host — in the Arbitrons, where it counts.

[B Calm]

56. you haven't learned anything.... maybe you'll understand the day

AAR folds..

[dionysus]

48. actually she does do a lame commercial hawking gold

i like randi BTW

[beltanefauve]

60. Sleep Train Mattresses (n/t)

[GreenTea]

50. Is that what AAR told you NYCGirl...Hmmm...You've seen AAR portfolios and

prospectus---executives don't work for free!!!

And to hear Randi & Mike talk about how cheap they are...and indeed they would know....So they spend all that money on Franken...Now honestly...who is more of a radio pro, has more talent, is more progressively liberal, and more fun to listen to, Franken or Malloy?

Franken or Rhodes?

Franken or Hartmann?

The "suits" are making huge money, as Randi has said a number of times...

So again, the X amount of dollars that Malloy made doesn't have to be paid out...the big boys profit...

Now why do you want to protect these executives by ALL accounts, they come and go...are inept and if it wasn't for the workers at AAR and the on-air talent, the listeners, the people who donated, support Premium, buy their nic-nac over-priced gear, click on and support the sponsors on their web site, support their on the air & Internet sponsors and people who spread the word and encourage others to listen & support....

Hey, I'm happy AAR is there, however, I hate the fact that the executives don't care about the content as much as making big bucks and (Goldbergs) golden parachutes...It seems everyone else must sacrifice because "it's a business" but NOT the exec's profit margin and dividends...

You need to wake up and see the difference between the wonderful content of people like Randi, Malloy and others provide, while the big money boy clowns ("a cosmetic" clown as AAR CEO????) are in the background pulling the financial strings? Get real!!

[B Calm]

51. Great post!

[NYCGirl]

53. Who gives them multi-millions of dollars of free publicity every time he

does Letterman, Leno or Conan? Franken or Malloy?

Who has more Emmys and Grammy nominations? Franken or Rhodes?

Who has a movie opening in September that was made by the people who did "The War Room" and contains A LOT about Air America Radio? Franken or Hartmann?

I hear that Randi just signed a multi-million dollar contract and now doesn't have to work as many hours, so I have no idea why she's complaining.

Don't you get the fact that the station has to make money or they go out of business? The executives don't care about the content? Sure they do — if the content doesn't pay for itself, they are bound by the investors to change it (while still remaining the product sold to investors).

I was in the entertainment business for many years, BTW, so I do know the difference between "talent" (which is the area I was in) and management. We don't especially like management, but until we control these things, we have to put up with them.

You should see this film; it's amazing:

[Beelzebud]

55. If they buy a car, i hope it's stolen, if they use it for a house, i hope

it burns down.

If they are just dumping Malloy to line their pockets, I hope karma takes a chunk out of their asses.

[Beelzebud]

54. Well that is unfortunate. AAR is now a fading memory for me.

First they broke up the Unfiltered show and ran out Lizz Winstead, then they fired Mark Maron, then they fired Mike Malloy on his way to work. I can't support a company that treats people this way.

As it stood, Malloy's program was the only one I listened to anymore on AAR, so it won't be a loss for me other than Malloy.

I'm just hoping Malloy can get a gig on satellite radio or something. I can't imagine not hearing his voice every night, for good....

This just sucks...

[Cascadian]

57. Is there a link to an audio of the interview?

I would have loved to have heard the interview. If anybody has a link to where I or anybody else can hear the Malloy interview PLEASE post the link. Having to work and not being in Sacramento, I would still wanna hear it.

Thanks in advance!

John

[FraninSac]

59. 1320 KCTC is the AAR Affiliate in Sac

Hi folks, I'm the one that sent Bartcop that email this morning, as well as a longtime DU reader. This is my first time posting here and it's unfortunate that it's over such a sad topic. I'm glad to hear that he was on Christine Craft's show as well...Yes, we're lucky enough to have two liberal networks here in Sac of all places...Craft's network used to be the AAR affiliate, but AAR switched to 1320 KCTC for whatever reason...

http://www.kctc.com

Mike's picture is still on the website- sigh...

I don't see that there's a place to hear the interview again, but if so, I'll let you know...

Cheers to DU and all you guys...BTW, it was Mike who tipped me off to DU as well as Bartcop...

xoxo
Fran

[Riga Marole]

61. How is Enid Goldstein ...

doing in Sacramento? Used to listen to her in and around
Chicago.

[FraninSac]

62. I'm not sure...

I haven't really listened to her that much (slightly embarassed)...I know she's been doing events and such around the area, but the times just don't work out for me to listen to her...

Did you like her in Chicago?
xoxoxo

[democrat in Tallahassee]

58. Copy of letter I sent to AirAmerica

I told them I felt like my best friend had been murdered - I've turned off Air America for a while