Air America - Let's get it out on the table

[maseman]

I may not be very bright, but one thing I know inside and out is the radio industry, especially talk radio including Air America Radio.

The business model of Air America was doomed from the beginning. When they first went on the air they tried something unheard of. Rather then having syndicated radio programs to offer talk radio stations they actually went into a number of top markets (like NYC, Chicago, SF, etc.) and tried to purchase the radio station's airtime to broadcast their shows. That costs millions of dollars per month and it drained their finances immediately. They lost pretty much all but their NYC affiliate WLIB with this model.

Air America announced to the radio industry this week that they are making major changes to its lineup. As of next Monday they will have a new morning show called the Young Turks from XM satellite.

9AM to Noon Sam Seder
Noon to 3PM Al Franken
3PM to 6PM Randi Rhodes
Evenings will be a mix of Rachael Maddow, EcoTalk and Politically Direct.


The best thing that Air America can do (whether they file bankruptcy or not) is to "drop" all the extra programming and solely syndicate their most popular shows. Randi Rhodes, Al Franken, Sam Seder and bring back Mike Malloy. They should drop everything else. (Please don't flame me for removing AAR shows you may enjoy on weekends. These shows can exist but in a different type of business model.) 90% of AAR's current listeners come from these most popular shows.

Therefore here's the progressive shows that would be nationally syndicated.

AAR - Randi Rhodes, 3 hours; Al Franken, 3 hours; Sam Seder, 3 hours; Mike Malloy, 3 hours

Jones Radio - Thom Hartmann, 3 hours; Ed Schultz, 3 hours; Stephanie Miller, 3 hours;

WOR Radio Network - Lionel, 3 hours

That's plenty of talk shows to fill a progressive talk station lineup. Hopefully stations would also have some local progressives on the air.

Air America cannot sustain the business model that they currently operate under. Please don't think that even if they do go bankrupt that progressive talk is dead. Far from it. Also, this is not some "inconvenient timing on something that KKKarl Rove has orchestrated. AAR is long overdue for some major structural changes.

AAR pioneered progressive talk on a national level and have really broken the seal. Clear Channel Radio has been a huge part in helping make it successful because it has helped a number of their stations grow ratings and revenue. They have a vested interest in keeping progressive talk alive because it makes them money.

[LSK]

1. thanks - K&R

That is one of the best posts I have seen about the situation.

[Lex]

2. Thanks for your perspective on this.

Sounds like you definitely know of what you speak.

[Nikki Stone 1]

3. Sounds like a good lineup to me

And never never never never never bring back Jerry Springer AGAIN!

[johnfunk]

16. I know I WILL miss Gerald Fearmongue

Jerry did a better Paul Harvey than Paul Harvey!

[ronnykmarshall]

4. Progressive Talk is alive and well ...

maybe some problems .. but you nailed it. AAR will go on in one form or another. AAR has opened the doors for progressive radio and groups like Clear Channel have seen that there is a big audience out there.

[maseman]

5. One other note

Many on DU loved Mike Malloy and really flamed, slammed, angered at Air America for his departure. Don't worry, he'll be back on the air.

However, it does take a village. Every host mentioned above has a different style, delivery, tone, humor, etc. Fire breathing Malloy is like melodious tones to some liberals and like nails on a chalkboard to others. Stephanie Miller is very funny to some and obnoxious to others. Al Franken is a dry witt to some and a boob to others. But ultimately each host is talking about basically the same thing. It is better to have a variety of styles then just one particular style.

My prediction is you will see another 3 or 4 radio national progressive talkers come to light in the next year. It is a growing business. RW talk radio is an aged business and declining. They've saturated the marketplace and have no more room to grow.

[muesa]

6. Local Progressive Radio - KGO and KQKE San Francisco

Bernie Ward
Ray Taliafero

KQKE (AAR Outlet)
Will and Willie (Local politics talk radio - "Willie" is former Mayor Willie Brown.

[Swamp Rat]

26. Ray Taliafero and Bernie Ward kick ass consistently

[KharmaTrain]

7. Content Isn't Their Biggest Problem

I also know a lot about the radio biz...30 plus years of working it in does kinda rub off.

Here's what I posted on another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2128080&mesg_id=2129596

Radio is facing a major crisis...not just AAR. It's digital future is a mess. XM & Sirius continue to bleed money, HD Radio is the new AM Stereo and other forms of delivery...live Internet are just starting to be perfected. Radio's revenues have fallen each of the last 5 years and now is behind Cable TV and the Internet in the eyes of media and agency buyers. Just like deregulations destroyed the airlines through their own largess, we're seeing the same thing play out in radio...and AAR is attempting to survive in this environment. It doesn't help we're in a consumer depression...as spending goes down, so does money spent on advertising which squeezes radio even further. Something's gonna have to give and in the not to distant future.

Cheers...

[maseman]

14. Can't argue any points

I can add that not only has deregulation hurt radio but technology and info/entertainment on demand is hurting radio. If I want to hear Evil Women by ELO right now I can on my iPod. I may have to wait a week to hear on the radio.

Great points though. The narrowcasting of radio with XM and Internet is not helping anything.

[KharmaTrain]

29. There'll Always Be A Place For Live Radio

Yep...I've got a puter filled with 30,000 tunes in the other room. But no matter how many Incredible String Band or Quicksilver Messanger or XTC or Oasis tunes I play, I still have to take the time to get the music, program it and then be sure to be around to hear it. My son thought he'd never listen to radio again when he got his IPOD...that was until he saw how much work and time it took to burn or download songs and then put them into the IPOD. I don't think he's half filled his.

The thing that made radio good and profitable...and that its lost hasn't really been lost...just ignored by the corporates who thought their broadcast licenses were permits to print money. They figured people would listen no matter what crap they throw on and that you'd sit and listen to 30 or more minutes of commercials an hour for that juicy tidbit of Stern or the latest traffic or your favorite band. Radio's greatest asset wasn't the music, it was the companionship. It's hearing a voice that you can relate to...either via politics or culture or location or language. It's feeling apart of a large partyline. It doesn't matter if one transmit this on an old AM radio or streams it to an IPOD or cellphone, this part of radio won't change...and those who can embrace the concept will spin gold.

Cheers...

[FogerRox]

40. If I want to hear Evil Women by ELO

I can pull out the vinyl, drop it on my 1971 DUAL belt drive turntable, and listen to some real hi-fi, not the low quality crap thats out there.

SOrry to get off topic..............

[LSK]

8. Sam just announced his timeslot move

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2129716

[stevedeshazer]

9. All true.

I know radio the industry as well.

Thom Hartmann already is on AirAmerica, maybe you hope he'd be picked up on Jones?

[maseman]

13. Thom Hartman

His show is different than Randi or Franken. He owns his own show. AAR helps syndicate the program but Jones sells his national spots. So he couldn't get fired from AAR.

[stevedeshazer]

15. Thanks for clearing that up.

Didn't know that.

[Greyhound]

10. What do you think of this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2128080&mesg_id=2128080

I'd really like to read a radio pro's perspective. :kick:

[maseman]

34. You bring up some interesting points here

I have to make some corrections though. "Right-wing" talk radio on a national level actually was an accident. It mainly started in the mid 1980's wit Rush Limbaugh. But in the 80's Rush was not a right-wing wacko believe it or not. Matter of fact I know a lot of people who are strictly Dems who listened to Rush. He was not a bloviating nut-job like he is now. He actually took calls, debated points, respected all callers, didn't just do the RW shtick.

When Rush started AM radio was nearly dead. FM had pretty much killed AM. Many were still trying to do beautiful music, some rock, some top 40, etc. But it was dead in the ratings. Rush was good and he was cheap. People who syndicated Limbaugh also got Dr. Dean Edell as a part of the package. Their ratings were good and they started bringing some of these nearly dead AM radio stations back to life.

Couple all of this with 1992. This is the year that Rush started really going far to the right in response to Bill Clinton. Rush knew that he could play that Repuke drumbeat, the same that was going in in Congress, and be successful. He was. Then couple all of this with the consolidation of radio. Big radio groups were buying stations left and right and they were cutting costs by firing local on-air people and putting national talk shows. The thinking was "Hey, Limpbaugh's shtick works why not clone him?" Thus Hannity, Beck, Savage, Lars Larson, Michael Reagan, etc. Bottom line was that they were cheap talent and they got decent ratings. Also, they got the huge AM signals like WABC in NYC, WLS in Chicago, WIOD in Miami, WBAL WPHT in Philly, WRKO in Boston, KDKA in Pittsburgh, KABC in LA, etc.

So AAR comes on in response to the lack of progressive talkers nationally. One reason for their shitty success thus far is that they are on shitty radio stations. Come on...WLIB in NYC reaches one-third the area that WABC reaches. KTLK in LA at 1150 has a horrid signal. And WCPT in CHicago? I heard one of the squirrels running on the wheel that generates their power died. Terrible signal.

One major difference between Rush and his beginning and AAR? New media. We now have streaming and sat radio. I have been listeneing to Randi Rhodes since about 3 years before she was on AAR by streaming her station WJNO online.

Sorry for the long post. Figured some might find it interesting.
Is Our Children Learning?

[Mike03]

11. K&R

Intelligent analysis. Thanks.

[Berry Cool]

12. Nothing wrong with saying that a business has to be run like one.

Thanks for the cogent analysis.

[bperci108]

17. I could be wrong but...

...I believe I heard someone on the network say that all of those "extra" shows are prepaid by their sponsors.

One of the justifications given for Malloy's replacement with Laura Flanders (who I cannot stand for even 10 minutes...) is that she came with her own sponsor for the program: The Nation magazine.

If it's paying for itself, perhaps they should keep the weekend lineup?

Personally I wish they would replace Al with Thom Hartmann.... :shrug:

[Mr_Spock]

20. What's wrong with Laura Flanders?

I've enjoyed listening to her in the past - has she turned into a frog?

[bperci108]

23. Probably nothing, but for some reason...

...she annoys me. :shrug:

I don't know if it's her style or her presentation; I just can't listen to her.

Perhaps I should try again.

[bbinacan]

18. I've heard this before

from a repug friend of mine who is a lawyer and specializes in media M&A. When AAR started, he said their model would not work in its present form. He said, don't buy the stations, get the shows syndicated.

[Rosco T.]

22. AAR has not bought ANY stations.... they are syndicated now..

.. technically. Each station can take the whole lineup, a coupla of shows or just one show. They also have the ability to tape-delay.

AAR with with the 'network' concept for 'brand identification'. That has worked, "Air America" means "progressive radio".

[bbinacan]

25. My mistake

too many beers. Should have said buying the air time. When they started at WCHL 1360 in Chapel Hill, NC, they wanted to buy most of WCHL's airtime. The station said no and AAR pulled back for awhile. Finally, AAR agreed to the station's request that only a few of the programs would air. Chapel Hill, NC where I went to college, is a very liberal town. AAR tried to come in with a take all approach. The station said no.

[KharmaTrain]

32. AAR Wanted Full Carriage...

This is what held them up from returning to Chicago...the network was demanding that its affiliates carry the entire network schedule. This was changed when Clear Channel stepped in, but AAR is still wanting as much time on as many affiliates they can get.

I agreed that AAR should not be a network, but a program provider. It appeared they were heading in the right direction when they struck a deal with Clear Channel that got them on in major markets all over the country but then that stalled. Relying on small "rimshot" signals make getting ratings tough and owning them would have put a lot of extra financial strains on the network...allowing them to spend the money on the product. Plus, owning an AM or FM radio station today is like buying into a vinyl record plant right before the first CDs come out. Until radio's digital future is clearer, owning an existing property is not a wise investment...especially old broken down AM stations that have had a dozen or more owners in the past decade.

In Chicago, the local affiliate is a joke. Its better than nothing. It's only on during the daytime and then intermixes AAR and Ed Schultz. During the Winter, it signed on 8am...long after Rachael's show is done...and signs off at 6pm...carrying just one hour of Randi. No one here was pissed about Maloy...we never got him. For a while 1530 in Cincinatti would blow in at night, but they changed the format to Sports and moved the AAR programming to a smaller signal...thus once the sun goes down in the third largest market, there's just the hate talk of WIND and WLS to listen to.

Right now AAR's "brand identification" is very limited. With no real promotion, no on-going marketing...how can you have any brand identification? Again...I wish things were so cut and dried.

Cheers...

[Mr_Spock]

19. Thanks, this will be my reference post WRT the latest AAR issues

Glad this was the second post I read on this topic - I can now ignore the rest - thanks.

[Rosco T.]

21. Coupla of corrections and objections

Thom Hartmann is currently syndicated by AAR, why move to Jones?

Ed Schultz is currently syndicated by "Product First" (I believe that's the name), syndi outfit by former Clear Channel people.

You damn well better add Rachel Maddow to that list... she's the brighest, most intelligent voice on the air ANYWHERE.

[bperci108]

24. Amen!

I love Rachael Maddow.

There's something about an educated, articulate grrl like her.....


If I wasn't already married (and she played for the other team...) I think I'd propose. :evilgrin:

[Coloradan4Truth]

27. I'm with you, but I'm glad she's on the team she is on!! n/t

[bperci108]

31. I'm sure Susan is too....

That lucky girl. :blush:

Regardless of what happens with AAR (and I'm betting they will survive the storm) she will be a wonderful voice for the Left no matter what.

I loved watching her politely hand Tucker his testicles every debate.

It wasn't really fair; it was like a Rottweiller vs. a Min-Pin. I'm sure the mismatch wasn't lost on Tucker, either.

Oh, well...it was fun while it lasted. :)

[maseman]

33. Well he is syndicated

But he owns his own show. In other words he could decide tomorrow to move his syndication to WOR or Premier if he wished. Jones sells his national advertising like Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz. I'd look for more to be affiliated with Jones in the future. Or Randy Michaels, former Clear Channel CEO.

[regnaD kciN]

39. I don't think that's correct...

Ed Schultz is currently syndicated by "Product First" (I believe that's the name), syndi outfit by former Clear Channel people.

If that were true, how come his show on the local AAR affiliate has "you're listening to Ed Schultz on the Jones Radio Network" as its ID...?

:shrug:

[Coloradan4Truth]

28. My local AAR Station says this:

AM 760 (Denver/Boulder, CO) is commited to making change. We've made some changes to our fall line up, here's what you can expect starting Monday, September 18th.

Mark Riley 3 AM to 4 AM
The Young Turks 4 AM to 6 AM
Jay Marvin 6 to 10 AM
Al Franken 10AM to 1 PM
Ed Schultz 1Pm to 4PM
Randi Rhodes 3PM to 7 PM
Rachel Maddow 7Pm to 9PM
Politically Direct 9PM to 10 PM
Eco Talk 10 PM to 11 PM
Peter Werbe 11PM to 2 AM
Al Franken Replay 2 Am to 3AM
---------------------------------------------------------------

I'm happy because I get to hear Rachel now.

[geomon666]

30. This is my local (so called) progressive station's lineup.

Beginning Monday, Sept. 18, the lineup is:
5-6am Mark Riley
6-9am Jim DeFede
9-noon Stephanie Miller
noon-3 Al Franken
3-6pm Ed Schultz
6-9pm Randi Rhodes
9-11pm Rachel Maddow
11p-2a Sam Seder

[calmblueocean]

35. Why isn't AAR profitable?

This is something I've never really understood. In my market, Mpls/St. Paul, we've got at least 3 full-time right wing talk radio stations, certainly more if you count what passes for "Christian talk radio". Minnesota has deep Democratic roots, and it's fair to say that at least half the populace here are liberal or liberal-leaning. But AAR always seems to be struggling.

Here's a true story: When my windshield got a crack in it this spring, I e-mailed our local AAR station to ask them to recommend an auto glass repair company that advertised with them. THERE WASN'T ONE.

On the right wing stations, I hear auto glass ad after auto glass ad. I couldn't believe none of those companies were advertising on progressive radio. One day, several months later, I got a surprise e-mail back from our AAR station letting me know that they finally had an auto glass repair company advertising with them. What took so long? Why are businesses so skittish about advertising on progressive radio? Why don't they want our money?

[LSK]

36. 1. they started life in a serious hole 2. they tried to buy radio stations

Evan Cohen did a real good screw job on them in their early days.

Then they tried to buy radio stations instead of just leasing airtime for their shows.

[Garbo 2004]

37. What stations did they try to buy? As I recall when they started out at

most they leased time. That was costly.

[ThoughtCriminal]

38. Why Right-Wing radio has an edge with advertisers

There are plenty of advertisers who want gullible listeners.

[mucifer]

41. The chicago aar asks it's listeners to call the sponsers to tell them we

like aar. The issue is that the freepers are harassing the advertisers.

BTW the Chicago stations web site still says stay tuned for programming changes.

[KharmaTrain]

42. Chicago's Operation Is A Joke

The studios are on the south side, the sales office is in the Western burbs and the transmitter is way out Northwest. This station has been a disaster since Newsweb bought it. The saving grace is owner Fred Eychanner is a loyal Democrat and has tons of Rupert Murdoch's money to keep the place going.

Sadly, like many small AAR affiliates, there's very little station marketing or local programming. Its bad enough these are small stations, but few people even know they exist.

Progressive Radio should do very well in Chicago. There are many good local talk hosts who could augment some of the national shows...but that requires a lot more than owners or listeners seem to want.

Oh well...

[mucifer]

43. If you email the station they reply quickly. Their ratings are better

than some other right wing chicago stations that have stronger signals. Give em a chance.