Air America playbook

[evnlee]

It seems that some AAR supporters have hit upon a way to force the hand of Clear Channel..

Think about this: in Madison, CC wasn't really going to care about the 'petition signers' or the 'protestors' until they threatened to buy thier own station:

"Valerie Walasek, a 28-year-old listener who organized the protests, said she had shifted her focus to other options, such as trying to buy a new station. She was shocked by the company's last-minute change of heart."

Phoenix saw thier locals buy thier way back onto the air.

I do not believe CC used this as a 'stunt'. I think maybe they felt that Air America had a shot at getting on another freq in thier market, and since they weren't losing $$$, they decided to cancel the flip.

If Valerie hadn't posed a threat to possibly but AAR back onto the air in Madison, I think CC flips.

So the lesson here is : petitions and 'mock funerals' don't work, threatening to get back on the air in this liberal market with direct consequences does.

Kudo's to Walasek. Smart AAR synchophants would get that lady in middle management, or at least have her consult with other markets that may flip AAR off.

 

[talkjim]

And before someone calls it to my attention, I know that "magnitude" was spelled improperly in the above post--it was a typo.

 

[RBA]

And before someone calls it to my attention, I know that "magnitude" was spelled improperly in the above post--it was a typo.

Are you the same poster with different user ids?

Interesting.

 

[FightingIrish]

It seems that some AAR supporters have hit upon a way to force the hand of Clear Channel..

Think about this: in Madison, CC wasn't really going to care about the 'petition signers' or the 'protestors' until they threatened to buy thier own station:

"Valerie Walasek, a 28-year-old listener who organized the protests, said she had shifted her focus to other options, such as trying to buy a new station. She was shocked by the company's last-minute change of heart."

Phoenix saw thier locals buy thier way back onto the air.

I do not believe CC used this as a 'stunt'. I think maybe they felt that Air America had a shot at getting on another freq in thier market, and since they weren't losing $$$, they decided to cancel the flip.

If Valerie hadn't posed a threat to possibly but AAR back onto the air in Madison, I think CC flips.

So the lesson here is : petitions and 'mock funerals' don't work, threatening to get back on the air in this liberal market with direct consequences does.

Kudo's to Walasek. Smart AAR synchophants would get that lady in middle management, or at least have her consult with other markets that may flip AAR off.

I don't think the 'find another station' threat really scared CC. They went through this before when they dumped modern rock at 92.1. They eventually brought it back on another frequency. CC would have suspected another station coming in to pick up the format from the beginning, since WTDY, WTLX or another station could have easily jumped in, and easily could have. Hell, they were going to rip WTLX's programming right out from under them, and while Good Karma is a sports-heavy broadcaster, I'm convinced they would have done anything to get WTLX on the map in Madison (they paid through the nose to run Howard Stern, and are planning a new tower that will give better market coverage. And Midwest family, owners of WTDY, have been burned by CC/Madison in the past. CC pried Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz away from that station, and recently signed away the morning show from their country station, in order to start up a direct competitor. Don't think Midwest Family would like to stick it to CC? They could have tuned WTDY to grab the audience, or even flipped their rimshot station (106.7), which currently simulcasts one of their other stations. Don't forget their Spanish-language station at 1480. CC had a lot to worry about, particularly after screwing those two companies in the past. CC hasn't made many friends in the Madison market.

The proposed flip to sports, as I've said, appears to be a managerial conflict. After writing quite a few articles about this whole thing and doing my own research, it sounds like the decision came from regional office in Cincinnati. Madison manager Jeff Tyler, while parrotting the company statements, seemed to be content with the station's performance. In fact, it appears he was even encouraging the 'save the Mic' movement (mentioning it on the air and on the website - they even had a link to the petition there!). I honestly think it was a battle between the two managers, with Cincy wanting to flip to sports and Madison wanting to keep the present format. After a month of embarassment across the country, I assume Cincy relented and let Madison do whatever they wanted.

And yes, the petition, funeral, rally, etc. did have an effect. All of these things drew attention to the cause. What really got their attention was the outcry from advertisers and the nonstop negative publicity.

The funniest thing about all of this is that, while the Cincy office was griping about lack of advertiser support, Valerie Walasek, a disabled vet with no radio sales experience whatsoever, went out and found 30 companies willing to advertise on the station, and all telling about how much CC's salespeople suck. How would you like to be a fly on the wall at CC's sales staff meeting after that? Or the next time one of CC's AE's, the ones who couldn't sell time on The Mic, has a sales meeting with a client, who must think this rep is a complete loser! Those AE's should be ashamed of themselves!

 

[redneckriviera]

Has it occurred to anyone that this whole episode in Madison may have been a very clever Clear Channel stunt?

Format flips aren't done with 60 days' notice. They're done with 6 seconds notice. One minute you're playing Country as The Bull... the next minute you're playing Soft Rock Favorites as The Breeze.

But, if--instead--you have a station (The Mic) with pretty solid ratings... an upscale, well-educated audience... but are suffering from soft sales... how can you make a lot of noise, get millions in free print & TV "news" coverage/PR, and demonstrate exactly who your audience is--and how passionate they are about your station?

Clear Channel/Madison just did it.

 

[FightingIrish]

Has it occurred to anyone that this whole episode in Madison may have been a very clever Clear Channel stunt?

Format flips aren't done with 60 days' notice. They're done with 6 seconds notice. One minute you're playing Country as The Bull... the next minute you're playing Soft Rock Favorites as The Breeze.

But, if--instead--you have a station (The Mic) with pretty solid ratings... an upscale, well-educated audience... but are suffering from soft sales... how can you make a lot of noise, get millions in free print & TV "news" coverage/PR, and demonstrate exactly who your audience is--and how passionate they are about your station?

Clear Channel/Madison just did it.

I have seen flips done with prior notice. It's not unusual.

And I believe I posted a reason why in the other thread.

The thought of 'stunt' crossed my mind as well, but it would involve pissing off the local FOX Sports affiliate, which could possibly drop them altogether. Remember, WTLX had already made post-FOX Sports preparations.

My theory is the power conflict between the CC suits. The regional guy wanted to flip, and the Madison guy didn't. At least that's what I get out of it.

 

[Radio_Realist]

Has it occurred to anyone that this whole episode in Madison may have been a very clever Clear Channel stunt?

Yes, and if new threads about this same topic didn't keep popping up like zits on a teenagers chin, you'd have already read the speculation that this whole thing was a stunt on one of the earlier threads on this topic.

 

[kaufcom]

It seems that some AAR supporters have hit upon a way to force the hand of Clear Channel..
Think about this: in Madison, CC wasn't really going to care about the 'petition signers' or the 'protestors' until they threatened to buy thier own station

Interesting after poking fun at "moonbats" in Madison, (see below) evnlee reverses his field and says that big bad Clear Channel was actually afraid that these moonbats were going to buy a station and compete with them in Madison. This doesn't make any sense at all. Firstly, how are a group of "moonbats" going to buy a radio stations. Secondly, if lib talk was so unsuccessful in Madison why would CC be afraid of a little competion?

Here's what evnlee said on Nov. 29

"when has a 'petition' ever changed CC management's positions?"

Here's what I said at that time

"We'll see.

Remember the Dixie Chicks fiasco"

Here are a few other comments from the peanut gallery

Racoonradio

"The station's site has a countdown to how many days Bush has left in office but the station's progtalk format will be gone long before that...Darn capitalist system...a station actually has to make money?"

Radio Realist

"And whether liberals like to admit it or not, most people with a liberal political attitude aren't all that interested in hearing liberal political talk on the radio. In order to be a liberal, one has to believe in sitting back and letting the government take care of your needs, while you enjoy your bread and circuses. It makes perfect sense that liberal listeners would prefer to ignore politics and listen to sports talk."

KJCB

"Enough with the petitions... really."

Brian Maloney (the Radioequalizer)

"Determined to save their failed liberal talk radio station, Madison's so- called "progressive" community has already resorted to several of its usual noisy "hey hey, ho ho!" tactics. With those efforts having so far failed to convince station management to keep "The Mic" as a libtalker, given weak ad sales and mediocre ratings, activists are now looking to escalate their campaign."

More from evnlee

"The 'petition and protest' is only the 3rd stage in the Progressive's acceptance of the death of AAR. When this fails, they will quickly move on to the 'bitter and buying into the conspiracy theories' stage, and then, finally, 'back to NPR with the tote bag'.
wow. 4,500 signatures and only 30 liberals show up? makes you question the validity of those 'signatures'. I sure would be concerned about those... moonbats unhappy with the format change."

 

[Radio_Realist]

See, more proof that the entire scheme of pretending to change formats until a fake "save the station" campaign generates a ton of free publicity was all a clever publicity stunt.

 

[evnlee]

It seems that some AAR supporters have hit upon a way to force the hand of Clear Channel..
Think about this: in Madison, CC wasn't really going to care about the 'petition signers' or the 'protestors' until they threatened to buy thier own station

Interesting after poking fun at "moonbats" in Madison, (see below) evnlee reverses his field and says that big bad Clear Channel was actually afraid that these moonbats were going to buy a station and compete with them in Madison. This doesn't make any sense at all. Firstly, how are a group of "moonbats" going to buy a radio stations. Secondly, if lib talk was so unsuccessful in Madison why would CC be afraid of a little competion?

It makes alot of sense. If CC feels that these 'moonbats' were just going to make alot of noise, not really do anything about it besides a petition or 'funeral', then bitterly go back to listening to NPR or even what they put on the freq after the flip, there is no real consequence, is there? However, if they buy another freq in the market ( as has been done in Phoenix ) then there is a chance they would have to compete for advertisers. Get it?

Listen , I think that you AAR apologists have truly hit upon a way to save it. Put your $$ together, get some advertisers on board, and tell whoever is threatening to flip off AAR 'fine,we'll be down the street, calling on your advertisers with lower rates.'

As for the effect of the 'petition', c'mon. It was the actions of Ms Walasek getting clients in the mix that saved the station. In Atlanta, we knew the new owner of WWAA 1690 was going to flip the format for 2 months. We had a 'petition', and plenty of press both from local radio blogs, the AJC, and the Creative Loafing, all to no avail. Now the only host is Franken, and who knows how long he will be doing it?

But, Baroosk, if you wan't to play that game, you quote every example of a 'petition' saving an AAR affiliate, and I'll post examples where they failed. Let's see how that turns out! :

 

[kaufcom]

But, Baroosk, if you wan't to play that game, you quote every example of a 'petition' saving an AAR affiliate, and I'll post examples where they failed. Let's see how that turns out! :

I just think it is interesting that you talk about an alleged plan to buy another station in Madison (without establishing whether this was ever done) and ignore the impact of every other action taken there (e.g. the petition drive, community rallies etc.) With you its all about the money. Even if this is true, it shows that CC was ill-advised to take lib talk off WXXM in the first place.

 

[FightingIrish]

But, Baroosk, if you wan't to play that game, you quote every example of a 'petition' saving an AAR affiliate, and I'll post examples where they failed. Let's see how that turns out! :

I just think it is interesting that you talk about an alleged plan to buy another station in Madison (without establishing whether this was ever done) and ignore the impact of every other action taken there (e.g. the petition drive, community rallies etc.) With you its all about the money. Even if this is true, it shows that CC was ill-advised to take lib talk off WXXM in the first place.

Don't mind him, he just believes in silly conspiracy theories. ;D

 

[evnlee]

But, Baroosk, if you wan't to play that game, you quote every example of a 'petition' saving an AAR affiliate, and I'll post examples where they failed. Let's see how that turns out! :

I just think it is interesting that you talk about an alleged plan to buy another station in Madison (without establishing whether this was ever done) and ignore the impact of every other action taken there (e.g. the petition drive, community rallies etc.)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4419439.html

Valerie Walasek, a 28-year-old listener who organized the protests, said she had shifted her focus to other options, such as trying to buy a new station. She was shocked by the company's last-minute change of heart.

"It's evidence that as people stand up and demand what they want and demand they are going to take back the airwaves, somebody will listen," she said. "Maybe Clear Channel just came to their senses because it never made sense for them to get rid of it. They were making money."


[EDIT] Irish: "Don't mind him, he just believes in silly conspiracy theories. "

Wow. Two 'bloggers' that won't take the word of the AP even when they back AAR?

Again: this is one occurrance where you are claiming that the ridiculous 'petitions' saved AAR. Please, show me 2 more examples.

My proof? AAR going silent in Atlanta and Boston, after a 'petition drive' was launched.

Phoenix taken off the air, how did they get back on? They bought another freq.

You guys are the masters of 'silly conspiracy theories'. The vote doesn't go your way? "Diebold!" AAR fails yet again ? " Clear Channel! "

Hey, I'm sure AAR is here to stay. Just make sure you ladies get a couple more tote bags, ya hear? :

www.sillyliberalconspiracytheories.com


[EDIT-inflammatory]

 

[Radio_Realist]

Even if this is true, it shows that CC was ill-advised to take lib talk off WXXM in the first place.

But Clear Channel never took liberal talk off the air. It only said it was going to do so, and said so well in advance. Broadcasting companies don't announce such changes well in advance if they really plan to make format changes. But they would announce their plans well in advance if the announcement was a hoax, a fake, a publicity stunt.

The only question is whether or not Valeria Walasek was in on the scam, or was she just a stroke of good fortune for Clear Channel, AAR, and whoever else was in on the hoax.

 

[kaufcom]

Evnlee and Radio Realist

Merry Christmas

I'm out of here until after New Years

 

[FightingIrish]

But, Baroosk, if you wan't to play that game, you quote every example of a 'petition' saving an AAR affiliate, and I'll post examples where they failed. Let's see how that turns out! :

I just think it is interesting that you talk about an alleged plan to buy another station in Madison (without establishing whether this was ever done) and ignore the impact of every other action taken there (e.g. the petition drive, community rallies etc.)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4419439.html

Valerie Walasek, a 28-year-old listener who organized the protests, said she had shifted her focus to other options, such as trying to buy a new station. She was shocked by the company's last-minute change of heart.

"It's evidence that as people stand up and demand what they want and demand they are going to take back the airwaves, somebody will listen," she said. "Maybe Clear Channel just came to their senses because it never made sense for them to get rid of it. They were making money."


[EDIT] Irish: "Don't mind him, he just believes in silly conspiracy theories. "

Wow. Two 'bloggers' that won't take the word of the AP even when they back AAR?

Again: this is one occurrance where you are claiming that the ridiculous 'petitions' saved AAR. Please, show me 2 more examples.

My proof? AAR going silent in Atlanta and Boston, after a 'petition drive' was launched.

Phoenix taken off the air, how did they get back on? They bought another freq.

You guys are the masters of 'silly conspiracy theories'. The vote doesn't go your way? "Diebold!" AAR fails yet again ? " Clear Channel! "

Hey, I'm sure AAR is here to stay. Just make sure you ladies get a couple more tote bags, ya hear? :

www.sillyliberalconspiracytheories.com



[EDIT-inflammatory]

Your post makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It seems that the AP article agrees with what myself and Baroosk have been saying, and disagree with you.

You're the one with the wild-eyed conspiracy theories about "it was all a stunt". Hmmm... didn't see that in the AP article.

Face it, you were proven wrong.

 

[Radio_Realist]

You're the one with the wild-eyed conspiracy theories about "it was all a stunt". Hmmm... didn't see that in the AP article.

First, he's not the only one who smells a publicity stunt.

Second, when a company plans and executes a marketing or publicity campaign, that's not a "conspiracy", wild-eyed or doe-eyed. When a company comes up with a marketing or publicity campaign, that's business as usual. Sometimes promotional campaigns include some trickery, sometimes they don't.

Finally, in a well executed publicity stunt, the general public often doesn't discover that it was a stunt. That includes beat reporters who work for the Associated Press. This isn't, after all, the kind of red meat news story for which the AP would assign their "A" Team of crack investigative journalists to dig deep for the truth. In the overall journalistic scheme of things, this is a filler story. The fact that the AP didn't go to any effort to discover if it was genuine or all a publicity stunt proves nothing one way or the other.

 

[evnlee]

Your post makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It seems that the AP article agrees with what myself and Baroosk have been saying, and disagree with you.

You're the one with the wild-eyed conspiracy theories about "it was all a stunt". Hmmm... didn't see that in the AP article.

Face it, you were proven wrong.

FI,
Unlike you, I can and do admit when I am proven 'wrong'. Read carefully through all the posts, and not through your 'filter', and you can see plenty of examples where I conceed if I am not right.

Step away from the 'Nog, and read mt original post, that started this thread:

"I do not believe CC used this as a 'stunt'. I think maybe they felt that Air America had a shot at getting on another freq in thier market, and since they weren't losing $$$, they decided to cancel the flip."

Get it? I am not the one with 'conspiracy theories', ok?

How can I make it any simpler? Here's what I believe, try to read a little slower this time:

I don't believe the 'petitions' had any effect on the decision to keep AAR, rather, the possibility of them getting on another station and competing directly is what moved the corporate wheels. How do I base my concept? In 2 different markets ( Atlanta and Boston ) there was a concerted effort at a 'petition' to save AAR, and it failed. What makes this scenario different? The AP quotes the organizer that said "..she had shifted her focus to other options, such as trying to buy a new station."

Why is that so hard for you to comprehend?

Please provide me 2 scenarios where some lame 'petition' saved an AAR flip, and I will conceed that these ridiculous 'petitions' are, in fact, beneficial. :

 

[FightingIrish]

Your post makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It seems that the AP article agrees with what myself and Baroosk have been saying, and disagree with you.

You're the one with the wild-eyed conspiracy theories about "it was all a stunt". Hmmm... didn't see that in the AP article.

Face it, you were proven wrong.

FI,
Unlike you, I can and do admit when I am proven 'wrong'. Read carefully through all the posts, and not through your 'filter', and you can see plenty of examples where I conceed if I am not right.

Step away from the 'Nog, and read mt original post, that started this thread:

"I do not believe CC used this as a 'stunt'. I think maybe they felt that Air America had a shot at getting on another freq in thier market, and since they weren't losing $$$, they decided to cancel the flip."

Get it? I am not the one with 'conspiracy theories', ok?

How can I make it any simpler? Here's what I believe, try to read a little slower this time:

I don't believe the 'petitions' had any effect on the decision to keep AAR, rather, the possibility of them getting on another station and competing directly is what moved the corporate wheels. How do I base my concept? In 2 different markets ( Atlanta and Boston ) there was a concerted effort at a 'petition' to save AAR, and it failed. What makes this scenario different? The AP quotes the organizer that said "..she had shifted her focus to other options, such as trying to buy a new station."

Why is that so hard for you to comprehend?

Please provide me 2 scenarios where some lame 'petition' saved an AAR flip, and I will conceed that these ridiculous 'petitions' are, in fact, beneficial. :

WHOA! Come down off the ritalin Evelyn! Okay, okay, I misunderstood you.

And you are mistaken when you say that it was an Air America conspiracy. You and your ilk seem to think AAR is the be-all, end-all of liberal talk. Hell, Jones Radio Networks is the big player in the format. AAR doesn't have it's s--t together enough to save their affiliates.

As for two markets where a petition helped save the format, I'll give you Madison and Portland, ME, where in 2004 WLVP was indeed saved by its listeners (they had planned a flip to sports). To this day, they're still carrying the format.

One could also cite the case of Mike Malloy. 18,000 names sure got the attention of Nova M and radio stations in San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle and soon Miami, in addition to Sirius.

So there you be.

 

[evnlee]

As for two markets where a petition helped save the format, I'll give you Madison and Portland, ME, where in 2004 WLVP was indeed saved by its listeners (they had planned a flip to sports). To this day, they're still carrying the format.

One could also cite the case of Mike Malloy. 18,000 names sure got the attention of Nova M and radio stations in San Francisco, Sacramento, Seattle and soon Miami, in addition to Sirius.

So there you be.

Mike Malloy? Are you Sirius? :

18, 000 names on a petition to whom? That's right, it wasn't Clear Channel!

And, here you are using Malloy as a case study, and what was the desired effect of this 'all powerful, 18,000 name petition'? To get back on Air America. And guess what ? Malloy didn't get back on Air America, so you've made my point for me.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Malloy/

Let's try this agin, FI. I'll take Portland, ME as a case where perhaps a petition had any real effect. Can you name me another example, besides Madison? Because I maintain, the determining factor there was not some 'lame' petition, but the actions of Walasek, who turned her attention to getting another freq ( as happened in Phoenix . ).

Try not to use examples that defeat your own logic