AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

[ABQTom]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

Agenda driven programming hurts radio advertising. We already know about the Air America banned advertiser list. There is also a Micheal Savage banned advertiser list. In this case several advertisers don't advertise on the Michael Savage show because of his viewpoints. Disclaimer: By posting this, I am taking NO political position, this is intended for illustrative purposes only. Personally, I find the comments of both Michael Savage and Mike Malloy on this issue to both be inappropriate and too extreme. This is a response to what Jay Marvin pointed out above.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,227331.shtml

 

[ABQTom]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

All agenda all the time radio is killing the talk radio format. Plus it's boring.

Another response to what Jay Marvin wrote above...

I first started listening to talk radio in high school because I found it entertaining. I enjoyed the passion expressed from the hosts, irregardless of their political persuasion. I liked the big sound and big voices of AM talk radio with its commercials, liners, and promos. Alan Colmes was my favorite host, his wry humor and “radio graffiti” were mandatory during my lunch hour. And, I’ve always been as much of a DX-er as a fan of the political talk, going into every radio shack and looking for those yellow clearance tags.

Today I find myself in sales/affiliate relations/promotions of political talk programs. Unfortunately, radio isn’t fun anymore, because talk radio has evolved into HATE radio. For many hosts, it’s only about throwing stones at the other side. Bruce Williams has commented about other extremist hosts in “his business.” There are very few hosts left who are actually journalists, like Dave Ross on KIRO, and presumably, Jim Bohannon. There are few hosts left like Ross, Bohannon, Rollye James, Alan Colmes, and Bryan Styble who host open line unscreened formats, don’t care what their guests or callers think, and don't try to convince anyone. Instead, it is constant arguing, i.e. Randi Rhodes cutting callers off … and she’s called the “goddess” of radio? And Michael Savage, with his anti-Muslim hatred, is called “America’s most exciting radio talk show?”

And, finally, the sad issue of radio advertising. Talk radio died whenever the first talk radio advertiser black list was created. I don’t know if this was Air America’s fault, but given their aggressive far left agenda (even further left than KGO and KIRO, I might ad), I would not be surprised. Recently, Michael Savage now has an advertiser black list. I ask this question to program directors, if your hosts aren’t be respectful enough to other ethnicities and the gay/lesbian/trans community, then why do you have them on your station? PD’s - If your own child at school got in trouble for bashing Jews, Muslims, or gays, wouldn’t you rebuke them? Of course you would.

 

[jaymarvin]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

Tom, here's the thing. Talk radio is at it's best when it is fun to listen too. Who cares if the talent is right or left as long as their good. Up until a few years ago you had people on the air who were good, and their was a lot of drama going on. So you wanted to tune to hear all the fun. Hosts fighting with callers, and being funny and clever about it, hosts fighting with each other, and being funny and clever about it. Now all you have is agenda driven hate and bile 24/7. Look, I use to be one of the most combative hosts on the air. But callers always knew they could come back and we would either agree or disagree. I would hang up on people and call them "brain stems" and do all kinds of wild stuff. I'd laugh so hard on the air I would have tears streaming out of my eyes because I worked with great folks like Grant Parke and Steve Alexander. Now I might get angry every once in a while, but times change. And I got tired of doing it. Back in those days the callers knew how to play the game, and they would even call in and say all kinds of crazy stuff. Now everyone has to be so PC that when you do even inch towards the line the complaints start pouring in. Most hosts go back to the same thing all the time: Bush is evil and Liberals are un-American jerks and they hate America. It's all the same old same old. I don't know about anyone else I'm tired of it. Things have to change. The problem is there's too much syndication, very little talent out there, and no one willing to take a gamble on trying anything new. As far as Jones goes I'm right in their backyard and I've never heard from them. That's OK. Syndication is never going to happen for me, and it's fine. I'm happy and love the people I work with. It's radio I'm sad about. It better turn itself around before it's too late.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

Tom, here's the thing. Talk radio is at it's best when it is fun to listen too. Who cares if the talent is right or left as long as their good. Up until a few years ago you had people on the air who were good, and their was a lot of drama going on. So you wanted to tune to hear all the fun. Hosts fighting with callers, and being funny and clever about it, hosts fighting with each other, and being funny and clever about it. Now all you have is agenda driven hate and bile 24/7. Look, I use to be one of the most combative hosts on the air. But callers always knew they could come back and we would either agree or disagree. I would hang up on people and call them "brain stems" and do all kinds of wild stuff. I'd laugh so hard on the air I would have tears streaming out of my eyes because I worked with great folks like Grant Parke and Steve Alexander. Now I might get angry every once in a while, but times change. And I got tired of doing it. Back in those days the callers knew how to play the game, and they would even call in and say all kinds of crazy stuff. Now everyone has to be so PC that when you do even inch towards the line the complaints start pouring in. Most hosts go back to the same thing all the time: Bush is evil and Liberals are un-American jerks and they hate America. It's all the same old same old. I don't know about anyone else I'm tired of it. Things have to change. The problem is there's too much syndication, very little talent out there, and no one willing to take a gamble on trying anything new. As far as Jones goes I'm right in their backyard and I've never heard from them. That's OK. Syndication is never going to happen for me, and it's fine. I'm happy and love the people I work with. It's radio I'm sad about. It better turn itself around before it's too late.

Well said, Jay. Too bad the PDs out there are out to be the next Phil Boyce (Heaven help us) with veteran talk voices in local markets being thrown to the curb. Steve Cannon was a perfect example here in Columbus. Clear Channel wanted him to get more political, and his entertaining style went by the wayside, as well as his show (replaced by Hannity on delay).

I've copied your remarks to a post on WYTS on the Columbus board. Please feel free to give your two cents there. I used to listen to you sub for Big Eddie when the station was in its previous progressive talk format.

There is at least some light at the end of the tunnel: Michael Jackson is back on the air in Los Angeles.

 

[jaymarvin]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

Sean, I don't have much more to say other than I hope I'm still around to see the change I think needs to come in talk radio to keep it going. Thanks for the kind words. I really love radio and have since I was a kid. The only thing I would urge folks to do is write the FCC and your congress people and let them know you favor a change in the ownership rules that will break up these big companies. Consolidation has been the death knell of radio. And please pray Phil Boyce retires sooner than later.

 

[Julius Leonard Marx]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

Jay and Sean:

All I can say in reply to your posts is (pardon the expression): Mega-Dittos.

I listen to Jay and Michael Jackson online. I'm glad I live where I can hear NJ101.5 in my car. It is exactly what Jay described:

People on the air who were good, and their was a lot of drama going on. So you wanted to tune to hear all the fun. Hosts fighting with callers, and being funny and clever about it, hosts fighting with each other, and being funny and clever about it.

Great ratings. Good spot load. And I keep wondering why nobody else in the world is doing the same thing for their market?

 

[jaymarvin]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

NJ 101.5 is nothing short of a great radio station. Walt Sabo, who is the brains behind it, really has the right idea. Why this format is not on in more markets is beyond me. This station even shows up in the NYC book! The great thing about NJ101.5 is you don't really have to be hard core right or left. The station puts out good radio. What else do you need?

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Re: AIR AMERICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR EXITS - SUGGESTION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM DIRECTO

Jay:

You'll be happy to know progressive talk returns to Columbus on Monday. I hope Big Eddie lets you fill in for him again sometime.