Art Bell: talk radio too focused on political talk

[Don62]

[size=10pt][size=10pt]"Talk radio is making a big mistake by pounding on one type of programming all day long.
Talk radio is making a mistake by running shows like Limbaughs."[/size][/size]

Those were the comments from Art Bell - a truly riveting host who connects with his listeners - on a best-of show airing tonight, Saturday.

He said it better than I quoted and said more than I was able to write down here.
Art said more general interest shows would better appeal to listeners, if I recall correctly. The comments came after a listener said he wished his local affiliate - WKY, Oklahoma City - ran all 6 hours of Art's show.
Art said radio stations have contracts in place to consider.
He advised his listener write his local affiliate. Above all, be respectful in your letter, he advised.

How true Art's words are (on the political focus of talk radio).

I'm not a liberal. I'm one who actually wrote two of the talk stations in the major market I lived in duriing the late 1980s and urged them to carry Limbaugh. (I regret doing that now).

Bell's right. Talk radio has become too wrapped up in poltics.

But Art Bell doesn't know anything, right?

 

[jimwalsh2001]

Art has a point. It's astonishing how many talented, engaging hosts (and I know many of them) can't find gigs, while untalented, unoriginal political hacks glut the airwaves. The format is in serious trouble, and I don't see it getting better before it gets a lot worse.

Me, I'm thinking about law school... ;D

 

[milton77]

WKY hasn't aired his show since 1999.

 

[larnov]

I guess Art Bell has an audience, But I just do not get it. Him or any of the others that are part of his network.
I used to listen to Larry King and then Jim Bohannon but our local station dropped Jimbo for Bell, Some times I will listen to Joey Reynolds but mostly now I listen to Sports.

But what do I know??

No Comments from the peanut gallary!!

 

[DaleGriffin]

[size=10pt][size=10pt]"Talk radio is making a big mistake by pounding on one type of programming all day long.
Talk radio is making a mistake by running shows like Limbaughs."[/size][/size]

Those were the comments from Art Bell - a truly riveting host who connects with his listeners - on a best-of show airing tonight, Saturday.

He said it better than I quoted and said more than I was able to write down here.
Art said more general interest shows would better appeal to listeners, if I recall correctly. The comments came after a listener said he wished his local affiliate - WKY, Oklahoma City - ran all 6 hours of Art's show.
Art said radio stations have contracts in place to consider.
He advised his listener write his local affiliate. Above all, be respectful in your letter, he advised.

How true Art's words are (on the political focus of talk radio).

I'm not a liberal. I'm one who actually wrote two of the talk stations in the major market I lived in duriing the late 1980s and urged them to carry Limbaugh. (I regret doing that now).

Bell's right. Talk radio has become too wrapped up in poltics.

But Art Bell doesn't know anything, right?

Is it possible Art Bell knows alot of things but is wrong on this? Maybe.

Would a Coast to Coast like show out perform Rush? Would a local station be served better by taking of a local talk show host who talks local politics and putting on a Coast to Coast like show in AM and PM drive?

The answer to all of these questions if you answer honestly would be - NO.

In my opinion, and for what it is worth I am a 28 year old PD/Host in a medium market, strong local talk (issues and politicis) will be the only way to get new, younger and financially successful people on board.

 

[Phil Boyce]

"Talk radio is making a big mistake by pounding on one type of programming all day long.
Talk radio is making a mistake by running shows like Limbaughs."

Yes we are all morons in Talkradio. We should cancel the most listened to show in America, and replace it. We are making a mistake running Limbaugh.

Look, I don't want to sound critical of Art Bell who is a friend and scored great ratings for me on WABC in New York. He has a right to his opinion, but I do not know the context here or if he was quoted accurately. I doubt it, but I just don't know.

The truth is, the two most listened to hosts in America, Rush and Sean, are reaching over 30 million listeners a week between the two of them. So there is nothing wrong with what they talk about. Mark Levin, who is now on 135 stations after a year and a half in national syndication, is the fastest growing talk show in America. These three are having huge success...and sometimes they talk about politics. But the truth is, they talk about issues that matter to people. That is why they work. It is not about politics, but it is about issues that matter. Those who think they talk politics, and that nobody cares about politics, have a very narrow and myopic understanding of what really works in this business.

 

[Gregg]

But Phil,

15 years ago, did you really think Talk Radio in 2007 would be 90% political talk... and 90% right-wing talk at that?

Politics are important. And even on the surface non-political subjects, like the falling down of an interstate highway bridge or global warming, have political overtones.

But on the other hand if you gave someone like Howard Stern a show on an AM station and he had to avoid sexual subjects, couldn't he talk about a wide variety of subjects and bring in an audience that would rival Rush & Hannity?

Imus was sometimes political, sometimes sports, sometimes just guy-talk. Wasn't he considered a success?

With all the political news and talk shows heard on NPR, its biggest call-in show features a pair of Boston-accented brothers who tell you how to fix your car.

Many talk stations dropped Dr. Laura after 9/11 but her syndicator claims she's still a top drawer among stations that still carry her... and KFI's ratings back that up.

Maybe Art Bell in the daytime couldn't beat Rush or Hannity. But his all night talk show about UFOs and ghosts has just about put all the overnight political talk shows out of business. I'm not even sure what stations carry Jim Bohannan anymore. Joey Reynolds might have a better station line up than Bohannan, in markets where the top AM station already has Coast to Coast.

I think as we get older we want more conversation on the radio to make up for the reduced conversation we get in our real lives, be it due to retirement or an empty nest. We don't spend all day thinking about politics, so why should our talk radio station do that?




Gregg
[email protected]

 

[DaleGriffin]

I am sorry did we not just watch a bunch of non-political Free-FMs fail? That is your reason man talk is not AS widespread.

Real Radio in Orlando works with man talk but even they skew political. The bottom line, IMO, is the way talk works is "issues" issues can be politics, pop culture, sports, etc... But it skews political because, regardless of what you people on this board think, that is what works.

The draw is what is going on in the world and politics is universal.

 

[Phil Boyce]

Dale...excellent points. Here is the magic formula for a successful talkradio station. At the risk of giving away trade secrets...let me explain how these stations work: Find topics that people care about + compelling and riveting hosts with great personalities. It works...all the time.

Gregg says:

15 years ago, did you really think Talk Radio in 2007 would be 90% political talk... and 90% right-wing talk at that?

A little over 15 years ago, there were 200 talk stations in America. Today that number is around 1500. So the format took off like wildfire. This was largely due to Rush Limbaugh. Rush came in and filled a void and began saying things many people were thinking. He gave voice to their concerns. In many ways, talk grew as an antidote to what people perceived the mainstream press to be...very liberal. Talkradio came along and gave the other side. It still does this today.

Politics are important. And even on the surface non-political subjects, like the falling down of an interstate highway bridge or global warming, have political overtones.

Talkradio focuses on what is important to people. It is not about politics...although some days it is. It is about what matters. I have tried to say this in every way possible. I have never told a host to talk about politics. I tell them to talk about what is important to people.

But on the other hand if you gave someone like Howard Stern a show on an AM station and he had to avoid sexual subjects, couldn't he talk about a wide variety of subjects and bring in an audience that would rival Rush & Hannity?

He could...he is that talented. But he would have to have a focal point. Not sure what that would be. But the big time hosts are riveting personalities. They will always win, no matter what they talk about.

With all the political news and talk shows heard on NPR, its biggest call-in show features a pair of Boston-accented brothers who tell you how to fix your car.

NPR is a competely different format. It may TALK, but that does not make it talkradio as we know it.

Many talk stations dropped Dr. Laura after 9/11 but her syndicator claims she's still a top drawer among stations that still carry her... and KFI's ratings back that up.

She does very well on KFI. But her show is conservative family values, which fits the talkradio mold. And even though she does not talk about breaking issues...she does talk about things that matter and are important to people. She also has a riveting personality. She has all the stuff that makes it work.

Maybe Art Bell in the daytime couldn't beat Rush or Hannity. But his all night talk show about UFOs and ghosts has just about put all the overnight political talk shows out of business. I'm not even sure what stations carry Jim Bohannan anymore. Joey Reynolds might have a better station line up than Bohannan, in markets where the top AM station already has Coast to Coast.

Art Bell talks about stuff that matters to people. At least in the overnight hours. We would all agree that people who are up all night, are a bit different. So Art filled that void. I doubt if his thing would have worked in the daytime. But at night...in a darkened house...his stories are spooky and made me want to listen. Keep in mind the common denominator: topics that matter to people + A compelling personality. It works.

I think as we get older we want more conversation on the radio to make up for the reduced conversation we get in our real lives, be it due to retirement or an empty nest. We don't spend all day thinking about politics, so why should our talk radio station do that?

Your talkradio station...assuming it is successful...talks about things that matter to people with hosts who are smart, riveting, and compelling. That is the formula. It will work forever. And even if radio changes as we know it...listeners will seek it out anywhere it ends up.

 

[Steven21]

Here is the magic formula for a successful talkradio station. At the risk of giving away trade secrets...let me explain how these stations work: Find topics that people care about + compelling and riveting hosts with great personalities. It works...all the time.

But what KIND of people? Talkradio has become a haven for right-wingers. Anyone who does a show that isn't in that template is often marginalized--not necessarily because of an inability to satisfy an audience, but because of what is expected BY the current audience. Most non-radio people I know perceive talkradio as a conservative-oriented political medium. THAT is unfortunate. Many younger people don't even give the format a chance due to this perception.

Contrary to the idea that hosts are like records on a music station and if you're playing conservatives, you should just play conservatives, let's not forget that entertaining hosts are entertaining hosts, regardless of political bent.

FREE-FM failed because it catered to stupid talk, not because it wasn't conservative/political talk. Why does it always have to be one or the other? Talk on FM has been done poorly almost everywhere it's been tried. The premise is always wrong. Young people DO care about many of the same type issues older people care about. What needs to change is the manner in which those subjects are discussed. THAT difference could make a younger, hipper, more vibrant talk station. Enough with the "spin the wheel of sex" type gimmicks.

The powers that be are, yet again and for awhile, convinced that FM talk just won't work.

And as many AM programmers continue to capitalize on the conservative format that Rush has built, future FM talk programmers will likely ignore the history of failed FM talkers, and someday fail yet again.

 

[Don62]

[size=10pt]The truth is, the two most listened to hosts in America, Rush and Sean, are reaching over 30 million listeners a week between the two of them. So there is nothing wrong with what they talk about. Mark Levin, who is now on 135 stations after a year and a half in national syndication, is the fastest growing talk show in America. These three are having huge success...and sometimes they talk about politics. But the truth is, they talk about issues that matter to people. That is why they work. It is not about politics, but it is about issues that matter. Those who think they talk politics, and that nobody cares about politics, have a very narrow and myopic understanding of what really works in this business.
[/size]

Sometimes?

All due respect, Phil, but that sounds like an exagerration.

Politics and how evil Dems are is pretty much all Levin talks about, the times I hear him.

He's not a horrible host, but politics - like that airbag Hannity - is all they talk about.

Give them a listen. Hear what the affiliates in the hinterlands hear.

 

[KevinFodor]

I'm in the Midwest...

Rush and Sean do quite well for us...

As do Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, Michael Savage and Coast To Coast AM.

 

[rockroll0617]

Is it possible Art Bell knows alot of things but is wrong on this? Maybe.

I think he's right. It's not news/"talk" anymore so much as it's OPINION radio. And,
most of it is conservative opinion. Heck, even Fox "News" is a misnomer- it should
be Fox OPINION Channel. Opinion outweighs news at least 4/1 on FNC.

 

[Steven21]

[size=10pt]The truth is, the two most listened to hosts in America, Rush and Sean, are reaching over 30 million listeners a week between the two of them. So there is nothing wrong with what they talk about. Mark Levin, who is now on 135 stations after a year and a half in national syndication, is the fastest growing talk show in America. These three are having huge success...and sometimes they talk about politics. But the truth is, they talk about issues that matter to people. That is why they work. It is not about politics, but it is about issues that matter. Those who think they talk politics, and that nobody cares about politics, have a very narrow and myopic understanding of what really works in this business.
[/size]

Sometimes?

All due respect, Phil, but that sounds like an exagerration.

Politics and how evil Dems are is pretty much all Levin talks about, the times I hear him.

He's not a horrible host, but politics - like that airbag Hannity - is all they talk about.

Give them a listen. Hear what the affiliates in the hinterlands hear.

You make a great point. ALL of what those guys do is fed through a political filter. If you don't admit that, then you've not been paying much attention to them.

 

[quadraphonic]

I think Art Bell has a point.

I really can't think of a "major" talk show host who seems like they are discussing "issues" before they are coming into it with a preconceived set of politicized notions. Even the ancillary stories about golf outings and "events" all have a politicized "us vs. them" factor/vibe that I don't get from people in real life that much.

 

[justareporter]

Phil Boyce is absolutely on the mark when he says:

Talkradio focuses on what is important to people. It is not about politics...although some days it is. It is about what matters. I have tried to say this in every way possible. I have never told a host to talk about politics. I tell them to talk about what is important to people.


The problem is that his hosts don't listen to him. Hannity is nothing but politics. Rush is the better host and has some variety.

The larger problem is they both push a "we" mentality. You're either with "us" or against "us." It is the balkanization of America.

Mr. Boyce is also correct when he says NPR is them talking to US. Actually it reminds me of one of my college lectures. Maybe all of them.

 

[brian65]

The larger problem is they both push a "we" mentality. You're either with "us" or against "us." It is the balkanization of America.
.......................................................................................................

I agree. The "WE" should be all citizens and the "THEM" should be all politicians.

 

[Phil Boyce]

It's OK if you don't get it. I really don't worry too much about that.

Politics and how evil Dems are is pretty much all Levin talks about, the times I hear him.

He's not a horrible host, but politics - like that airbag Hannity - is all they talk about.

Give them a listen. Hear what the affiliates in the hinterlands hear.

Read between the lines of what I said. I never said they do not talk about politics. here is what I did say:

1) I never tell them to talk about politics

What does that mean? Does that mean I told them to NOT talk about poltics? Hell no. It means I don't tell them what to talk about...period.

2) I do tell them to talk about stuff that matters to people

What does that mean? Does that mean everything they talk about matters to everybody? Not at all. I said this in an earilier post but it must have been lost. If I get a 5 share in NYC I am a hero. That means 95% are not listening to me. These hosts super-serve the core. The stuff they talk about matters to the core...and matters deeply.

So when I say they talk about stuff that matters to people, i am not talking about everybody. I am talking about the Talkradio core that is most likely to give me my best audience.

As for Mark Levin...he is #1 12+, Men 25-54, and Men 18+ in liberal New York City. Regardless of what YOU think he talks about...he is reaching the core better than anybody else on the radio in his time slot. So whatever he is talking about...all I say is....don't change a thing. It is working just fine.

pb

 

[Don62]

With all due respect, Phil, you said those hosts sometimes talk about politics.
Only if sometiimes means like 90-95% of the time!

I never said you directed them what to say or what to talk about. I simply stated what they talk about. That is a fact.

As for Levin- the affiliate I hear him on only carries him for 1 hour ( thank goodness! ).
When I listen, it's like I said, all he talks about is how evil the Dems are.

If that's not politics, I don't know what is.

 

[justareporter]

If I get a 5 share in NYC I am a hero. That means 95% are not listening to me. These hosts super-serve the core. The stuff they talk about matters to the core...and matters deeply.

So when I say they talk about stuff that matters to people, i am not talking about everybody. I am talking about the Talkradio core that is most likely to give me my best audience.

As for Mark Levin...he is #1 12+, Men 25-54, and Men 18+ in liberal New York City. Regardless of what YOU think he talks about...he is reaching the core better than anybody else on the radio in his time slot. So whatever he is talking about...all I say is....don't change a thing. It is working just fine.


So as I understand it from Mr. Boyce it is not really broadcasting but narrowcasting. Okay, I can live with that in a very large market.

But the rest of the universe deserves better.