Bongino

[gr8oldies]

Anyone remember “Free FM” after Howard Stern bolted terrestrial radio, and the disaster that was David Lee Roth in morning drive? (lol sure you do lolol)

This is turning into a repeat of that, and Free FM’s high-profile failure made CBS swear off “hot talk” altogether, effectively ending that format’s viability on a national scale. It won’t exactly happen here only because there’s little other options for Cumulus or iHeart to take for many of their AMs, unless they just throw up a white flag and go with a plug-and-play national feed like BIN.

And as we know, we can do absolutely nothing but have a host in that time slot who believes the 2020 election was stolen from. the universally worshipped and adored Trump, and that Covid should have been allowed to spread uncontrolled in 2020

 

[Rusty Muck]

And as we know, we can do absolutely nothing but have a host in that time slot who believes the 2020 election was stolen from. the universally worshipped and adored Trump, and that Covid should have been allowed to spread uncontrolled in 2020

How in the heck is that even viable when talk radio is now largely competing against social media along with Fox News, in which the content isn’t any different but is way more easily accessible?

Truth be told, the likes of Bongino and Ben Shapiro going to radio after building substantial followings on those other two platforms committed lateral moves if not downgrades.

 

[gr8oldies]

How in the heck is that even viable when talk radio is now largely competing against social media along with Fox News, in which the content isn’t any different but is way more easily accessible?

Truth be told, the likes of Bongino and Ben Shapiro going to radio after building substantial followings on those other two platforms committed lateral moves if not downgrades.

True. Publicity I guess, but Rush was old school radio and these guys aren't.

 

[seatownmedia]

These guys can’t hold a torch to Rush’s talent. And that is the polite way of saying it. I predict AM syndicated political radio is on its last legs. Lessor hosts combined with a dying band equals major challenges.

 

[Dondd]

This is what happens when radio programmers program mostly Angry White Conservative Men talk radio. 18 hours a day.
The general public isn't in any way dominated by one narrow ideology and in fact, leans toward the other spectrum.

 

[Rusty Muck]

This is what happens when radio programmers program mostly Angry White Conservative Men talk radio. 18 hours a day.
The general public isn't in any way dominated by one narrow ideology and in fact, leans toward the other spectrum.

Talk radio is a format that 100% failed to evolve, particularly from 1992 onwards.

Part of that is the fault of programmers like Phil Boyce who decided to approach the format by narrowcasting to a distinct niche audience that was already small (it’s not like talk radio actively drew large numbers in younger demos across the board; maybe at a WLW or a WSB or a KFI back in the day, but it wasn’t widespread). So it stayed the same format-wise, the audience calcified and aged out of salability, and the hosts are now aging out themselves.

Rush was so successful out of the gate that everyone wanted to copy him, and largely still do. Problem is that only he could truly pull it off at his career peak c. 1992–2000. But if you’re trying to “ride the wave” he created and in quick fashion, what else do you do?

Talk radio is basically adult standards now but without the music royalties.

 

[gr8oldies]

Talk radio is a format that 100% failed to evolve, particularly from 1992 onwards.

Part of that is the fault of programmers like Phil Boyce who decided to approach the format by narrowcasting to a distinct niche audience that was already small (it’s not like talk radio actively drew large numbers in younger demos across the board; maybe at a WLW or a WSB or a KFI back in the day, but it wasn’t widespread). So it stayed the same format-wise, the audience calcified and aged out of salability, and the hosts are now aging out themselves.

Rush was so successful out of the gate that everyone wanted to copy him, and largely still do. Problem is that only he could truly pull it off at his career peak c. 1992–2000. But if you’re trying to “ride the wave” he created and in quick fashion, what else do you do?

Talk radio is basically adult standards now but without the music royalties.

Randy Michaels successfully "taught the Grand Old Lady to dance" by "talking about your life", still geared to males as a companion to WEBN. That was also the approach used with WLUP (AM). Stations like WLS would talk about politics and light topics. I remember Catherine Jons moving effortlessly from news of the day to relationships, divorce and custody, land light fun topics. On WLW, Gary Burbank would satirize everybody and everything. Literally one break you'd be saying "Damn it, Burbank", and the next you'd be laughing with him taking on the next target.

Sometime around Rush's visit to the White House, he became convinced he was a kingmaker and that changed everything.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Biden sets COVID-19 vaccine rules for businesses

President Joe Biden will enforce a mandate that workers at U.S. companies with at least 100 employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly starting Jan. 4, spurring legal challenges from Republican governors who say Biden is overstepping his authority.

www.reuters.com

The nationwide vaccine mandates that's going to be in effect in January. Cumulus was right to be ahead of the federal mandate but in their case they had to comply with state level vaccine mandates issued by some governors like Newsom.

 

[TheBigA]

Well Bongino's vaccine mandate rant is about to be shut down because of the nationwide vaccine mandates that's going to be in effect in January.

Actually, no. He now has a lot more company because 24 Republican led states are now suing the federal govt over this:

COVID vaccine mandate lawsuits: 24 states challenge Biden administration's mandate for private businesses

Attorneys general from Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, New Hampshire and Wyoming joined Missouri in filing the complaint, which alleges that the vaccine mandate "is unconstitutional, unlawful, and unwise."

 

[davideduardo]

This is what happens when radio programmers program mostly Angry White Conservative Men talk radio. 18 hours a day.
The general public isn't in any way dominated by one narrow ideology and in fact, leans toward the other spectrum.

Yet when an attempt was made to create a syndicated 24/7 product that was more parallel with the Democrat perspective, it failed.

Yes, that was about two decades ago. But it was at a time when AM radio still had audience and those who listened, in general, to talk were a generation younger. And there were administrative shortcomings. But as a programmer who was doing successful progressive talk in LA in that era, it was obvious that the Air America approach and talent array was to intensive and not entertaining enough.

Liberal or progressive talk on radio has always seemed to have a Crusades mentality that was life-or-death serious and had little or no personality and entertainment value.

Conservative talk radio tends to be less "do or die", although the current crop is nearly as boring as the Air America lineup was back then.

 

[Rusty Muck]

Yet when an attempt was made to create a syndicated 24/7 product that was more parallel with the Democrat perspective, it failed.

Yes, that was about two decades ago. But it was at a time when AM radio still had audience and those who listened, in general, to talk were a generation younger. And there were administrative shortcomings. But as a programmer who was doing successful progressive talk in LA in that era, it was obvious that the Air America approach and talent array was to intensive and not entertaining enough.

Liberal or progressive talk on radio has always seemed to have a Crusades mentality that was life-or-death serious and had little or no personality and entertainment value.

Conservative talk radio tends to be less "do or die", although the current crop is nearly as boring as the Air America lineup was back then.

Liberal talk radio was doomed before it started because it was never about the quality of programming, but as a way to “get back” at Rush, if that was even possible. Simple as that. It was fueled by bitterness, be it at Rush, or President Bush, or the Iraq War, or whatever. But bitterness is not entertaining in any way. I remember trying to listen to WCKY nighttime skywave when they tried liberal talk, and TBH I’ll never forget how utterly brutal Mike Malloy was on my ears. It was so off-putting and a chore to listen to.

When The Young Turks and Rachel Maddow bolted Air America for different platforms, being themselves and not doing a rather pointless parody of conservative talk radio, they thrived. Nobody remembers Jerry Springer’s near-disastrous stint as a talk show host, and thank god for that.

And unfortunately, much of talk radio on the conservative side subsequently lost the plot and failed to prevent themselves from approaching that levels of painfulness. I miss the Glenn Beck of 2005, which was genuinely entertaining… that Glenn Beck may never return. Sadly.

 

[gr8oldies]

Liberal talk radio was doomed before it started because it was never about the quality of programming, but as a way to “get back” at Rush, if that was even possible. Simple as that. It was fueled by bitterness, be it at Rush, or President Bush, or the Iraq War, or whatever. But bitterness is not entertaining in any way. I remember trying to listen to WCKY nighttime skywave when they tried liberal talk, and TBH I’ll never forget how utterly brutal Mike Malloy was on my ears. It was so off-putting and a chore to listen to.

When The Young Turks and Rachel Maddow bolted Air America for different platforms, being themselves and not doing a rather pointless parody of conservative talk radio, they thrived. Nobody remembers Jerry Springer’s near-disastrous stint as a talk show host, and thank god for that.

And unfortunately, much of talk radio on the conservative side subsequently lost the plot and failed to prevent themselves from approaching that levels of painfulness. I miss the Glenn Beck of 2005, which was genuinely entertaining… that Glenn Beck may never return. Sadly.

Air America sincerely believed that Republican operatives sat in a smoke-filled room, plucked this unknown talk show host out of the obscurity of Sacramento, paid stations big money to air him and forced listeners to listen to him thus making him a star. In truth no one even knew Ed McLaughlin's politics. He syndicated the liberal Dr. Dean Edell as well. At any rate, Air America copied that non-existent idea. There were people they could have hired like Jay Marvin and Lynn Samuels, but no dice. Franken was a snorefest in middays.

Today there are podcasters/video hosts like Trae Crowder (the Liberal Redneck) who are entertaining but wouldn't fit a 3 hour format. Talk Radio as we know it may go by the wayside soon.

Malloy....mocking the faith of tornado victime? Hard pass.

 

[gr8oldies]

Actually, no. He now has a lot more company because 24 Republican led states are now suing the federal govt over this:

COVID vaccine mandate lawsuits: 24 states challenge Biden administration's mandate for private businesses

My state in particular is trying to put roadblocks up for parents who want vaccinations for their kids. We almost went full anti-vax (all vaccines) last summer.

 

[davideduardo]

Air America sincerely believed that Republican operatives sat in a smoke-filled room, plucked this unknown talk show host out of the obscurity of Sacramento, paid stations big money to air him and forced listeners to listen to him thus making him a star.

Good analysis, and something we tend to have forgotten as years go by.

I remember when our WDSR in little Lake City, FL, carried Rush. Two local restaurants had "Rush Room" areas where a private room had a round-table where locals, mostly small business owners and professionals, would sit and listen to Rush while they ordered the lunch specials.

Nobody paid them to gather and listen. They enjoyed Rush, like the camaraderie, and, well, they had to eat lunch anyway.

I'd visit our Tallahassee and Lake City stations once a month. The Rush experience was fascinating, since being from Puerto Rico I was not involved or particularly informed about politics, but the show was still fun to listen to. And that was the key.

 

[gr8oldies]

Good analysis, and something we tend to have forgotten as years go by.

I remember when our WDSR in little Lake City, FL, carried Rush. Two local restaurants had "Rush Room" areas where a private room had a round-table where locals, mostly small business owners and professionals, would sit and listen to Rush while they ordered the lunch specials.

Nobody paid them to gather and listen. They enjoyed Rush, like the camaraderie, and, well, they had to eat lunch anyway.

I'd visit our Tallahassee and Lake City stations once a month. The Rush experience was fascinating, since being from Puerto Rico I was not involved or particularly informed about politics, but the show was still fun to listen to. And that was the key.

Indeed it was. I think it was entertainment first, politics second until it became politics first and entertainment second. There was a paperback called "Rush to Us" which detailed the rise of Rush from a fan's perspective (including the Rush rooms).. The similarities to rise of Rush fandom to eventual Trump fandom is uncanny.

Buy Rush to Us/Americans Hail Rush Limbaugh Book Online at Low Prices in India | Rush to Us/Americans Hail Rush Limbaugh Reviews & Ratings - Amazon.in

Amazon.in - Buy Rush to Us/Americans Hail Rush Limbaugh book online at best prices in India on Amazon.in. Read Rush to Us/Americans Hail Rush Limbaugh book reviews & author details and more at Amazon.in. Free delivery on qualified orders.

www.amazon.in

 

[wadio]

You guys are talking about Rush in the 1980s and 1990s, not the 2000s.

The show was very entertaining and cutting-edge then, but time marches on.

It's hard to let go, I get that, but talk radio is as alive as ever if you know where to look and are willing to keep a open mind.

 

[gr8oldies]

You guys are talking about Rush in the 1980s and 1990s, not the 2000s.

The show was very entertaining and cutting-edge then, but time marches on.

It's hard to let go, I get that, but talk radio is as alive as ever if you know where to look and are willing to keep a open mind.

Except for a full-service type morning show, all I hear is "The election was stolen" "Everyone has a right to infect co-workers with Covid" "Vaccines are bad". "Democrats are putting people in prison for opposing masks and CRT.""Everyone who voted for Joe Biden is a Communist"

 

[seatownmedia]

AM talk radio is on life support.

 

[Dondd]

AM talk radio is on life support.

Thank goodness.
I'm through with it.
I'm so tired of the incessant nagging, the "we are always right, they (the Libruls) are always wrong," blah blah blah..."

This coming from a longtime talk radio listener who began listening to the once-great format in the mid-late 80s when stations in most major markets had great local hosts. They didn't rely on filler satellite-fed sounds-alike talk programming...

 

[davideduardo]

AM talk radio is on life support.

Tell that to WSB and a good number of similar stations around the country.