Charity that made loan to AAR must repay city; loses city funding

[evnlee]

Re: It's All About the Money

Keep in mind that CC has already flipped to progressive talk in most of the markets they want to. Meaning that there aren't as many markets left to do it in.

Also, CC seems to be divesting of some of their smaller markets clusters. They just exited Fargo and Ann Arbor, and are rumored to be looking for buyers in other small markets. The rest of their bigger market groups seem to have AM stations that they're satisfied with, so no need to flip to any other formats.

I hadn't seen the item about Ann Arbor.
I believe this is the first market they are selling in which one of their progressive talk stations is located.
It will be interesting to see what the new owners do.

Cumulus is going to acquire the Ann Arbor cluster, in exchange for a Canton FM station:

http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com/2006/08/and-it-trickles-out.html

CC already has sizeable clusters in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area, so this allows them to build it up.

As far as WLBY, I'd be surprised if Cumulus makes any changes. It's a weaker daytime station (though with limited night service). Its ratings with liberal talk are as good as or better than any format will get on that frequency.

And, going a bit off-topic, Ingstad is reacquiring the Fargo cluster, which it sold to CC a few years ago. Having worked for Ingstad myself, I can say that Ingstad stations are operated and programmed much like CC, but with a far lower budget. Lots of voicetracking and bland programming.

I can tell you that Cumulus ( the Dickies ) will flip any progressive talk in smaller markets they acquire. They are in it for the money, but they are a political entity as well. Trust me on this one, I know these guys and they don't know well enough to leave a decent operating station alone if it doesn't fit thier agenda.

 

[keys2]

But liberalism, despite its flaws (mainly trusting the government to solve problems) appeals to the best in people. While neo-conservatism (aka facism) appeals to the worst. Anger. Greed. Envy. Pride. (Gee, four of seven deadly sins). Add to that the basic qualities of hate and fear:

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. - Yoda

Most so-called "conservatives" are dupes; the people to whom you listen are evil.

Now, is this “irony” too or is this how you really feel? Or both? Because this is right up there with your bigoted “irony” in another thread.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: It's All About the Money

I can tell you that Cumulus ( the Dickies ) will flip any progressive talk in smaller markets they acquire. They are in it for the money, but they are a political entity as well. Trust me on this one, I know these guys and they don't know well enough to leave a decent operating station alone if it doesn't fit thier agenda.

So your saying that even WLBY is making money the new right wing owners are going flip it? Interesting.

 

[FightingIrish]

Re: It's All About the Money

I can tell you that Cumulus ( the Dickies ) will flip any progressive talk in smaller markets they acquire. They are in it for the money, but they are a political entity as well. Trust me on this one, I know these guys and they don't know well enough to leave a decent operating station alone if it doesn't fit thier agenda.

So your saying that even WLBY is making money the new right wing owners are going flip it? Interesting.

As far as I know, Cumulus doesn't seem to care what's on their stations so long as it's making money.

They don't strike me as the Bonneville/Salem type, where they tend to avoid certain formats due to personal beliefs.

 

[evnlee]

Re: It's All About the Money

I can tell you that Cumulus ( the Dickies ) will flip any progressive talk in smaller markets they acquire. They are in it for the money, but they are a political entity as well. Trust me on this one, I know these guys and they don't know well enough to leave a decent operating station alone if it doesn't fit thier agenda.

So your saying that even WLBY is making money the new right wing owners are going flip it? Interesting.

As far as I know, Cumulus doesn't seem to care what's on their stations so long as it's making money.

They don't strike me as the Bonneville/Salem type, where they tend to avoid certain formats due to personal beliefs.

You don't know the Dickies. Remember the government inquiries into the blacklisting the Ditsy Twits? Recall who that Maverick John McCain was grilling? Lew Dickie.

For someone who composes a 'liberal talk radio blog' that's a 'news site' I am shocked,SHOCKED this little episode doesn;t ring any bells.

These guys are not only cheap, they will tear down any progressive N/T station they acquire no matter how much $$$ they are making, and replace it with something else. Bet on it!

 

[FightingIrish]

Re: It's All About the Money

I can tell you that Cumulus ( the Dickies ) will flip any progressive talk in smaller markets they acquire. They are in it for the money, but they are a political entity as well. Trust me on this one, I know these guys and they don't know well enough to leave a decent operating station alone if it doesn't fit thier agenda.

So your saying that even WLBY is making money the new right wing owners are going flip it? Interesting.

As far as I know, Cumulus doesn't seem to care what's on their stations so long as it's making money.

They don't strike me as the Bonneville/Salem type, where they tend to avoid certain formats due to personal beliefs.

You don't know the Dickies. Remember the government inquiries into the blacklisting the Ditsy Twits? Recall who that Maverick John McCain was grilling? Lew Dickie.

For someone who composes a 'liberal talk radio blog' that's a 'news site' I am shocked,SHOCKED this little episode doesn;t ring any bells.

These guys are not only cheap, they will tear down any progressive N/T station they acquire no matter how much $$$ they are making, and replace it with something else. Bet on it!

Clear Channel did the same thing regarding the Dixie Chicks. Cumulus does seem to have a history of trying to mimic them. And I always considered it to be mere grandstanding, and trying to suck up to the powers that be. Remember, CC tried to ban John Lennon's "Imagine", a pro-peace song, right after 9/11.

Cumulus and Clear Channel have one main thing in common: They vote for money. Period. They don't care so much about politics as they do about the bottom line. And that's raking in dough. I certainly don't have a problem with that.

And for a guy who's such a Republican, he doesn't contribute that way:

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=GA&last=dickey&first=Lew

Mostly to industry PACs.

As for the people who work for Cumulus, kind of a mixed bag:

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/s...=cumulus&txtCand=&txt2000=Y&txt1998=Y&Order=N

Oh, and it's Lew Dickey, not Dickie.

 

[evnlee]

Re: It's All About the Money

Clear Channel did the same thing regarding the Dixie Chicks. Cumulus does seem to have a history of trying to mimic them. And I always considered it to be mere grandstanding, and trying to suck up to the powers that be. Remember, CC tried to ban John Lennon's "Imagine", a pro-peace song, right after 9/11.

Cumulus and Clear Channel have one main thing in common: They vote for money. Period. They don't care so much about politics as they do about the bottom line. And that's raking in dough. I certainly don't have a problem with that.

And for a guy who's such a Republican, he doesn't contribute that way:

Oh, and it's Lew Dickey, not Dickie.

FI, Clear Channel was not on the hot spot in July of 2003. It was Cumulus, not Clear Channel getting grilled. Look it up.


Let me help:
By Bill Holland
Reuters
July 11, 2003.

WASHINGTON (Billboard) - Natalie Maines' controversial comments about President Bush are echoing ever louder in Congress and starting to rattle windows in the radio industry.

Cumulus Broadcasting -- which banned Maines' group, the Dixie Chicks, from all 50 of its country stations after her remarks at a London concert in March -- was the latest to feel the sting of a mounting backlash against media consolidation.
In congressional hearings held July 8, Dixie Chicks manager Simon Renshaw led the charge against Cumulus. He revealed his office had had death threats during the ban and he had uncovered evidence that the effort was "orchestrated" in part by "right-wing political" groups.

Also, I can find plenty of contributions to GOP politicians. Here's just ONE from the corporation:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politici...4&cycle=2006&name=Cumulus Broadcasting&Sort=N

I had the 'Dick-eys' sign my check for 2- 3 years when I worked for Dick-ey broadcasting here in Atlanta. I spent plenty of time in the belly of the beast. You do not know of which you speak.

Can't believe you didn't have the whole senate hearing burned to DVD for those lonely nights...It made for some interesting water cooler talk.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: It's All About the Money

Also, I can find plenty of contributions to GOP politicians. Here's just ONE from the corporation:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politici...4&cycle=2006&name=Cumulus Broadcasting&Sort=N

How many radio station owners have not made contributions to the GOP?

What is your point anyway. I forgot. Was it that Cumulus is going to flip WLBY in Ann Arbor.

What a disaster that would be! AAR would lose 1/10 of 1% coverage of US radio listeners.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: It's All About the Money

How many radio station owners have not made contributions to the GOP?

What is your point anyway. I forgot. Was it that Cumulus is going to flip WLBY in Ann Arbor.

What a disaster that would be! AAR would lose 1/10 of 1% coverage of US radio listeners.

How many radio station owners make contributions to BOTH parties.

Ann Arbor. Home of a leading university. Major research center. Should be one of progressive talk's best markets. It's markets like this progressive talk needs to be going after; influential beyond numbers. But AAR's (mis)management is obsessed with numbers and quantity more than quality. These people are as deluded as preachers who think if people could maybe listen (even with a crappy signal), they are reaching people and even winning hearts and minds.

 

[kaufcom]

Re: It's All About the Money

How many radio station owners make contributions to BOTH parties.

Not that many. And if they do, they are probably giving more to the GOP. Clear Channel with 1400 stations, controlling 35% of station listenership leads all media companies (not just radio) by giving 95% of their political donations to Repubs.

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: It's All About the Money

Not that many. And if they do, they are probably giving more to the GOP. Clear Channel with 1400 stations, controlling 35% of station listenership leads all media companies (not just radio) by giving 95% of their political donations to Repubs.

Interesting. And possibly subject to change when things get reported after the current election. I suspect the corporate types will be at least hedging their bets this time and "buying access" on the Democratic side.

 

[fred flintstone]

Gloria Wise Execs Plead Guilty to Misappropriation of Funds to AAR

All Access:

Ex-Execs At Club That Lent Air America Money Plead Guilty

Two former executives of the BRONX charity that illegally loaned money to AIR AMERICA RADIO pleaded guilty THURSDAY to charges that they misappopriated the club's funds as NEW YORK CITY released results of an investigation into the finances of the organization.

Former GLORIA WISE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB Exec. Dir. CHARLES ROSEN was charged with grand larceny, forgery, and obstructing governmental administration, while former Assistant Dir. JEFFREY AULENBACK was charged with grand larceny and obstructing governmental administration. Among four others identified in the investigation as playing a part in fraud at the club was AIR AMERICA co-founder and GLORIA WISE Development Dir. EVAN MONTVEL-COHEN, who the report named as receiving four loans totalling $875,000. that were used for the radio network, and former AIR AMERICA VP of Finance SINHE TERRERO, who also worked at GLORIA WISE and allegedly took improper personal payments from the club.

The AIR AMERICA money was returned to the city recently after the network placed the funds in escrow pending the investigation's conclusions, although other funds allegedly used by the executives for personal purchases have not yet been recovered, and a state investigation remains active.

 

[dampier]

Re: Gloria Wise Execs Plead Guilty to Misappropriation of Funds to AAR

Among four others identified in the investigation as playing a part in fraud at the club was AIR AMERICA co-founder and GLORIA WISE Development Dir. EVAN MONTVEL-COHEN, who the report named as receiving four loans totalling $875,000. that were used for the radio network, and former AIR AMERICA VP of Finance SINHE TERRERO, who also worked at GLORIA WISE and allegedly took improper personal payments from the club.

The AIR AMERICA money was returned to the city recently after the network placed the funds in escrow pending the investigation's conclusions, although other funds allegedly used by the executives for personal purchases have not yet been recovered, and a state investigation remains active.

[/quote]

Slanted reporting. I love articles that you have to read between the lines to get the facts. Those that plead guilty were not associated with AAR in any way.

Evan Cohen remains the only guy who was directly involved in the transfer and approval of Club money from his position with the Club and AAR. Mr. Terrero was not involved in the transfer or approval of the loan from Gloria Wise to AAR considering he only worked for Gloria Wise from 2000-2002. Terrero joined AAR when it began two years later in 2004. The reporting here suggests by omission that Terrero was involved in the loaning of money from Gloria Wise and giving it to AAR (and possibly himself) when that never happened. In his role as former AAR VP of Finance (he quit in 2005), he could receive the money on behalf of AAR. Neither of these two have been charged with a thing (although Cohen probably deserves to be for something).

The money, BTW, has been in escrow earning interest since the summer of 2005. It was up to the city to transact the transfer of funds back, which they did recently. But the funds have been there for more than a year. And the executives who used the money for personal purchases were NOT those at AAR. They were the two who worked exclusively for Gloria Wise.

I have no evidence a state investigation continues... I'd like to see some evidence of that.

This was clearly a news piece that tried to scramble up two different issues in an effort to zing AAR. But it's not hard to untangle who did what once you go beyond this "report."

 

[fred flintstone]

Re: Gloria Wise Execs Plead Guilty to Misappropriation of Funds to AAR

Slanted reporting. I love articles that you have to read between the lines to get the facts. Those that plead guilty were not associated with AAR in any way.

C'mon, Phil. The article starts out with the words, "Two former executives of the BRONX charity..." This is hardly "between the lines." This is the lead. You really are protesting too much. Very suspicious.