Did Joe Weber say this?

[smedge2006]

A few blogs and a thread on the News-Talk board claim that Joe Weber, on his afternoon
session of self-pleasure on WWAA 1690, stated that he took all of the Air America hosts except
Franken off the air "because they were anti-Israel."

Combined with Jeff Davis' recent statements about why he chose a business format for 1160
(when that format has never worked as anything but a facilitator for brokered radio in any market except NYC), this would seem to indicate that the recent format change on 1690 was
anything but apolitical.

But is there anyone who actually heard Weber say this on or off the air??

 

[evnlee]

A few blogs and a thread on the News-Talk board claim that Joe Weber, on his afternoon
session of self-pleasure on WWAA 1690, stated that he took all of the Air America hosts except
Franken off the air "because they were anti-Israel."

Combined with Jeff Davis' recent statements about why he chose a business format for 1160
(when that format has never worked as anything but a facilitator for brokered radio in any market except NYC), this would seem to indicate that the recent format change on 1690 was
anything but apolitical.

But is there anyone who actually heard Weber say this on or off the air??

this was a complete rumor started by a blogger here in Atlanta. Someone 'claimed' he said it, but no evidence exists to back it up. it was started by someone who was mad at him for not switching Air America programming to 1160 am.

 

[DashRiprock]

I guess the Air America crowd is not very happy with Joe Weber...

 

[caller10]

I think Joe Weber is Jewish. The frequency he came from (1160?) had one Jewish program, and 1690 had one too ... and he keep both. There was a story about it in the Atlanta Jewish Times.

 

[icstephen]

I dont know that when he ran WGKA (when it was classical) we where not aloud to play and Wagner becouse he was linked with the Nazies or somthing like that.

 

[OgOgglby]

I don't care if he's Hare Krishna, he is doing SOMETHING different. I don't think I'm going to listen often, but at least I tune in to see what's there. He does choose some very good tracks and I learn a new tune sometimes. Folks, if you complain about cookie cutter radio, he's at least not that.

 

[smedge2006]

There is a very interesting link on the 1690 WMLB website:

http://www.1690wmlb.com/

On the front page there's a blurb about a "must hear interview" with the President of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, about the Israel-Hezbollah throwdown. Here's how one website describes the FDD:

The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) has become one of the most prominent and influential in the array of traditionally right-wing and neoconservative think tanks. President Bush's speech on the “Global War on Terrorism” on March 13, 2006 at an event sponsored by FDD elevated the think tank's national and international profile. Bush's choice of FDD as a forum was widely regarded as a sign that the administration has not backed away from the neoconservative foreign policy despite the problems of the Iraq War and U.S. Middle East policy in general.

An interview with a neoconservative think tank on an "arts" station? Even on a business station, assuming the interview ran on WCFO, it's a bit of a stretch.

I think this may be the smoking gun to those who suspect that Weber has a political agenda and is using his stations to promote it. Perhaps Rodney Ho can look into this. Something tells me Creative Loafing won't be. ???

 

[evnlee]

On the front page there's a blurb about a "must hear interview" with the President of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, about the Israel-Hezbollah throwdown.

I think this may be the smoking gun to those who suspect that Weber has a political agenda and is using his stations to promote it. Perhaps Rodney Ho can look into this. Something tells me Creative Loafing won't be. ???

Another p.o.'d Air America listener cast astray.

notice how Smedge claims 'heres how ONE website defines the foundation' without giving the website's name. If it was Media Matters, or Huffington Post, or Al Jazeera.

Here's the wikki link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_for_the_Defense_of_Democracies

So many people can't explain why Weber cast that lot off. View the left wing blogs, they run the gauntlet between 'lets boycott!' to crazy rumors of 'Joe Weber HATES Air America because some of the hosts don't support the Isreali war actions! "

Hey Rodney! call Joe and get a quote. I guarantee it will be along the lines of " I don't have anything against those that do not support Isreal's right to defend herself. I don't dislike Air America. I just want to use my signal the way I'd prefer, and in the way I see fit, no crazy conspiracies here".

But there is a hilarious local contigent that is convinced Joe Weber ponied up 12 million $$ just to silence Air America Radio. That's almost as sad as they 9-11 conspiracy nuts that think a cruise missile hit the Pentagon.

 

[RoddyFreeman]

I receive WMLB's email newsletter. I didn't request it, but it comes because I buy advertising. About a month ago, the newsletter said that Joe Weber was taking a hiatus from his afternoon show because he dislikes the heat and is living up north for the summer. In light of that, I doubt he's said anything on the air about Air America or the Israeli situation.

 

[smedge2006]

Wikipedia lists "Foundation for Defense of Democracies" as a neoconservative institution:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservative

Again, just from a formatic point of view, a half-hour interview with the head of a think tank is a little odd for an "arts" station. It's not like you can't hear that sort of thing all day on 640 and 750, and in a more intellectual form on National Public Radio. (Yes, NPR interviews people like this at length, despite the "liberal" label that gets stuck on it.) Somehow I think that Weber is putting this sort of programming up with a naivete that borders on a short-bus mentality, hoping to sugarcoat his politics with the arts and thinking he can "convert" the old AAR crowd in more ways than one. "Gosh darn, now that I've got those self-hating Air America types listening to my station, if I can just get them to listen to this interview, maybe they'll realize their errors and support Israel kicking butt until there's no butt left to kick!"

 

[TheGreenskeeper]

What’s with all the conspiracy and political agenda stuff? Joe Weber gave Air America a shot, but I guess it just didn’t work. Franken’s still there, so he must have decent numbers. Looks like a business decision to me.

I think your digs on Joe Weber are pretty lame. Instead of criticizing him, why not put your own money at risk, buy your own station, and run AA all you want.

 

[smedge2006]

It is inaccurate to say "Weber gave it a shot". He took it off as soon as he acquired the station. The previous owners gave it a half-arsed shot, and then sold it. As has been reported, they never really planned to keep 1690. They were looking to flip it after hitting the jackpot by moving it in all the way from Adel, halfway to Florida, and needed some filler programming to move the needles and keep the license until then.

I doubt Weber even buys the ratings survey, so how would he know Franken's numbers as opposed to anyone else's, and what makes you think he made the decision on that basis? His lackeys stated at the time that they kept it on as a way to attempt to convert AA listeners to fans of the "arts" (and neocon interviews) format. I don't think Weber would have kept AA on if it had double digit shares. He has his own interests, which from his station website, appear to go beyond mere "support of the arts."

 

[evnlee]

I receive WMLB's email newsletter. I didn't request it, but it comes because I buy advertising. About a month ago, the newsletter said that Joe Weber was taking a hiatus from his afternoon show because he dislikes the heat and is living up north for the summer. In light of that, I doubt he's said anything on the air about Air America or the Israeli situation.

here's a point: Roddy actually BUYS advertising on WMLB, which means that he seems to think advertising on this station is worth the billing costs. That PROVES that Weber is running a business, not an Ipod.

Smedge is just upset that WWAA ( Air America ) could not sell advertising like Weber can, otherwise they might still be on the air. Now Smedge has to turn over every rock and try to find the reason Weber dumped AAR: it sucked. Nobody wanted to pony up the $$$ to SAVE the signal, and the previous owners did not even try to sell ad time. They ran an ad for sales staff AND NO ONE TOOK THE JOB!

Even is Weber did have a political reason NOT to like AAR, I don't think he would be dumb enough to say it publically. Since he hasn't ,Smedge and the Smedgebats have tried every other excuse to explain away why AAR is not on the air in Atlanta. You can't reason with these people. It's like trying to explain to the 9-11 conspiracists that a plane hit the pentagin, Eventually, you just shake your head, and walk away laughing

 

[taylorengineer]

The only thing Joe Weber wants, like most everyone else who wants to "be on the radio," is for people to pay attention to him. He wants to be the center of attention....something he gets to do because he inherited a company from his father and sold it for multiple millions.....and he can afford to "buy" the attention.

 

[smedge2006]

here's a point: Roddy actually BUYS advertising on WMLB, which means that he seems to think advertising on this station is worth the billing costs. That PROVES that Weber is running a business, not an Ipod.

No, what would prove it is if he sold enough to cover his expenses and make a reasonable profit. I doubt that's happening yet, but more importantly, I doubt it ever will. Still hobby radio.

Smedge is just upset that WWAA ( Air America ) could not sell advertising like Weber can, otherwise they might still be on the air. Now Smedge has to turn over every rock and try to find the reason Weber dumped AAR: it sucked. Nobody wanted to pony up the $$$ to SAVE the signal, and the previous owners did not even try to sell ad time. They ran an ad for sales staff AND NO ONE TOOK THE JOB!

Again, the previous owners were just twiddling their thumbs until finding a buyer. What did they offer the salesperson?
Was it all commission? On a startup signal, that's like those old low-pay telemarketing jobs.

Even is Weber did have a political reason NOT to like AAR, I don't think he would be dumb enough to say it publically.

By running a 30-minute interview with a conservative think tank on what is ostensibly a music station, I think Weber has already revealed his political leanings. Please explain to me, even in Weber's formatic bizarro-world, how this makes any sense as a programming choice.

 

[TheGreenskeeper]

Thank you, Smedge, for uncovering this evil conspiracy. Joe Weber has denied the good people of Atlanta their Air America broadcast. He is a bad, bad man. Shame on him. He has a political agenda and is using AM radio to carry out his plans of world domination.

 

[Mike_Rose]

Joe bought the station to present his music and ideas. He is not hiding anything and it is unfair to say that any of it fits a clear conservative or liberal agenda. It's Joe radio.

The bottom line is that he owns the station and he can do whatever he wants.

There is nothing else to say.

 

[lilburncommunityradio]

Damn Mike Rose, stop telling the truth.. You know most of these people don't like the truth, IT HURTS. Air America is Failing all over, Its apperent. The format just sucks, and even though Im not a Lib, I still say if you want Democrat Radio then buy a station and do it live and local. With live Lib hosts, Not Jerry Springer in a can,
Or Al Franken who makes the whole party look like a bunch of silly dumbasses. Or Mike Malloy who hates every president, no matter who they are, or what they stand for, Jeez.. Demo radio could work, But Not Air America. Its a really bad thing to tell the truth, Joe Weber doing what he wants, Just not acceptable is it?
Pshaw... He should be arrested.. LoL. No Air America, Just criminal isn't it.

 

[evnlee]

Joe bought the station to present his music and ideas. He is not hiding anything and it is unfair to say that any of it fits a clear conservative or liberal agenda. It's Joe radio.

The bottom line is that he owns the station and he can do whatever he wants.

There is nothing else to say.

who wants to wager then Joe's new format will fare better or remain flat in the next 2 Arbi's then Air America did? We take the median ratings across the board, and compare the last 2 AA books with the next 2 books and see if WMLB compares favorably against what AAR was pulling.

 

[amlover]

Al Franken is still on because it's about the only thing bankable when it comes to sales and he's Jewish. If AA could find another outlet he would be off 1690.