If Clear Channel signed Stern...

[raccoonradio]

They've been talking...though I think Stern's Sirius contract doesn't expire till the end of the year. If CC signed him what CC channel (or someone else) might pick him up? They own Kiss 108, Jamn 94.5, and 1200 (soon to be talk), 1430.
Howard's politics wouldn't exactly mesh with Beck, Rush, Hannity, etc. but imagine Stern on 1200?

(Ironically enough when you do a yahoo search for "Howard Stern Clear Channel" you get some stories from 2004 of CC stations taking Stern OFF...)
If CC doesn't run him here, assuming they sign him, who'd take him?

Reference:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/25/entertainment/main6140193.shtml

>>Clear Channel Communications Inc., the home of conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, said it's interested in signing Howard Stern when the shock jock's contract with Sirius satellite radio expires.
That would mark an about-face for the nation's largest radio chain, which yanked his show from its stations in 2004 after his raunchy broadcasts were repeatedly subjected to regulatory fines.

 

[CTListener]

A later version of that story quoted Stern as saying he couldn't imagine ever working for Clear Channel. Since there's no way CC -- or anyone in the radio business -- could offer Stern anything close to the money Sirius XM is paying him, I'm leaning toward him choosing retirement, or at least sitting on the sidelines until radio is swimming in advertising dollars again and can pay him what he wants. Either that or he re-ups with old chum Karmazin for money Sirius XM really can't afford to pay and goes down with the ship.

The one thing I just can't see is Stern doing a watered-down, totally FCC-compliant, woman-child-and-Moral-Majority-friendly show for Clear Channel, at any price.

 

[fmradio1]

Or, he goes new media. How about a Howard podcast, or multimedia platform that would require a fee to access, either on a computer or phone. A Howard app on the I-phone with a monthly fee. Heck, even I-Tunes could sell subscriptions to it. People WILL pay for it. The startup fees would be minimal, and it wouldn't take long to build a similar audience to what he has now on satellite, and could keep ALL the profits. It would be based on subscriptions only. No commercials. No on air restrictions, no bosses to answer to, and he doesn't have to worry about his employer entering bankruptcy. He'd essentially be self employed. It seems like the next logical step.

 

[raccoonradio]

True, and perhaps do a toned down weekly show (maybe) for terrestrial..? We'll have to see what transpires.

 

[thetheo]

He'd have subscribers in the millions (and SiriusXM would lose many of them) if he did a pay show/channel.

All he'd need to do is set up a site and an iphone/blackberry/etc app with streaming, and charge like $3-5/month to access it.

Live show every AM, podcasts, guest DJs, etc.

I don't doubt that it would be in the millions.

Apple sold 9 million iPhones just last quarter. I use many radio apps, and even the branded Dan Patrick app which only streams his show not all of fox radio or whoever he's with, and enjoy them a ton. With my car adapter I've listened to WOXY.com via their app for hours and hours on a road trip with little to no interruptions/buffering/etc.

And of course, that technology is only getting better/more advanced/more available.

Not to mention Ford is about to start shipping cars with internet built in.....enter your stream/username/password into your ford sync account and you can listen to howard without a device even.

I'm not a howard fan really, but there's millions that would pay for this.

I've thought many times, if SiriusXM just made their service cheap for those who only want to use the web/iphone version and not the actual sat receiver in the car I would do it. But I'm not going to go out and get a radio installed, and pay $15/month, then maybe more for the extra channels, then maybe more for the web stream. They need a $3.00/month option for online/iphone/etc access only and people would flock.

 

[aaronread]

Why would Howard do an internet show? He's effectively got the infrastructure/subscription system already done for him in the XM/Sirius setup; someone already deals with all the hassle for him and pays him a small fortune in the process. As for the "millions" that would pay for it...the best indicator of how many people are willing to pay for Howard is how many people subscribed to Sirius Radio in the 12 months after he made the jump. I believe it was 2-3 million? Even today there's only 18.6 million subscriptions total...roughly half were XM subscribers who obviously didn't care about Stern. And there's no telling how many of those 18.6 million are "comped" subscriptions given away to try and entice listeners to subscribe. Rumor has it that it could be more than half, and thus you can't really count them as "listeners"...so knock it down to maybe 5-6 million Stern listeners today? I'd imagine Stern would easily do a lot better if he were on AM & FM again.

As for why he'd return? Again, more listeners. Given the rather desperate straights that many stations find themselves in, I'm sure they'd look longingly at the numbers Stern used to pull in and they'd be willing to give him another chance.

Oh sure, Stern won't get as much money from any AM/FM deal as he probably would if he renews with XM/Sirius...although the way things are going for XM/Sirius, one wonders if they can afford to keep him, either. Granted, they sure as hell can't afford to lose him, but keeping him might bust da bank.

OTOH, given the obscene amount of money he made off the Sirius deal, maybe he doesn't need to care about how much his next contract brings him. In which case, getting a bigger audience to stroke that ego might be a bigger concern...even if it means watering down the show for the FCC again.

All wild-ass speculation, of course. Entertaining, though. ;D

 

[thetheo]

Because he'd be his own boss, and he'd keep about 90% of the revenue as overhead would be low.

Sirius gained a few million when Stern went because that's how many people were THAT into him that they were willing to install hardware/pay $15 a month/etc.

If they kept the barriers lower, they would have gained 10+ million in my opinion.

The potential listeners doing it the new way I think would outweigh the current way.

It's the same reason popular bands are releasing records on their own now instead of letting the majors do it, they don't need the majors anymore, they can upload their album to iTunes for under $30 and then keep 90% of the return.

The old model is broken.

 

[Deleted User]

Stern hated everything CC, there was something personal between him and one of the big players over there, but this was all before the CC sale to Bain/Lee so anything is possible. I just don't think it is probable.

CC is already cash strapped, and I don't think Howard is worth near what he thinks he is and Cheap Channel isn't going to pay him half of what he thinks he is worth.

Then there are those pesky FCC issues, the N.A.L.'s that are going to be delivered by the tractor trailer load to CC stations that carry him. It costs a ton of money to defend dozens of stations against a NAL at 37K a shot, not to mention the potential loss of license.

I think he'd be better off self syndicating to the highest bidder in each market that would have him.

 

[JIBGUY]

Then there are those pesky FCC issues, the N.A.L.'s that are going to be delivered by the tractor trailer load to CC stations that carry him. It costs a ton of money to defend dozens of stations against a NAL at 37K a shot, not to mention the potential loss of license.

Still on the books are FCC fines of $325,000.00 per incident. I can't imagine CC risking that, even tho John Slogan Hogan has made a public statement suggesting that CC would be a good home for Stern. If CC pays Stern what he wants, that would certainly be contrary to all the local morning shows nationwide that CC has killed in the name of saving money. All of this makes no sense. I highly doubt that Stern could work for CC. They'd be in never-ending cat-fights on day one.

 

[TheBigA]

It's the same reason popular bands are releasing records on their own now instead of letting the majors do it, they don't need the majors anymore, they can upload their album to iTunes for under $30 and then keep 90% of the return.

I have a feeling Stern doesn't need the money. He needs the exposure.

Unless you're an artist who has already built a huge fan base from years of radio exposure, the self-owned label idea is simply a way to get music on the market, and not to become an international superstar. Now if that's not your goal, then it doesn't matter. But there is still a market for international superstars, and mainstream media is still the way to get the biggest exposure. The old model works fine, but you have to do more work if you want to take full advantage.

My suggestion to Stern is to do it all. Be King of All Media again. Terrestrial, internet, mobile, and everything else. A little bit of everything, instead of putting all your eggs in one basket. Just be sure you own it, and you're not just another employee. I bet they'll give you anything you ask for.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

The Sirius/XM years have given Howard all the money he could ever want or need....but at a price....the loss of a very substantial if not major portion of his audience.

Let's face it....for a lot of foks...Howard simply dropped off the radar screen when he went to satellite. This would be a way to "get back in the fight".

Maybe his next move will be more about stroking the ego than stoking the bank account....and THIS might be why a return to terrestrial radio would look attractive.

And....If you're Clear Channel trying to get a news/talk station off the ground....Howard in morning drive is just what the doctor ordered for WXKS-1200.

There are those who might say that Howard wouldn't mix well in a format full of Rush....Hannity...etc. I'm not so sure about that. I say entertainment value outranks ideology by a long-shot. In that respect, a Howard/Rush/Hannity daytime schedule could get WXKS-1200 in the ball game.

 

[DToTheJ]

There are those who might say that Howard wouldn't mix well in a format full of Rush....Hannity...etc. I'm not so sure about that. I say entertainment value outranks ideology by a long-shot.

Hey, Imus did it...

(Ironically enough when you do a yahoo search for "Howard Stern Clear Channel" you get some stories from 2004 of CC stations taking Stern OFF...)

Also, about 176,000 entries come up with a Google search of "Howard Stern Brett Favre." ;D

 

[Deleted User]

from FMQB.com, used under "fair use"

On Monday morning's show, Stern responded to these new reports and rumors, saying that just because he's gotten offers to return to terrestrial radio doesn't mean it is going to happen. He said he has no plans to return to terrestrial radio and that "I don't want to be censored." "Just because I said people call me from time to time doesn't mean I'm actually going back," Stern added. "I just said a lot of people called. I'm not contemplating it."

 

[thetheo]

It's the same reason popular bands are releasing records on their own now instead of letting the majors do it, they don't need the majors anymore, they can upload their album to iTunes for under $30 and then keep 90% of the return.

I have a feeling Stern doesn't need the money. He needs the exposure.

Unless you're an artist who has already built a huge fan base from years of radio exposure, the self-owned label idea is simply a way to get music on the market, and not to become an international superstar. Now if that's not your goal, then it doesn't matter. But there is still a market for international superstars, and mainstream media is still the way to get the biggest exposure. The old model works fine, but you have to do more work if you want to take full advantage.

My suggestion to Stern is to do it all. Be King of All Media again. Terrestrial, internet, mobile, and everything else. A little bit of everything, instead of putting all your eggs in one basket. Just be sure you own it, and you're not just another employee. I bet they'll give you anything you ask for.

There's self released/indie artists who started with nothing, do want to make it, and have sold MILLIONS of downloads legally through iTunes/etc. It's happening more and more, and yes the old model is very very broken.

 

[nhradiochild]

I highly doubt that Stern could work for CC. They'd be in never-ending cat-fights on day one.

But you know, the feud between Stern and CBS (and NBC prior) made for some really entertaining radio.

 

[TheBigA]

There's self released/indie artists who started with nothing, do want to make it, and have sold MILLIONS of downloads legally through iTunes/etc. It's happening more and more, and yes the old model is very very broken.

Howard Stern is a tree falling in an empty forest. That is not what he wants. He is not an indie artist. He was once a national celebrity. He can be one again. But not by acting like an indie artist.

 

[Blackroc]

He can be one again.

I doubt it: He's too old, rich, and wants no legal hassles. It was mid-80's when you could catch him on AM power-station WWKB on the morning commute (up to 8am Sept-April) and on FM evenings on BCN.
I just don't see it happining, having nothing to do with his political leanings.

 

[Skynet74]

I doubt it: He's too old, rich, and wants no legal hassles. It was mid-80's when you could catch him on AM power-station WWKB on the morning commute (up to 8am Sept-April) and on FM evenings on BCN.
I just don't see it happining, having nothing to do with his political leanings.

I remember listening to Howard on WWKB in Buffalo. It wasn't until early 1993 when he started there though. Then he started on WBCN later that same year.

 

[thetheo]

I'll agree to disagree.

I think he can be a national celebrity as an "indie" artist (or DIY radio jock in this case).

He already has the name/followers/etc.

He can put up a website that looks like a 1994 geocities creation, charge $5/month to stream from it, and he'll have millions of sub's day one.

I'd put hundreds of dollars on the fact it would work.

His current audience is limited, if he did it himself it would be unlimited.

 

[TheBigA]

I'd put hundreds of dollars on the fact it would work.

Howard Stern can do anything and it will work. He built up a fan base during 20 years of terrestrial radio work. An indie artist who got 20 years of radio airplay is not the same as someone launching their career from the web or MySpace. The old model can take someone like Carrie Underwood from being a waitress in a pizza parlour to selling 10 million records in 3 years. There is no indie artist who has done that.

My point is that the old model isn't broken. There just are limitations, and there always have been. Not everyone can win American Idol, get tons of radio airplay, and sell 10 million records. Not everyone can be Carrie Underwood or Howard Stern. But anyone, including people with no talent, can start a web site, put their stuff out there, attract a fan base, and maybe even make a few bucks. However, they're not all going to achieve the same thing. To compare Howard Stern to some no name artist with a web site and a hundred Facebook followers is like saying a guy who rents himself out as a wedding DJ or a DIY jock is the same as Casey Kasem. It's not the same thing, and there still is incredible value in the old model. Which is why Howard would benefit from it.