Maloney Launches SaveWRKO.com

[raccoonradio]

Brian Maloney has launched a site (found this out via a blog on Herald site) called
http://www.savewrko.com

He says that over the years WRKO has been a landmark talk station and now is
essential to counter "single party rule" but he decries the firing of the
news dept. and the possible hiring of Tom Finneran. He says the station is
becoming LESS conservative and is putting "fluff programming" on the air.
He compares the possible high salary for Finneran to Air
America's overspending ways.

"Instead of taking on corruption, he'll be there to defend it, as a convicted felon himself."

Politics makes strange bedfellows: some of the libs on this list might want to check it out
but you'll find, btw, that it's a co-operative along with a couple guys who do
"Blogs For Bush" and there's an ad for a book called "Death at Chappaquiddick".
Still, those on both sides of the aisle might agree on the whole Finneran deal!

You have to wonder, though...
AIR AMERICA 680
6-9 am Tom Finneran & Some Other Guy
9-noon Marge Clapprood (at least it's local!)
12-3 pm Thom Hartmann
3-6 pm Joe Viglione (Howie moves to WTKK, which shifts Severin to 7 pm)
6-9 pm The Mike Dukakis Show when no Red Sox
9-12 pm Ed Schultz tape delayed when no Red Sox...

 

[TowerBuzz]

This guy is a yokel!. Save the conservative agenda? Why is everyone so freaked ot about Finneran? Talk radio in general has a long history of hiring those convicted of crimes or those who have had to resign their positions in disgrace, mostly conservatives too. G. Gordon Liddy, Ollie North, Daryl Gates, Peter Blute, now Finneran. For supporters of RKO to suddenly be outraged and captured by some sense of morality is a bit laughable.

 

[Varulven]

and do not forget the phantom of the Denny's parking lot, Rush Limbaugh & the Oxycontin 5

 

[raccoonradio]

Herald article today mentions how some radio talk hosts are former politicians (or other celebs) who get in
trouble/notoriety and try to re-make their image via doing a show...in some ways the notoriety actually
helps. Some others:

--baseball cheater Pete Rose (had a sports talk show that WRKO used to run)
--Jerry Springer (tried to hire prostitute, got caught)
--then there was Bluto and the Nauticus booze cruise
--Barnicle

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=175859

"In fact, Finneran, who is being hotly pursued by WRKO-AM (680) owner Entercom Communications, would join a long list of high-profile personalities that leveraged their checkered pasts into talk radio jobs."

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

there are news reports that the ultimate Beacon Hill Democrat Party insider, convicted felon Tom Finneran, will soon be handed the all-important morning drive slot, despite his incompatibility with the station's audience and lack of full-time talk radio experience.

Next, we wonder how long it will take before industry leaders Rush Limbaugh and Howie Carr are also removed from the station's lineup.

The hypocrisy is overwhelming. Complaining about a "convicted felon" in one paragraph, and giving admitted drug-abuser Rush Limbaugh a free pass in the next...all the while ignoring such lily-white salts-of-the-earth as Oliver North, G. Gordon Liddy and others who ply the talk-show trade . A nice case of selective amnesia. At this rate people with one parking ticket will soon be considered suspect.

 

[Varulven]

Note to Raccoon, just noticed you put me on the RKO roster.

I'll take Finneran on re: hosting any day of the week.

RKO would never stand for my investigations and activism. Of course, first company I would
investigate with my afternoon drive on 680 AM would be Entercom. Gotta get the press on it,
y'know.

heck, if the Boston Globe has published 5 articles on the Medford Access fiasco (including one yesterday, with at least 3 in the Medford Mercury and about 8 in the Medford Transcript), I think it is safe to say an RKO host
investigating ENTERCOM is newsworthy...

Point is, regardless of those who extend their claws without revealing themselves here, many of us have the skills at promotion, hosting, having A List guests appear on our programs, etc. that it is a no brainer we can get ratings and attract an audience. What is anathema to them is someone who will rock the boat, not be a "team player", and truly be an "independent man".

Had John DePetro truly been an "independent man", supporting an underdog like Grace Ross instead of being nasty in an attempt to get ratings, he'd still be in the Boston market.

What will be more valuable on eBay 10 years from now? Todd Feinburg airchecks, or 60 Minute DVD interviews and performances Joe Vig and his guest hosts conducted with Felix Cavaliere, The B-52s Fred Schneider, The Buzzcocks, Senator George McGovern, Dick Morris (twice), Bill Press (twice), Mystery Author Archer Mayor (4 times), Bobby Hebb (6 times or more), Grand Funk's Mark Farner, David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spiderman scriptwriter), Curt Schilling, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Bruce Botnik (Doors engineer/producer), Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones), Steve Holley (Grammy winner; Wings/Elton John), Willie "Loco" Alexander, Charlie Farren, Dennis Lehane, Suzanne Vega, Brad Meltzer (Book Of Fate), Mayor Tom Menino (We treat His Honor with respect, unlike some radio hosts), Simon Kirke (Bad Company) etc. etc.

These great back and forths and commentary are far more compelling than listening to Freebird for the 9 millionth time on WZLX or Howie Carr trying to interview Diana Ross (Howie's favorite song was by Mary Wilson & Jean & Cindy of THE SUPREMES and he embarrasses Diana by telling her his favorite song is
their "Stoned Love") or Howie Carr pissing off Davey Jones of THE MONKEES by calling him Peter Noone.
Let's see, Monkees were on one of the higest profile music shows of all time, Peter Noone outsold the
Beatles in record sales for a moment in time, and Howie is without a clue.

Yeah, i think it's safe to say if you give people the facts and the music and the stories behind it, there's no
chance a Finneran or a Feinburg could compete.

Dick Morris on my radio show would be a lot more revealing than Dick Morris on the Howie Carr show.

Howie & I are arguably the only two shows in New England (outside of the national broadcasts) that
Morris spoke on (was he ever on BZ?)

We can save WRKO by imploding it from within, by putting radical stuff on the airwaves! My co-host will
be Buzzy Linhart. We'll have Christian Scientists debating the benefits of Medical Marijuana.

 

[raccoonradio]

btw Howie loses an affiliate: WKNE in Keene NH goes to Beck in the morning and Howie is replaced with
their own local guy. But WCRN's signal might reach up there.

OK, make it Finneran & Joe Vig

>>Entercom

They did have to just pay a fine for payola (Spitzer, etc.)

An 'RKO host investigating Entercom would soon become a FORMER WRKO host...

I've mentioned before that the leadership of the Sox is left-leaning and I've wondered how happy
they are with the poss. of their games leading into Savage, etc. Will RKO turn left to make them happy?

>>having A List guests appear on our programs

Some people like Billy Bulger might appear on a WBZ show but not with Howie, but for good reason of
course. oh the pain! (Howie's imitation of Bulger which sounds more like a cross between Stewie from
Family Guy and Dr. Smith from Lost in Space)

>>Mystery Author Archer Mayor

Never read his books but I understand they all take place in Vermont, a state I love. Howie has talked
to him too I think

Heck I talked to John Lee Hooker and Graham Chapman in the past

>>or Howie Carr pissing off Davey Jones of THE MONKEES by calling him Peter Noone.

I remember that !

 

[Varulven]

I didn't hear the Davey Jones/Peter Noone - Carr show slip-up/fiasco ; I was at Somerville Cable at the time,
they were transferring my very first show from 1979! when Carr made the faux pas. A friend heard it.
Does Howie realize how many people laugh AT him? Of course with 50% of 800 large guess it doesn't matter.

Peter Noone is a personal friend, was on my show twice and my band opened for him in 1980 at THE PARADISE when he had the new wave group THE TREMBLERS. It was one of our most fun gigs, I recall.

Howie missed a great interview by muffing (muffy-ing) the Jones chat.

Archer Mayor's books are great; i usually don't have time to read fiction (and tell my guests that in advance;
we talk about their lives and the writing of the book usually) but I read Archer and he is brilliant and has a bit
of a following for his Joe Gunther series. For a "talk station" not to have these type of guests on mid-day
is shameful.

Once the internet becomes viable for radio I will put a show together, it just isn't worth what Barry Scott and Little Walter and other talents have to put up with - the stress, the agita, to get to do 25 per cent of what you really need to do to attract an audience.

You can have Radio in 2007...I'll be content to complain about it till things change and creativity is treated with respect and dignity.

 

[shotgunanniexo]

People, People
Brian Maloney was bumped off RKO weekend fill ins for everyone who RKO liked better. Joe Scaicca, Ted&Ellen, and now Ellen&Mariellen (last week). Don't you think that could be at the root of his complaints?

 

[sp113]

This guy is a yokel!

Does Brian maloney have ANY credibility or background to be an authority on anything in radio?

 

[NHRadio]

btw Howie loses an affiliate: WKNE in Keene NH goes to Beck in the morning and Howie is replaced with
their own local guy. But WCRN's signal might reach up there.


The way I heard it, Howie is losing his syndication deal entirely. The Keene station is 1290 WKBK, and when I've been in Keene WCRN is weak but listenable in the car during the day, but totally gone at night.

Howie is also on 107.7 WTPL Hillsboro NH and 99.7 WNTK New London NH. I wonder what will replace him there.
What other stations is he on?

 

[raccoonradio]

I know Howie was syndie by ABC Radio Today and then Superadio but I guess Entercom was syndicating
him lately--wonder if they're just sticking to 'RKO, 'CRN, maybe WXTK...Right on the call letters.
Was thinking of the FM.

Maloney had done some fill ins for DePetro.

 

[johnwas5]

Maloney's blog reads negetive on every story he writes, but he must be angry that WRKO doesn't seem interested in using him anymore.

Joe - What does Peter Noone do with himself these days. Is he in the music business?

 

[Varulven]

JW5,
Peter Noone tours relentlessly; he did the soundtrack song to the film Diamonds [Original Soundtrack] (2000 Album)

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?...43DBC0EE56F6DF672D4CF0&sql=11:rif8zfiheh7k~T1
A look at Pollstar has the artist as one of the most consistent performers of the new millennium, appearing around the world in over 200 concerts a year.