Michael Reagan: Stick a fork in him - he's done! (Well, almost.)

[Don62]

Ian did change his name to "Freeman" if I recall correctly.

 

[FTL_Ian]

If it's radical to support an end to aggression in human relationships, then I'm a radical, and proud of it.

Also, we brought our guns and gold to New Hampshire, not Montanta:
http://freestateproject.org

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

If it's radical to support an end to aggression in human relationships, then I'm a radical, and proud of it.

Also, we brought our guns and gold to New Hampshire, not Montanta:
http://freestateproject.org

How's come you all choose places like Montana or New Hampshire? Can't you "Free State" people find a state that doesn't have 20 billion inches of snow and cold weather?

Seriously..."liberty activists". Uh, OK. I think in your head, you see the line between strong, passionate activists and people who would have felt comfortable with Timothy McVeigh.

And the verbiage you use...well, in most listeners' minds who aren't in the "movement", "pro-liberty" makes you sound closer to the second example. And I'm pretty sure you're not.

Maybe I'm wrong here. But I'm speaking solely in the context of your stated goal to grow your commercial talk radio footprint.

 

[FTL_Ian]

I appreciate your concern, but I'd say my show's growth is about on par considering we're in our fifth year of syndication, and considering that I'm the affiliate relations department as well as the host and engineer.

We promote only peaceful solutions to the problem of the ever-encroaching-state. If someone associates the terms liberty or freedom with mad bombers, there's not much I can do about their issues.

 

[FTL_Ian]

To answer your question about New Hampshire, it was chosen in a vote between 10 states. The main factor in choosing the 10 candidate states was population, and the reality is the less populated states are in the north. Considering the Free State Project is about moving liberty-loving activists all to the same place, the cold makes for a nice filter as only the most dedicated will pick up their lives and move up here. As a result, we have some of the best activists I have ever seen - and more are coming.

I'd rather be free and a little cold than enslaved on the beach. (I moved from Sarasota, FL.)

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Ian, then you, as a radio host, run into the same problem that the Air America people do...activism first, then, if you're lucky, entertainment.

Not many tune into talk radio to join a movement.

They tune in because it's interesting, and it may be in tune with their beliefs ("Someone thinks like I do!"), but the primary goal for FTL should be (IMHO) making it an attractive show for listeners, so they stick around, and so they hear the advertisers who buy time on your show.

It actually sounds like you have a decent handle on this...but I, as a regular talk radio listener who scans the spectrum for shows that hold my interest, am turned off by this whole activism thing just as much as I'm turned off when Air America shows turn into on-air Democratic Party strategy sessions.

Really, it's just one man's opinion, and 40-some stations have taken a chance on you so far...I wish you the best of success, sincerely. You sound like a good guy...a bit young and brash, perhaps, but brashness gets one far in talk radio!

 

[Don62]

There's something kind of striking about a non-factor in radio syndication.
The host of a small-time show going after his larger and more successful competitors...

Like a chihuahua nipping at the heels of a Great Dane.

 

[FTL_Ian]

Ian, then you, as a radio host, run into the same problem that the Air America people do...activism first, then, if you're lucky, entertainment.

Not many tune into talk radio to join a movement.

They tune in because it's interesting, and it may be in tune with their beliefs ("Someone thinks like I do!"), but the primary goal for FTL should be (IMHO) making it an attractive show for listeners, so they stick around, and so they hear the advertisers who buy time on your show.

It actually sounds like you have a decent handle on this...but I, as a regular talk radio listener who scans the spectrum for shows that hold my interest, am turned off by this whole activism thing just as much as I'm turned off when Air America shows turn into on-air Democratic Party strategy sessions.

Really, it's just one man's opinion, and 40-some stations have taken a chance on you so far...I wish you the best of success, sincerely. You sound like a good guy...a bit young and brash, perhaps, but brashness gets one far in talk radio!

I agree - talk radio is about entertaining listeners and selling ads. That is the primary purpose of the program. I'm not trying to elect candidates or promote a political party. I'd rather see the abolishment of the state and its elections entirely. That's why we talk about ideas - because ideas can influence minds. The red team vs. blue team mentality you hear on most talk shows just entrenches people in their belief systems. I'm a professional iconoclast. 8)

When activism comes up as a topic - we're talking about entertaining stuff, not boring political garbage. An open marijuana possession protest (just happened Saturday) and other civil disobedience is the most interesting to me.

 

[Slant]

I'm listening to the show for the first time and it sounds good enough for a weekend show. 46 affiliates in five years in good growth. Best of luck with the show.

 

[FTL_Ian]

Thanks! Since this thread has turned into an Free Talk Live thread, I'll now shamelessly post my Program Directors' website (for any PDs or other decision makers lurking here): http://pd.freetalklive.com 8)

 

[Don62]

Thanks! Since this thread has turned into an Free Talk Live thread, I'll now shamelessly post my Program Directors' website (for any PDs or other decision makers lurking here): http://pd.freetalklive.com 8)

The thread was always an FTL topic, started by FTL to humiliate a competitor.
This is in the interest of full disclosure.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

The thread was always an FTL topic, started by FTL to humiliate a competitor.
This is in the interest of full disclosure.

For those of us who do not know the players in this little insider's drama, maybe you would like to also get square with the world, Don62. From the tone of your messages you seem to have some axes of your own to grind.

Would you like to be a bit more forthcoming about your connections and your place in this Internet Soap Opera?

As they say: What's good for the goose.... is good for the gander.

 

[FTL_Ian]

Thanks! Since this thread has turned into an Free Talk Live thread, I'll now shamelessly post my Program Directors' website (for any PDs or other decision makers lurking here): http://pd.freetalklive.com 8)

The thread was always an FTL topic, started by FTL to humiliate a competitor.
This is in the interest of full disclosure.

The first post doesn't mention FTL. You have failed.

 

[Don62]

The thread was always an FTL topic, started by FTL to humiliate a competitor.
This is in the interest of full disclosure.

For those of us who do not know the players in this little insider's drama, maybe you would like to also get square with the world, Don62. From the tone of your messages you seem to have some axes of your own to grind.

Would you like to be a bit more forthcoming about your connections and your place in this Internet Soap Opera?

As they say: What's good for the goose.... is good for the gander.

Read the first post of this thread.
A smaller talk host goes after a long time and respected host.
No axe to grind here. No connections to either host.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Read the first post of this thread.
A smaller talk host goes after a long time and respected host.
No axe to grind here. No connections to either host.

Maybe no connections to either host. How about connections to the ideologies?

I read the first post when it was fresh and new. I thought it curious.

Here is the son of the "patron saint" of a political ideology who either leaves or is pushed out of a significant talk position. His landing place, his "new gig" is interesting.

There has been what I sometimes refer to as a 'strange marriage' between Neo-con Republicans and the Evangelical and Fundamentalist wing of Christianity. During this past election cycle the marriage showed strong signs of tension, maybe disruption of the relationship looking into the future.

For young Reagan to cast his lot with a somewhat fringe group in this big picture is a topic that far overshadows anything that might be called opportunistic on the part of another talk show host.

So, Don62, I ask the question again: What is your axe to grind? Ian indeed may have a competition issue to grind on. Maybe all of us have some axe that keeps our fingers blistered and calloused. I will reveal mine.

If I were young Reagan and I wanted to further my Talk Radio career.... I am curious to know why I would ally with AFR. What he has done in legitimate. If he feels the ideology of AFR is a good match, I wish him well. I made a similar move a number of years ago (not with AFR but a comparable ideology) and my career never recovered.

 

[Don62]

The questions are valid.
The poster posting them isn't so much.

Would be like ABC News going after CNN.

Or that CEO of Whole Foods who got his but in a sling and fined by the FEC after he posted on a news group derogatory info about a competitor he was preparing to buy. That was highly unethical.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I agree - talk radio is about entertaining listeners and selling ads. That is the primary purpose of the program. I'm not trying to elect candidates or promote a political party. I'd rather see the abolishment of the state and its elections entirely. That's why we talk about ideas - because ideas can influence minds. The red team vs. blue team mentality you hear on most talk shows just entrenches people in their belief systems. I'm a professional iconoclast. 8)

When activism comes up as a topic - we're talking about entertaining stuff, not boring political garbage. An open marijuana possession protest (just happened Saturday) and other civil disobedience is the most interesting to me.

As I said, it sounds like you have a handle on this. As far as a goal of becoming a commercially successful syndicated show, though, you tread some dangerous ground being so closely associated with a "movement", as much as you believe in it and as good as you may think it is.

No successful syndicated radio show in the country gets where it is solely by preaching to the true believers or trying to convert those who aren't. I'm glad to see you're focusing on topics of interest, and not using your show solely as a platform for that movement. "Movement radio" pretty much is fringe radio, right on up through most of the Salem and Air America lineups.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

For young Reagan to cast his lot with a somewhat fringe group in this big picture is a topic that far overshadows anything that might be called opportunistic on the part of another talk show host.

Thank you for being the second person in this thread to notice this.

When it comes to the subject header of this thread, Ian - despite being a bit brash and cocky for a young talk show host - was 100% correct. Get the fork. As far as Mr. Reagan goes, he's done in commercial talk radio.

He's marginalized. He's preaching to a very small choir. 99.9999% of American talk radio listeners can't find "AFR Talk", or don't listen to it if they can find it. In the commercial talk world, Michael Reagan is now a former host. Heck, even when he was with Radio America, his affiliate list in the past year or two probably wasn't much longer than Ian's.

AFR Talk is, I presume, non-commercial. Its full-power stations camp out in the 88-92 MHz range.

If I were young Reagan and I wanted to further my Talk Radio career.... I am curious to know why I would ally with AFR. What he has done in legitimate. If he feels the ideology of AFR is a good match, I wish him well. I made a similar move a number of years ago (not with AFR but a comparable ideology) and my career never recovered.

A good friend of mine likely feels the same way, and he went to work for one of Salem's stations...and though it's Christian-based, Salem is a more mainstream company than AFR.

He did recover, though, and his career is thriving today.

 

[Don62]

In the post on talk radio tiers...

How about this: syndicated talk shows are killing a once great format.

Amen!
Someone else here asked me my agenda (as if there aren't any agendas on this board!).
Jay's comments would be one of my agendas.

 

[willcail]

Libertarianism like Communism only work in theory. This is why FTL is not picking up affiliates. What happen with your previous syndicatior Genesis Communication Network? They are doing a fine job with The Power Hour and The Alex Jones Show. Why not put your show on the shortwave band?

Don 62, he just want knuckle dragger's talk 24/7. Why would he want to model after Michael Reagan when his adoptive brother Ron Reagan one hour show have more affiliates than Ron Reagan's new show.