Talk Radio Scoreboard for Major Markets - December 2014

[Avid Listener]

I was surprised at first by David's research into the education achievement of Talk Radio listeners. I guess many of us assumed Talk Radio was aimed at the less educated, NPR and All-News aimed at the better educated.

Actually, the assumption is that NPR is aimed at people educated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in a field like Literature, Poetry, Philosophy, or some other such discipline (no irony intended) while Commercial Conservative radio is aimed at people with a Bachelor of Science degree in fields like engineering, mathematics, the "hard" sciences, and other practical disciplines. An educated NPR listener could describe various kinds of fabric patterns that might be put on a chair, while an educated Commercial Conservative Radio listener could actually build a chair.

I suspect that the intellectual snobs who provide NPR with their usual knee-jerk support sneer down their elevated noses at those people whose education actually involves learning how to actually do something.

 

[Avid Listener]

Great points. Here's what I think on what should happen to WPHT 1210 AM.

Nobody gives a damn what you think about WHPT radio in Philadelphia.

 

[FredLeonard]

Actually, the assumption is that NPR is aimed at people educated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in a field like Literature, Poetry, Philosophy, or some other such discipline (no irony intended) while Commercial Conservative radio is aimed at people with a Bachelor of Science degree in fields like engineering, mathematics, the "hard" sciences, and other practical disciplines. An educated NPR listener could describe various kinds of fabric patterns that might be put on a chair, while an educated Commercial Conservative Radio listener could actually build a chair.

I suspect that the intellectual snobs who provide NPR with their usual knee-jerk support sneer down their elevated noses at those people whose education actually involves learning how to actually do something.

Did you make this up or did Rush tell you that? Clearly, right-wing talk is not going to appeal to anyone with any knowledge of the scientific method and inductive reasoning.

 

[wadio]

It seems Talk Radio shows are conducted that way, almost like a WWE wrestling match. Obama and the Democrats are always the bad guys, Republicans are always the good guys, and there is no nuance to the debate. And it's always about national conservative politics. Hosts can never discuss how to find bargains on vacations or some tips on choosing a doctor or anything non-political. It's ALWAYS Obama bad, Republicans good, all day long.

I believe that's changing, albeit slowly. Yes, Rush, Hannity, Levin and others won't let go of that tired formula but others have.

Maybe the best example is Michael Savage who often veers in the directions mentioned above. Mike Gallagher's show isn't all politics all the time. Jerry Doyle goes off on all kinds of tangents and is a great listen. I could go on but you get the point.

It's not fair to paint all commercial Talk Radio with the broad "right-wing" brush. Before Rush, talk radio was pretty bland. The airwaves were full of shrinks, self proclaimed financial "advisors," medical "experts" and consumer advocates dispensing pedestrian or questionable advice. (Today these folks have to buy their own time!) The political and news oriented shows were harder to find.

Today I think the pendulum has swung fully the other way and is now swinging back toward the center. Not fast enough? Sure. But I suspect the reliance on syndication creates inertia. Affiliates can't tell Rush what to do -- they can only dump his show at their own peril since his ratings, although declining, are still better than the alternatives.

 

[FredLeonard]

Today I think the pendulum has swung fully the other way and is now swinging back toward the center. Not fast enough? Sure. But I suspect the reliance on syndication creates inertia. Affiliates can't tell Rush what to do -- they can only dump his show at their own peril since his ratings, although declining, are still better than the alternatives.

Given all his risk factors, Rush is a prime candidate for a major cardiovascular event. God willing.

I guess you could also say before "if it bleeds, it leads" TV news was also pretty bland. As long as broadcasters see fit to target the dummy demos and the great unwashed, no room for bland. Those people can't handle bland. Bland is too demanding.

 

[TheBigA]

Today I think the pendulum has swung fully the other way and is now swinging back toward the center.

It depends on what you consider to be "the center." What I see is radio stations shifting away from national political talk. When you look at the list of successful stations in the OP, you see stations that aren't built around syndicated, national, right wing talkers like Rush or Hannity, but instead LOCAL talk stations with strong LOCAL news programming in morning drive: KFI, WGN, WMAL, and WJR. Sure, all but WMAL are AM stations, and we know the future of AM isn't good. But these stations are still getting good ratings on AM, and they're doing it by focusing on local talk.

 

[Avid Listener]

Did you make this up or did Rush tell you that? Clearly, right-wing talk is not going to appeal to anyone with any knowledge of the scientific method and inductive reasoning.

Clearly, you are not an engineer. At least, you are unfamiliar with the concept of, "get it done, make it work".

 

[Jul]

Nobody gives a damn what you think about WHPT radio in Philadelphia.

its WPHT.

 

[wadio]

It depends on what you consider to be "the center."

I'd say it's where you describe it ... a better mix of national and local, political and non-political talk, not all built around the Rush/Hannity/Levin model.

 

[Avid Listener]

its WPHT.

Nobody gives a damn what the call letters of some AM talk radio station in Philadelphia are.

 

[benale]

I'm finding Michael Savage easier to listen to. Its's not all right wing politics all the time,and his storytelling is quite good. When Sean has decent guests, he can be entertaining. I still find Rush tough to listen to. Unfortunately, from Noon to 3 that's all that seems to be on. Mark Levin is another tough listen,beginning with that voice,and he always seems to be yelling.

I enjoy scrolling through my Internet radio finding local talk shows. Thankfully,nt more and more talk shows I find are getting away from right wing rhetoric and seem to be more balanced with a nice mix of politics, events in the news and entertainment elements. For example, I was in South Florida for a few weeks earlier this month and I enjoyed RichStevens on WFTL and Rick Sanchez on WIOD, Both shows had a nice mix of politics,news stories and lifestyle elements.

 

[FredLeonard]

Clearly, you are not an engineer. At least, you are unfamiliar with the concept of, "get it done, make it work".

They call them "engineers" but tower climbers and guys who drive trains are not really engineers.

 

[boombox4]

Absolutely no faith. But you wouldn't understand.

I had no idea truck drivers and the like made so much money. Still doesn't make them smart. Your profile, from your description, was income - not education. If blue collar workers have so much income, it is thanks to unions - which tea people now oppose, playing right into the hands of the elite who use right-wing talk to manipulate them. Once the unions are eviscerated, these workers will have incomes to match their levels of education. Let's see how right-wing they are then.

A lot of conservatives are business people, including entrepreneurs and small business owners, as well as people in professions like finance and health care. They're often highly educated people.

 

[BOZ Profit]

They call them "engineers" but tower climbers and guys who drive trains are not really engineers.

IN YOUR OPINION.

Here we go..from Merriam-Webster:

Engineer

: a person who has scientific training and who designs and builds complicated products, machines, systems, or structures : a person who specializes in a branch of engineering

: a person who runs or is in charge of an engine in an airplane, a ship, etc.

: a person who runs a train

So, according to a world wide standard for defining words, an Engineer can be someone who drives trains.

A tower climber may not necessarily design or build a tower but is certainly educated in the structure.

Considering the various Engineering degrees one can get to be a Broadcast Engineer, I would say you are wrong that a tower climber is not an Engineer. At a minimum, they have to have certification. So, the Society of Broadcast Engineers will also likely tell you that you are wrong.

There are many types of engineers: structural, electrical, design, manufacturing and broadcast just to name a few.

Needless to say, you should not make a blanket statement like that.

 

[davideduardo]

They call them "engineers" but tower climbers and guys who drive trains are not really engineers.

The term "engineer" in railroading is derived from the act of controlling the "engine" or locomotive. So in that context, they are definitely engineers.

 

[Ravens]

I'm finding Michael Savage easier to listen to. Its's not all right wing politics all the time,and his storytelling is quite good. When Sean has decent guests, he can be entertaining. I still find Rush tough to listen to. Unfortunately, from Noon to 3 that's all that seems to be on. Mark Levin is another tough listen,beginning with that voice,and he always seems to be yelling.

I enjoy scrolling through my Internet radio finding local talk shows. Thankfully,nt more and more talk shows I find are getting away from right wing rhetoric and seem to be more balanced with a nice mix of politics, events in the news and entertainment elements. For example, I was in South Florida for a few weeks earlier this month and I enjoyed RichStevens on WFTL and Rick Sanchez on WIOD, Both shows had a nice mix of politics,news stories and lifestyle elements.

Has Rick Sanchez gotten drunk and run over anyone lately?

 

[Ravens]

Three things...

I was surprised at first by David's research into the education achievement of Talk Radio listeners. I guess many of us assumed Talk Radio was aimed at the less educated, NPR and All-News aimed at the better educated.

It's not surprising at all to anyone who knows the business.

 

[Avid Listener]

It's not surprising at all to anyone who knows the business.

I'm sorry, but considering what those who "know the business" put on the air, it's hard to believe that they also "know the listeners". Knowing the business and knowing the listeners are too very different things.

 

[Ravens]

I'm sorry, but considering what those who "know the business" put on the air, it's hard to believe that they also "know the listeners". Knowing the business and knowing the listeners are too very different things.

This has some truth to it, but a lot of these preconceived notions we see all the time are just not true. One of those, as has been shown here, is that AM talk listeners are a bunch of slack jawed yokels. It's just not the case.

 

[FredLeonard]

This has some truth to it, but a lot of these preconceived notions we see all the time are just not true. One of those, as has been shown here, is that AM talk listeners are a bunch of slack jawed yokels. It's just not the case.

Because you say so? Because it's not what you want to believe? Because some talk show host told you so?

Funny, AM stations program for "slack jawed yokels" and run ads targeting "slack jawed yokels" but it's not "slack jawed yokels" listening.