Air America Station to Stay in Madison (Power to the People!)

[RamboLiberal]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AIR_AMERICA_OUTRAGE?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-12-22-01-02-23

After a backlash from this liberal city, Clear Channel Radio is keeping its Air America affiliate on the air instead of switching the progressive talk format to sports on Jan. 1.

Citing the overwhelming negative reaction to the planned change, the nation's largest radio station operator said it would keep The Mic 92.1 FM on the air as a progressive talk station.

The planned change to Fox Sports Radio, announced three days after the Nov. 7 election, had sparked outrage in Madison, a city long known for its liberal activism. Clear Channel said the station, WXXM-FM, had struggled to attract advertisers despite high ratings and a sports format would be more profitable.

But thousands of people protested the end of their favorite station through e-mails, phone calls and a petition delivered to station officials this week. A rally last week drew 500 people, and politicians such as Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., denounced the decision.

The two-year-old station is among the most popular affiliates of Air America, which launched two years ago as an alternative to conservative talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh. It is now undergoing a reorganization after filing for bankruptcy protection in October.

[rurallib]

1. Just heard the leader of the protest on Stephanie's show

and have already emailed her to see if she can come up with a way to help us get our AAR back.

[byronius]

2. The advertising dearth is weird. This is the only media I listen to.

Period. AAR and DVD's.

[Teaser]

3. Air America really has to start stabilizing its operations

They can't continue on with this kind of chaos.

[rocktivity]

5. There's nothing chaotic about it

It's a deliberately-designed right-wing conspiracy to suppress the effectiveness and growth of left-wing radio by starving it financially--and I'm afraid that the election has escalated it. There was a list of major advertisers who boycott left-wing radio going around a little while ago--how much do you want to bet that they'd jump at the change to advertise on Rush's show if they aren't already? Right wing radio's audience is bigger? Well, yeah--it was given the OPPORTUNITY to grow.

The real point is, why are national advertisers turning their backs on what is literally the other half of the American political radio audience? That is the question which the Madison radio station owners finally realized they couldn't answer with a straight face. If right-wing radio isn't "too controversial" for advertisers, then left-wing radio shouldn't be either. But that's enough serious talk. Now it's time to enjoy this last-minute Christmas present and CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

:woohoo:
rocknation

[LTR]

7. AAR has a lot of problems

Somewhat lackluster programming, a revolving door of executives and investors, chaotic spending, and an overall lack of direction. Add to this the schedule shuffling (the Malloy firing alienated many of their hard-core listeners). Truth be told, Jones Radio Networks, which syndicates Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz, and Bill Press have eclipsed AAR in success. Why? Because they know how to do radio as a business. AAR is a conflict between people trying to make it a viable business, and people who want to broadcast political messages. Guess which one will be more successful?

Hey, I give AAR more of a chance than most, and I've gotten attacked on my blog for doing it. But let's be honest, AAR has many flaws. However, it sounds like the new buyers realize this, and are prepared to get serious about it and make it a viable business. I think it will succeed, so long as they don't keep making the same stupid mistakes.

And the whole 'ABC Blacklist' controversy is mostly bullshit. Quite a few of those companies already advertise on AAR affiliates. Here's why:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=2790150

The blacklist thing was forwarded by KSAC in Sacramento, whose owners have relatively little experience with these types of 'traffic instructions'.

[wryter2000]

4. I heard that on Stephanie's show this morning

You go, Madison, WI! :woohoo:

[rodeodance]

6. whow. when i first heard of the problem I thought I would scream.

[liberal1973]

8. That's good to hear

It seems to be a rare FM station. Faux sports?