Clear Channel keeps Air America station (WXXM in Madison)

[LTR]

Citing the overwhelming negative reaction to the planned change, the nation's no. 1 operator of radio stations 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. Clear Channel said the station, WXXM-FM, had struggled to attract advertisers despite high ratings and a sports format would be more profitable.

Thousands of people protested the end of their favorite station through e-mails, phone calls and a signed petition delivered 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, the liberal talk radio network that is undergoing a reorganization after filing for bankruptcy protection in October. In addition to Air America personalities like Al Franken, the station features local shows that focused on progressive causes from city politics to animal rights.

"We are overwhelmed by the recent outpouring of support for our progressive talk format from the public, some of our community leaders and some dedicated local advertisers," said Jeff Tyler, Clear Channel's market manager in Madison. "We deeply appreciate the local business leaders who are pledging their advertising support -- they are playing an enormous role in helping to keep progressive talk on the air in our community."

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8M5GTE82.htm
http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/12/mic-lives.html

[Fridays Child]

1. Power to the people!

:woohoo:

[SharonRB]

2. Great news for Wisconsin!

[jgraz]

3. Woohooo! My old home town comes through!

Yay mad-town!! Somebody have a beer at the Brat und Brau for me! :toast:

[htuttle]

4. WHOOOOO!!!! WHOOOOOOO!!!

[Sydnie]

5. Imagine my surprise today

when Boston's Progressive Talk turned into Spanish music radio! Damnit, Damnit, Damnit!

No more AAR or Boston Progressive Talk for me!

[Botany]

8. Did I ever tell you that you are my Fav?

Well looks like the Mad City will still get to hear buddy too.

:rofl:

Damn they are lucky.



Merry Xmas!

[Sydnie]

9. I won't get to hear buddy anymore though ...

:cry:

Merry Xmas to you too!

:loveya:

[Botany]

10. you can stream it on your computer

I betya that some other station in boston picks Steph up though ....
she gets huge ratings ..... sadly a lot of advertisers boycott progressive
radio.

Besides i can always drop some Gull Bay on you.

The snow swirled in the meadow outside of Sydnie's house overlooking
Gull Bay as huge winter moon hung in the dark sky. The moonbeams
reflected off the snow as Sydnie lit some candles in her bedroom.
She glanced out to see a car coming up the snow covered drive and
it came to stop outside her house. From the car out stepped a man
who watched as his frozen breath made small puffs in the air. Sydnie
ran downstairs and threw open the door.

"It must be freezing out there honey, please come inside."

[silverojo]

11. And people doubt the illegals are taking over?

Spanish-language stations are taking over all sorts of formats in the West, and apparently the pandering to illegals (who refuse to learn English) is starting in the East, as well. I guess now they're taking over the radio-listening that Americans won't do. :eyes:

I'd like to see some radio stations for other segments of immigrants...how about some foreign-language stations for Asians or Middle-Eastern people, for example?

Wait, I forgot...the reason there aren't many of those is that when other immigrants come here, they learn English.

[WolverineDG]

6. My personal fave

some woman, with no experience in advertising or radio, wrote Clear Channel & said she'd gotten 30 businesses interested & willing to advertise on the station & stated not so kindly that perhaps the problem was really that they had crappy salespeople. :evilgrin: Bonus points: Stephanie Miller read that letter on the air. OUCH!

dg

[LTR]

12. That was funny!

And it goes to show that it's not always the programming not cutting it, it's the people who own the stations that air it.

If a disabled vet can go out and sell a ton of ad inventory for the station, the sales reps deserve to get their asses chewed by management. Period.

[Dinger]

7. That's My Madison!

:) :headbang: :patriot: