Is left wing talk radio a total disaster?
Air America's troubles would seem to indicate that. But do the liberal network's failings mean that liberalism was rejected? Or was it the mismanagement by hapless owners not familiar with the business of radio?
We'll go with the latter, because we know- it's not POV that matters- it never has- it's about making radio that attracts and holds listeners.
Ed Schultz, at the top of the ratings heap of syndicated progressive talkers proves that.
Al Franken proved it; and so does Randi Rhodes, Stephanie Miller, Sam Seder, and Rachel Maddow.
Thom Hartmann, who's relatively unexposed nationally will prove it as he's dropped into Franken's slots. He's live-syndicated in around 30 stations with about a million listeners. He's being offered to around 80 more stations with AAR affiliates in NY, LA, D.C., and Miami already pledged to air his show- that'll boost his total to around 3 million.
Meanwhile, Jones Radio's Ed Schultz rules the progressive talkers. He kicks asses in red states, even challenging the holy right-wing talk trilogy of Limbaugh/Hannity/Savage in major markets all over the country.
One of the reasons Big Eddie is successful is that he does retail radio. He's the most accessible talker in America.
There's no call screening- Schultz takes all callers; his staff- producer, manager, the co-owner of his production company, Stu Crane, and even his wife Wendy's phone number and/or e-mail address are listed on his Web site.
The plain-talking Schultz is down-home, macho, a jock, an everyman,and a liberal! He flies in the face of the right-wing meme stereotyping liberals as snotty, urban, effete, ironic blasphemers. That definition of us has hurt the progressive cause in red states; has divided us in the blue states; and furthered the phenomena of regular people voting conservative even though to do so counters their own self interests.
(We know we have readers who despise Schultz for his style; we know there's a feud going on between him and certain AAR hosts; but as progressive activists, we see Schultz preaching to far many more than just the liberal choir- and that's not only good radio, that's good for our liberal cause).
We're pretty sure Hartmann will resonate with a wide audience once he's better known. While Franken had star-power, a professional sense of humor, and the ability to get national opinion makers on his show, Hartmann is a well-rounded thinker; articulates without talking down to people; and is attractive for his calm, ego-free demeanor.
Hartmann has relocated to Portland, Oregon. We like it when liberalism relocates off the East Coast axis and comes west.
Conservative talk didn't happen because suddenly everyone became conservative. It happened because Rush Limbaugh was great and created an AM format which lots of people liked to listen to.
Unfortunately, the Big Tuna of the genre was a right-wing idiot.
Then it was Bring On The Clones, and 15 years or so of timid program directors wed to the success of tried and true conservative talk as practiced by His Holiness.
There'd always been popular liberals in the local markets- the Dave Rosses, the Bernie Wards, etc. but it took the groundbreaking Air America, for all its faults, to get liberal talk out into the national light.
While it might have been hard to sell an all-AAR slate to station owners and advertisers, individuals broke out and got a shot at syndication: Schultz, Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Rachel Maddow, and more.
The right loves to crow about the failure of AAR, and spins it as the failure of liberalism. While it's true, the success of Bush and the Republicans since 1994 was integral with the success of talk radio, this country is still politically split down the middle; with the left and the Democrats having some successes lately.
Liberal talk radio, (with progressive politics) is beginning an upward trend.
But it will rise up not because of the righteousness of its cause, but because it's righteous radio.
This is such nonsense. Liberal radio is even dead in Seattle, one of the biggest liberal towns in America! Mike Webb died by his own hand, Erin Hart foofed out, Allen Prell fell; Air America is dragging. Who is up? Rush, Sean, Michael Medved, Sytman & Bose, and Ron & Don. Even Frank Shiers must be doing pretty good since he has lasted so long. Libs cannot do talk radio. They have no message, they have no values.
Posted by: misty | February 21, 2007 at 04:59 PM
Well, good take on Big Ed, Michael I can't stand him, but you are right. He's doing it where we need it done.
But, to my northwest ears, he still sounds like a used-car salesman.
I love that you give credit to the absence of screening. . . that should be a lesson to some of our very protected local hosts.
Fogged-in Misty, I'll have to start referring to you as Clueless since you seem to have taken over for KS. Your vacant brain fills that vacancy well.
Posted by: joanie | February 21, 2007 at 06:07 PM
Don't forget Jim Hightower had a national show on (1800-agitate) and Bernie Ward was carried after Jim's show ended for a year or so.
Posted by: coiler | February 21, 2007 at 06:23 PM
If you think liberal talk radio is dead, tell that to...Randi Rhodes, Tom Hartmann, Lionel, Alan Colmes, Ray Taliaferro, Bernie Ward, Stephanie Miller, Bill Press, Ed Schultz, Mike Malloy, Neil Rogers, The Young Turks, Sam Seder, Mike Newcomb, Lizz Brown, Rachel Maddow, Ron Reagan Jr, Doug Basham, Jim Hightower, Bruce Burch, Jon Eliot, Duke Skorich, Peter Collins, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Lynn Samuels, Christine Craft, Bev Smith, Michael Eric Dyson, Stacy Taylor, Lynn Cullen, Jay Marvin, Ron Kuby, Mark Levine...just to name a few.
Posted by: shoreke | February 21, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Amen, shoreke....Bla'M--you been reading that Radio Fertilizer site again?
Mysty likes to get everyone riled and then sits back and laughs....
Posted by: sparky | February 21, 2007 at 07:40 PM
I like Ed because he has DONE quite a few things; a guy not afraid to get his hands dirty. I would bet Hartmann's erudite hands are sludge soft.
Posted by: mark | February 21, 2007 at 08:12 PM
rob glaser's heavy handed bulllshit management of Air America killed it. That's why he sucks, why his company sucks and why his RealAudio bullshit software is rated in the top 10 of shitty technology ever.
rob glaser sucks ass. he killed air america. f-him.
Posted by: oswald cobblepot | February 21, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Yes, thanks Shoreke.
But, Mark Levin? Is he on the left?
Posted by: joanie | February 21, 2007 at 08:49 PM
Mark..you need to do your homework on Thom Hartmann
Also:
"Hartmann is the host of a weekday show that is becoming one of the biggest success stories in liberal talk. He's also a three-time Project Censored Award winner, bestselling author, international lecturer, teacher, practitioner in alternative medicine and acupuncture, and licensed psychotherapist with a certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). His books have covered a wide range of subjects, including politics, business, economics, constitutional law, history, self-help, spirituality, and one of his biggest pet projects, ADHD. In addition, he's written nine novels. He even established a specialized school for children afflicted with the disorder. He's had a private audience with Pope John Paul II, spent a week with the Dalai Lama, and his writings about the environment have even inspired two short web films and an upcoming documentary directed by actor and fan Leonardo DiCaprio.
On the radio, he hosts two three-hour shows every day - a local morning show at KPOJ in Portland and his nationally syndicated show immediately following. In the past, he's stretched out his broadcast day occasionally filling in for Randi Rhodes, giving him, on occasion, a 9-10 hour day behind the microphone."
In other words, Mark--Thom is the real deal. Bubba Ed is a wannabe....
Posted by: sparky | February 21, 2007 at 09:10 PM
How liberal is Dave Ross, really?
Posted by: lukobe | February 21, 2007 at 09:37 PM
Three years ago there were 0 radio stations carrying liberal talk radio full time. Michael Jackson and Gloria Alred had just been canned in Los Angeles and Lynn Samuels and others were canned in New York. Lib Talk was limited to the Bernie Ward and Ray Taliafero, late night, in San Francisco and Randi Rhodes in West Palm Beach. I think Seattle was the only major market that had liberal talkers on during the day. Then along came Air America. Despite all the problems including the somewhat dishonest Evan Cohen and the AAR bankruptcy a few months ago, we now have about 80 full time lib talk stations reaching a potential 70 million radio listeners, another 50 offering two hosts per day, and probably two dozen local market hosts. Not bad for three years.
Posted by: barooosk | February 21, 2007 at 09:42 PM
One thing that Liberal Talk Radio needs to be given credit for, is the coverage they are giving to the Washington Post's story on deplorable treatment some of our wounded soldiers are getting at Walter Reed Army Hospital. That is supporting the troops in my opinion, airing the horrible conditions some of our wounded veterans are in, so the pressure can be put on Congress to change it.
Posted by: EvergreenRailfan | February 21, 2007 at 10:11 PM
shoreke ...
Alan Colmes???? of Hannity's pet?
He is a liberal? I though he was a bad joke.
Posted by: Stephen Schwartz | February 21, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Rightie Radio is Funneeee
That is the problem. I began listening to Rush because I thought he was funny ... like Colbert! Then the joke turned sour. RL was serious and dangerous!
I think people listen to Rightie Radio because it is a kind of pornography, a pornography of verbal violence. I certainly can imagine a left equivalent but then we would need to bring back extremists like Stokely and the panthers.
Look, what sells more ..snuff porn or bios of Sister Theresa? Liberals can not swift boat because to do so would be illiberal.
Goldy, Erin Hart, and even Dave Ross are too "nice" to attract the kind of national audience that Nero got to come watch the lions eat the Christians!
Posted by: Stephen Schwartz | February 21, 2007 at 11:25 PM
Amy Goodman broadcasts on the Pacifica Network. Goodman's show is also carried on NPR. Her daily radio program blankets the entire nation with over 500 stations. Goodman can be heard in every city in America. If liberal talk radio is dead ...nobody told Amy.
Posted by: shoreke | February 22, 2007 at 02:39 AM
My point exactly. I see nothing there that shows he knows/does anything useful - like a chemist, engineer, machinist etc. He is a talker, not a doer.
Posted by: mark | February 22, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Mark. You are hilARious!
Posted by: sparky | February 22, 2007 at 09:28 AM
I am no fan of AAR but am a fan of Stephen Green. Dumped about $5000. oo into his Real Estate Co stock three years ago. It is now worth about $19000.00.
If the opportunity arises to invest in this business, I will as well. In my mind, he would not have bought AAR if he didn't think he could make it work.
Maybe that would be like peeing in my own wheaties, but hey, Republicans gotta make a buck too.
I have no fear of both sides of the political spectrum being covered.
When you are wrong, it shows. Same on the occasion when you are right.
Posted by: chucks | February 22, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Hmm, Mark, keeping people in a democracy truthfully informed isn't of value? Oh, now I see why Bush is a two-term president who was able to lie us into war and kill kids.
Schwartz is so right . . . verbal porn violence. It is addictive to some . . . and it is not possible for liberals to do.
As much as I like Goodman, her hour a day isn't always possible to listen although she can be downloaded . . . one of the most informative programs on radio.
Posted by: joanie | February 22, 2007 at 11:36 AM
so now Thom is the sole source of truth? We have people of every stripe telling us the truth. I do not dislike the man, and listen to him often- but I temper what he says with the knowledge he was a marketing flack.
Posted by: mark | February 22, 2007 at 12:41 PM
So, you can have too many people telling the truth these days?
First you denigrate him because he's not a man's man (I'm guessing) who is supposed to have dirty hands and a red neck and now you denigrate him for being marketed well? (not sure I get your marketing flack comment)
I thought radio was all about marketing. I'm all for a "marketed" truth teller. Wish we had a whole lot more of 'em.
Posted by: joanie | February 22, 2007 at 01:32 PM
try again. Who keeps calling Ed Schultz "bubba"?
re: marketing flack
obviously you have not spent much time, if any, in the business world. marketing/admen are a half-step from carnival barkers.
Posted by: mark | February 22, 2007 at 03:45 PM
Mark, reread Sparky's post above . . . the guy has more energy/intelligence/motivational ability that you do in your little finger fella. Why are you knocking him? Carnival barkers sucker people . . . you haven't disagreed that Tom is a truthteller . . .
Ed is a bubba . . . didn't I say above that he still sounds like a used-car hack to me?
Posted by: joanie | February 22, 2007 at 04:22 PM
make that "in his little finger than you do in your whole body . . . "
sorry - i type too fast. :)
Posted by: joanie | February 22, 2007 at 04:22 PM
you're all so great at making personal attacks..
Posted by: lukobe | February 22, 2007 at 05:56 PM
You need to be aware that Clear Channel is dumping the low-power affiliates it supplied to fill out the AAR network, which blocked AAR from adding better affiliates in those markets, and was suspected all along to be a possible dirty trick by the career sponsors of George W. Bush. At the time, business analysts said it was CC covering their butt in case the Dems came back to power, but that doesn't explain why now that the Dems took back Congress, Clear Channel is dumping an AAR affiliate per week, lying by saying that they are not profitable when they never even tried to sell advertising. Even Big Ed's voice is dimmed by this as he has lost 20 affiliates.
The Dem Congress isn't doing anything about this even though their survival depends upon breaking the back of the 100% right wing monopoly on AM talk radio. There should be hearings that bring pressure on the media corporations who are benefiting from rightist tax policies, outright licensing graft bribes in the 02 and 04 elections, and intend to keep their stations entirely slanted to the far right.
An excellent witness for the Dems to feature in high profile hearings designed to pressure the media corp.s and educate the public would be Kathleen Hall Jameson of the prestigious Annenberg School of Communication (funded by the conservative TV GUide fortune) who has studied the lies of right wing talk radio for 12 years. She identified mass "false certainty" on almost every issue which infects up to 50 million at a time and has swung the past 5 of 6 elections.
Another witness could be Dem statesman George Mitchell who should explain why as Chair of ABC he allowed his entire radio station network to be turned over 24/7 to far right activists who were allowed to lie without challenge for 15 years, took over and wrecked the U.S. reputation in the world.
Without sustained pressure of this sort on the media corporations, the right wing radio juggernaut will just roll over any Dem initiatives and soon sweep the Dems out. This is an issue because the airwaves are owned by the public and the minimum which should be expected by corporations who are allowed to profit hugely without paying any rent is that they should be truthful and reasonably balanced. Instead, they have turned their stations over to a right wing disinformation juggernaut that exceeds anything Goebbels dreamed of.
Posted by: gregrocker | February 22, 2007 at 07:59 PM
excellent...thanks for the info
Posted by: sparky | February 22, 2007 at 08:04 PM
Anyone heard the possibilty that 710 Kiro will simulcast on 97.3 fm soon?
A source in the biz said it was going to happen.
Posted by: coiler | February 22, 2007 at 09:24 PM
Excellent post. Bill Moyers had Jameson on regularly over the years and starting way before he debuted NOW. She would point out lie and spin after lie and spin.
That's the problem isn't it? It isn't that the information isn't out there. . . although certainly less than it used to be. Even when it is aired, people don't tune in to hear it. They want their news spoon-fed with pictures.
But, listening to Randi Rhodes the last few days has been eye opening. She used to rant with very few calls. . . currently, she's taking call after call after call. People are finally (maybe) waking up.
About time.
Posted by: joanie | February 22, 2007 at 09:31 PM
"How liberal is Dave Ross really"? I don't see Dave Ross as a real liberal. He lacks the passion. Instead, we get a very controlled, slick product, always polite and full of "common sense" although ever-so-slightly bemused and condescending. Nicey -nice pablum for the famous prim and prissy set of Seattle. Also he has kind of built in timer with me, to where I can never listen more than about twenty minutes to him before I become anywhere from vaguely irritated to angry with him, and I turn the dial. It 's a personal thing with him, not really to do with his specific political views, but it's hard to define what he does to set me off, since it's so subtle. I do know that I don't like this "senior commentator" thing he seems to be morphing into, where he's grooming his voice to sound more and more like Charles Osgood, with a precious , ironic, creamy unction. UGGH. Effete, superior super-sophisticates like Ross aren't really my cup of tea.
Posted by: Tommy008 | February 23, 2007 at 02:09 AM
I feel the same way. Dave is ok but he is not my first choice to listen to. I used never to miss his show until other options --Air America and/or being able to stream any radio station in the world that has one--became available and my tastes have changed and I have the luxury of being picky.
Posted by: sparky | February 23, 2007 at 09:23 AM
I still love Dave but not sure why because I agree with some of what you say, Tommie. He interrupts quite a bit. And he has a habit of sort of trying to be too cute sometimes.
But, I love his voice. I'm annoyed by little things in people's delivery much like you are but I guess Dave doesn't annoy me. My ears like him most of the time.
In addition, he's been getting some really expert guests on his show. Whether he's talking viaduct or Iraq, his ability to try and hear both sides has kept me in a more informed place than if I just listened to Hartmann or Rhodes - although both are as factual as anybody on radio. But, Dave does try to get the other side to the table. I think that might be what some of you guys on the left don't like.
I know - we all know - he's a Democrat. But, he really is a left-leaning centrist. Only the truly left-hating right would ever call him a true liberal. It just doesn't compute.
Posted by: joanie | February 23, 2007 at 12:17 PM
CBS is likely grooming Ross to be the national replacement for Osgood, who has got to be thinking about retirement in the next 5-10 years. So Ross can't be too "out there" in his views. I don't live in Seattle so I don't know what his local shows are like. Also, rightie radio may be strong on the AM, but for the last 3 months or so I've been listening to Thom via podcast and I suspect lots of others are doing so as well. I live in Phoenix which has a pretty good AAR affiliate (part owned by orig. AAR founder Sheldon Drobny) but go to Tucson (home of my alma mater the University of Arizona) a lot; their only progressive talk outside of U of A-owned NPR is Steph and Big Ed's programs on the same station that carries Tammy Bruce and Dr. Laura. Hmmmm... thank god for MP3 technology.
Posted by: Michael | August 07, 2007 at 05:52 PM
I WISH MR.Ed Schultz WOULD PLEASE
TELL THE REST OF THE STORY.
HE SAID SENT. MCAIN VOTED AGAINST
A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE ARE MEN ADDED SERVICES. I WISH HE WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH ON THINGS HE BERING UP..HE ONLY TELL ONE SIDE
OF THE STORY. I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE SEE THROUGH HIS POISON.
REMEMBER EVERY KNOCK IS A BOOST. KEEP KNOCKING MR. ED.
FIND OUT WHY HE VOTED AGAINST THAT BILL. HAVE HIM ON YOUR
SHOW.
Posted by: MR. STONE | April 07, 2008 at 09:50 AM
CAN I ASK MR.SHULTZ WHY YOU NEVER
HAVE ASKED WHY MR.Barack Hussein Obama DOESN'T LIKE USING HIS MIDDLE NAME.
AND WHY IS IT THAT ALL THE OTHER
PRESIDENT HAD A LONG HISTORY OF EXPERIENCE AND WERE MORE
QUALIFIED FOR BECOMING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BUT
MR.Barack Hussein Obama DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE EXPERIENCE OR THE QUILFIECATIONS. OH AND CAN YOU NAME WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE HAS HAD.
Posted by: MR. STONE | April 07, 2008 at 10:07 AM
OMG..Burke has risen from the dead.
Posted by: sparky | April 07, 2008 at 10:16 AM
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ASK MR Barack Hussein Obama WHY HE DOESN'T LIKE ANYONE CALLING HIM BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA?
YOU SAY YOUR NOT TALKING FOR ANYONE WHAT A JOKE IF OBAMA WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH YOU YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED IT...WHAT YOUR DOING IS WRONG..YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT.
THATS EVIDENT.. THE WAY YOU ALL KNOCK THE REPUBLICANS IS THE REASON WHY YOUR NET WORK WENT BK..
AND IT WILL AGAIN. YOU JUST CANT
ADMIT IT. OH AND WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ASK MR. MCAIN TO COME ON TO YOUR SHOW? SO THE PEOPLE CAN GET THE TRUTH..
Posted by: MR STONE | April 08, 2008 at 11:02 AM
YOU KEEP SAYING YOUR GETTING A LOT OF E -MAIL ALL I CAN SEE ARE E-MAIL FROM FEB....WHAT AM I MISSING???
Posted by: MR STONE | April 08, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Burke LOL He said SHIT a lot....Maybe he is penning these from his rest home next to Kmart.
Posted by: News Flash | April 08, 2008 at 11:26 AM
WHY WOULD ANY OF THE SENATORS
BE CONCERNED ABOUT GAS PRICES
WHEN THEY GET IT FREE..
THEY ALL HAVE CREDIT CARDS FROM
THE MAJOR OIL COMPANY BUT YOUR
NOT TO KNOW THAT AND THEY WILL
NEVER ADMIT IT.
Posted by: MR. STONE | April 09, 2008 at 09:22 AM
Please quit YELLING at us!
Posted by: Duffman | April 09, 2008 at 09:26 AM
YOU KEEP TELLING PEOPLE YOUR GETTING E-MAIL . ALL I SEE IS MINE. IS THERE ANOTHER E-MAIL ADDRESS????
Posted by: MR.STONE | April 09, 2008 at 09:26 AM
You need to know the secret code.
Posted by: RedmondDem | April 09, 2008 at 10:26 AM