Whatever Happened to Progressive Talk Radio? Did Air America Kiss it Good Bye?

[marmar]

Whatever Happened to Progressive Talk Radio? Did Air America Kiss it Good Bye?

By Cynthia Lowen, AlterNet. Posted August 10, 2009.

We need a progressive antidote to Limbaugh, Savage and Beck. Yet Air America Radio seems to have gone in a different direction.



When Air America announced that Montel Williams would be the second émigré from the television talk show circuit to appear in the prime nine a.m. to noon slot originally occupied by Unfiltered (hosted by Rachel Maddow, Chuck D and Lizz Winstead) many across the blogosphere shared the sentiment of itsrobert, who wrote on DemocraticUnderground.com: "Montel Williams? Air America just keeps getting worse."

In June, the network had Montel Across America broadcasting live at America's Future Now, the largest annual conference of progressive activists and leaders in the country.

From his table in "radio row," located next to Thom Hartmann's -- who was named Top Progressive Talker this year by Talkers Magazine -- the newest member of the Air America family had an interesting perspective on his foray into progressive radio:

I don't know if ‘progressive' is necessarily the moniker that should be hung on the show. We are independent. We are independent and unfiltered. And I think there's a difference because progressive seems to denote a new party. And I have no party affiliation whatsoever in this world. I was a Republican, you know, my background is a little different. I did 22 years in the military, I did 17 years as a television personality, and through that period of time I was a motivational speaker also helping people blend what Dick Cheney just realized is empathy and conservatism together. I walked away from the Republican party, I'm now an Independent, I'm a registered Independent, I vote that way, and that's what I really want to see this format of radio become: the home of inclusive thought. I'm a home for as many voices as we can reach.

If Montel Williams is any indication, Air America may have as many lives as a cat. The network's most recent incarnation could be traced to the spring of 2008 when Charlie Kireker, former Vermont government official, investor and creator of Pendulum Media, purchased the network from real estate mogul Stephen L. Green, the brother of NYC politico Mark Green (who served as the network's president). Kireker went on to hire Bennett Zier as CEO, a former executive vice president at Clear Channel. Zier helped direct the merger of several radio stations into what would become Clear Channel Communications in 1994. At the same time Kireker brought on Zier, he also introduced another Clear Channel alum, Bill Hess, to top management as senior vice president of programming. Prior to joining Air America, Hess handled various programming and management responsibilities for four Washington, DC stations. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/media/141868/whatever_happened_to_progressive_talk_radio_did_air_america_kiss_it_good_bye_/

[Larkspur]

1. Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann are my top 2 progressive talk radio hosts

I do download Ron Reagan, Nicole Sandler and Jerry Rice along with the weekend shows Ring of Fire, State of Belief, Free Thought Radio, 7 days in America. I don't bother to listen to Montel. He never drew my interest when he was on TV.

[zbdent]

2. apparently, Montel walked away from the Republican party when the media

finally realized they couldn't polish the turd that Bush's presidency had become ...

"Independent" is the new "Republican" ... "Oh, I always criticized Bush! I'm an independent!" (despite evidence of constant Kool-Aide drinking)

[LiberalEsto]

3. Air America is on life support

We recently got Air America in the Washington DC listening area, many months after our Progressive Talk radio station was killed off by the owner of the Redskins. (Killed off after being neutered with the removal of Thom Hartmann and Stephanie Miller).

Air America in its current format sucks. Lionel, Montel, ugh. There are frequent interruptions to air baseball games. Can't hear the show after dark. And I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone, but I can't listen to Randi Rhodes because she rambles and takes way too long to make any kind of point.

Looks like Korporate America decided, after the Obama victory, that progressive talk radio was too risky, and decided to water it down or eliminate it. Looks like they've succeeded.

[Larkspur]

4. Randi left Air America a year ago

Don't know who she's with now.

[LiberalEsto]

7. She's on our Air America station

from 3 to 6 pm weekdays -- AM 1050 Washington DC

[Larkspur]

8. Your station most likely is not an Air America station

Air America, like the Jones network which syndicates Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann and Ed Schultz, does not own stations. It syndicates shows. So your station is most likely a Progressive radio station that runs shows from different syndicators.

for example, XM has America Left channel, which is its main progressive talk channel, and it carries Stephanie Miller along with some Air America shows. It's not an Air America channel.

[LiberalEsto]

10. Well, they SAY Air America

when they do their station ID. That's all I know.

[jotsy]

5. I don't know that Air America is the extent of progressive radio.

The voices we got comfortable with in the months before the 2008 elections have shifted yes, but faded? Got to disagree there. With both Rachel and big Eddie giving a newsy view from the left before a national audience on MSNBC, it seems to me, progressives have made some headway in having any voice at all in M$M media. There has been left a gap though. I believe it's more just a matter of time while we adjust to some of the newer voices that have emerged.

What progressive radio may lack in quantity, it makes up with quality that concomm can't touch.

My three favorites are all former Air America hosts. Thom Hartmann fights the good fight in such a way that it is always entertaining, educational, and always in support of "the commons". A gentleman and a scholar who seems to know how to expose a profiteering mouthpiece and make it sound effortless.

Randi Rhodes may be sassy and yes, at times, a bit antagonistic, but she knows her stuff and has little tolerance for uninformed and borrowed opinion. I think the rabid righties need a bit of their own nastiness thrown back in their faces, I can't speak for her, but I suspect that's one gap she doesn't mind filling.

For the nights you need a vent, when all this craziness is driving you over the edge, tune in to Mike Malloy. He'll get it off your chest for you, toss in some humor because it's a great diffuser and man, oh man, do we need that.

All three of these folks are excellent about insisting we not take their word for it, but site their sources dutifully, so we can inform and judge for ourselves, where we want to stand on any issue.

There are other voices on the rise and more still who should be brought back. Ron Reagan and Nicole Sandler are on the horizon. Peter B. Collins and David Bender are weekend voices from Pacifica that I miss much and hope to hear again.

[Union Yes]

6. 92.7 Chicago(north) WEBCAST link here

http://www.chicagoprogressivetalk.com/

92.7 north
92.5 west
99.9 south

820 AM

In the middle of the Ed show now.

I listen to Stephanie Miller and Thom etc. My only radio staion now and they play great tunes at night.

[ihavenobias]

9. Air America has a knack for losing their best talent.

Seder, Hartmann, The Young Turks (the latter two being the best two political talk shows out there BTW) and the list goes on.

[CherylK]

12. I like all three!!!

:toast:

[Doctor_J]

11. I listen to Steph, Thom, and Malloy.

I think Thom and Mike are self-sydicated. None of the 3 are affiliated with AAR.

[USA_1]

13. I Gave Up On AAR a LONG Time Ago

In every show for some stupid reason the hosts always provide an open forum for the far right loonies to talk shit in defense of their crazed ideology. Whenever a lib requests equal time they are invariably cut off.

Why don't these idiot hosts realize that the far right already has hundreds of shows and that they talk reich wing shit all the time? Why give them more air time? And why suppress the liberal point of view???

WHEN WILL WE EVER HAVE REAL PROGRESSIVE TALK RADIO SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN GET THE TRUTH RATHER THAN THE REICH WING LIES???

[Jakes Progress]

14. Radio make money

by selling crap. There is a much higher chance of selling a piece of crap to the kind of dim wits who listen to conservative radio.

If you wanted to sell something worthless that no one needs for a lot of money. Would you target intelligent listeners who know what is happening in the world or would you target beck and limbaugh listeners?

Come to think of it. Just imagine how valuable a mailing list of Palin supporters would be. You could sell those idiots anything.