The Rise and Fall of Progressive Talk Radio

[Iwillnevergiveup]

http://brilliantatbreakfast.blogspot.ca/2013/02/the-rise-and-fall-of-prog-talk-radio.html

Sadly reminds me how much I miss Thom Hartman every morning in L.A. But other technology and media outlets apparently on the upswing if we can only find our ways to them.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Interesting read. I admit to finding AM radio just horrible due to the endless snakeoil ads.

I do tune in Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz when I am in the car, but don't listen for long as the talk vs ad ratio is just horrible. I just end up putting in a CD and listening to music. I find my politics on the internet almost exclusively.

[railsback]

2. I wouldn't call it a 'fall', just a setback.

Big conservative money likes to think that they can influence the masses through hate speech. Clear Channel completely destroyed our Green960 AM station in SF. We had Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes to fill out the day. Then one morning, without warning, Glenn Beck had taken over. Its not like SF needs another Rightwing psychotic AM station, since we already have 560. But the demographics are changing. Limbaugh has seen a sharp drop off in his listenership, as has FOX 'News'. Progressive radio will increase.

[pstokely]

3. but does progressive radio get any younger demographics?

Last edited Thu Feb 14, 2013, 02:38 AM - Edit history (1)

A lot of the ads are the same things heard during Oxyrush. And a lot of younger listeners are avoiding terrestrial radio altogether.

[SunSeeker]

4. We still have Stephanie Miller during the morning drive In L.A. (KTLK, AM1150, 6-9 am).

She continues to make me snort coffee onto my windshield on the way to work. Love her and the mooks!

[Kablooie]

5. I used to enjoy Michael Jackson. (not the singer, of course.)

It was very Disapointing when he went off the air.
He was liberal but always gave balanced, incisive interviews.

Much of the progressive talk today is just Fox in reverse.
They automatically reject the conservative view without any thought.

Rachel is more like Jackson. She has a liberal bent but is respectful to honest conservative guests and seriously explores their views.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

6. The one I miss at night

is Mike Malloy. He's been bumped off quite a few Clear Channel-owned stations, including KTLK. I called the station to complain, and the producer I talked to said he and Thom Hartman had signed new contracts. Turns out not to be true. Also turns out Clear Channel and Bain Capital are partners. Election blowback? Perhaps.

[bananas]

7. Thom Hartmann is currently on KPFK at 8am

www.kpfk.org

The Thom Hartmann Program
will replace Uprising Radio
Monday through Friday at 8am
while Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar is
on parental leave.