[BC] AFTER BANKRUPTCY FILING, RECRIMINATIONS FLY AT AIR AMERICA

[Rich Wood]

------ At 04:15 PM 12/19/2006, Kent Winrich wrote: -------

>Whats interesting is that CC just dumped AAR in Madison, WI home of 
>the soon to be new leader of AAR.  They had good ratings but the 
>advertisers were not seeing any return.

Usually when your advertising (with good ratings) fails to perform 
it's because of bad copy or a bad fit. That would lead me to suggest 
the sales department go after other advertising categories. 
Controversial programming always has trouble selling mainstream 
advertisers. Even Limbaugh is a tough sell because of the 
longstanding "don't buy" list. Have you asked Gabe Hobbs why the 
company is doing what it's doing?

I worked with Stu Crane at ABC before he went to EFM and Limbaugh. 
His comments about Air America are dead on and we agree that it's a 
business, not a mission. Air America has been its own worst enemy. 
First, the jerks who messed with Arthur Liu (dumb thing to do). Then 
more money to LMA stations before they came to the realization that 
stations virtually never carry all of any network's programming. Then 
they lost their flagship in New York. I would guess WLIB, New York, 
was providing about 80-90% of the audience. Al Franken was their 
poster boy. Often not there and, foolishly, publicly announcing he 
might run for office. That would mean the show goes away. Smart 
programmers should begin to look elsewhere so they're not left in the 
lurch when the show disappears. Pat Buchannan did the same thing. 
Really dumb. I know most of the programmers at Clear Channel. Very 
smart folks, I think they're getting very tired of all the angst 
surrounding the network. Too much heavy lifting. Then they file 
bankruptcy and get embroiled in even more controversy with all the 
infighting. Did I mention a revolving door moved by changing executives?

They need real radio people running the thing. Look at the difference 
between Air America and Product First. The people involved with 
Product First have dealt with programming on both sides and made it 
succeed. Business first. Mission a distant second.

I was astounded to read that the new executives were interviewed by 
the Air America personalities. The inmates are running they asylum.

>If you know Madison, WI (Peoples Republic of Madison), good luck in 
>trying to get a car dealer to advertise.  Most of the listeners are 
>still driving 68 VW Bettles and Micro Buses.  I think there are more 
>VWs than in Mexico.

In spite of your awesome experience in sales and programming I have 
to disagree. Good salespeople find a match for their programming and 
sell. Bashing a market because it doesn't fit your personal politics 
is lame. You're assuming, like Republicans, that every voter in a red 
state voted for them. Considering the popular vote was incredibly 
close, that's not possible. I suspect there are many Republicans in 
Madison who buy Cadillacs and BMWs. There are many places in the 
country that political Luddites preceed with "The People's Republic 
of ..." that have large Republican populations.

Damned shame when cousins marry.

Rich