Can any of the posters from NYC tell me if this is true? I have emailed AAR and WLIB with no response. I heard this rumor and I want to know if it is true or if it is just a lie propagated by the right. Can anyone provide me with hard facts to refute this please.

ECP

Here is the link to the story. Does anyone from NYC have any further information? AAR could be gone in less than a month, is there anything WE can do to keep the flagship station alive?

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/60684.htm

Although I am not from NY, looking at the radioratings, WLIB is one of four talk stations in the area. It is the only one showing any growth at all over the last year. Two others have shown declines while one has been stable. WLIB ownership would look foolish to give up the only lineup that is showing growth in the talk format in their area. This does not mean they won't given it up, but it would surprize me.

From the AllAccess.com website:

Goldberg Memos Staff On Air America Reports

After reports in ALL ACCESS, the NEW YORK POST, and several other news outlets picked up on the story first printed in BRIAN MALONEY's RADIO EQUALIZER blog about AIR AMERICA RADIO possibly losing its lease on flagship WLIB-A/NEW YORK, the network's CEO DANNY GOLDBERG has sent a memo to the staff that does not specifically address MALONEY's charges but asserts that the network's ratings are growing and blames "right wing bloggers" for "bad mouthing" the network with "gossip."

GOLDBERG's memo says that the network will "continue to be on in NEW YORK CITY" but does not say whether WLIB will continue to be the outlet and does not refer to whether WLIB owner INNER CITY BROADCASTING has or will terminate the lease, as MALONEY reported.

The memo obtained by ALL ACCESS tells staffers: "As you may know, some right wing bloggers have, yet again, been bad mouthing AIR AMERICA’s business. No CEO and no company, large or small, discuss its confidential negotiations with third party companies, investors, or others in a public forum. However, following are some general comments on recent gossip.

"1. AIR AMERICA RADIO is much stronger today that it was one year ago or six months ago and is on track to be stronger still in the coming year and years. Our audience is bigger, the total number of affiliates carrying our programming is greater, and the amount of revenue we are generating is increasing.

"2. It is vital, when analyzing chatter about AIR AMERICA to consider the source. In almost all cases, the people who say bad things about our company’s business are conservative ideologues who have a particular interest in damaging AIR AMERICA, for one reason and one reason only: the political opinions expressed by our on air talent. BILL O'REILLY alone has mentioned AIR AMERICA on thirty-seven separate occasions since our programming went on the air. (AL FRANKEN has offered to debate O'REILLY in any number of forums including on “THE O'REILLY FACTOR” and O'REILLY has declined.)

"3. AIR AMERICA’s ratings in NEW YORK went up substantially in the FALL 2005 book. AIR AMERICA’s NEW YORK audience is large, growing and valuable. In every conceivable scenario, AIR AMERICA will continue to be on in NEW YORK CITY.

"4. Last week, two of our affiliates changed their format, leaving AIR AMERICA with the need to find new outlets for our programming in those markets. In recent weeks we have also picked up affiliates in recent months (sic) in EL PASO, TEXAS, BUFFALO, NEW YORK and others. Overall, AIR AMERICA’s weekly audience as measured by ARBITRON has more than doubled from what it was one year ago.

"5. AIR AMERICA is a new business which has required investment albeit far less investment than many conservative media companies have consumed. Our board continues to be very supportive of our company and we continue to operate on a firm footing in all respects."

Big Eddie was right on the money regarding the situation in Phoenix. The best way to support progressive talk is to patronize advertisers like myself. For many of us, progressive talk radio is the only place we advertise. In my case, my competition is the back pocket of the neocons--big time. If I can't count on support from customers like you, you risk the chance that my competition and their neocon friends will repeat what they did in Phoenix in other markets where a company like Clear Channel isn't the owner behind these stations.

I've started a blog which explains this in greater detail:

MLM Liberal

Now, before anyone reacts...Clear Channel is committed to this format in all three cities in Ohio: Columbus (where I advertise), Akron (which brought a longtime liberal talk host out of retirement) and Cincinnati (where Jerry Springer's show is based and is syndicated in a joint arrangement with Air America).

Clear Channel's Los Angeles station is also where Stephanie Miller is based.

Also keep in mind what Ed said on today's show: The key to the growth of this format is who owns the stations. I don't need the income from my business; my state job pays me well. But it would be awesome if I built my business big enough that I can advertise beyond Columbus...advertise nationally on shows like Big Eddie's...and even own a station myself.

And my products cost less than a Select Comfort bed and Bose headsets.

One last thing...if anyone has a negative reaction to what I just said, you didn't listen to the first few minutes of Big Eddie's show today. He was right on the money!

Thanks

Brian "BALONY" Malony used to be on here in Reno, NV as an afternoon right wing hack. The man could not think his way out of a wet paper bag if his life depended on it! He follows the classic "make it up as you go along" right wing blab machine model and doesn't care about the facts. Ignore this clown and save yourself some anxiety--know that if BALONY MALONY put it out it is as far from the truth as you can get.

So you dont like Malony, but is his report true?

As a UCLA alum I can assure you that it is not an accurate post by Captain BALONY.

I am willing to wait to see what happens next month.

.........which is what we will all have to do. I have to think that if WLIB drops AAR someone else is on the hook to pick them up post haste. AAR has shown some audience gain in that market while all other talk stations have shown declines. It would be hard to think that someone would not want in on a growing audience share.

I think this is the only rumour on this page that has come true.

I think this is the only rumour on this page that has come true.

I think this is the only rumour on this page that has come true.

This is the only rumour on this topic that has come true.

And yet AAR lives on in spite of all the doom and gloom we have heard since the day of its inception. That is NOT a rumor!

WLIB ranks 34th out of 38 stations:

http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/D...p;NSD=&CE=0

Ratings declined from 1.0 to 0.5 in latest period. That ain't growth.

The ratings you are quoting refer to the drop in popularity since WLIB dropped AAR several months ago. I wonder how the owners feel about that decision now.

Now I confused one post says AAR has shown growth and you say it was dropped from Wlib which is it?

You need to read the first post that you replied to and discover that it was written in March long before WLIB dropped AAR last fall. Over the year prior to March, 2006 AAR was pretty much the only talk radio station that showed any growth in the NYC market. Since SLIB dropped AAR their ratings have tanked completely which shows their complete lack of judgement. You really need to be careful when replying to old threads with posts that go back almost a year and don't assume that nothing has changed during that time period.

And in the current world, not the world from a year ago, progressive talk continues to have its ups and downs, but the latest ratings in certain markets are very hopeful-- for example, ALL the rightie talk stations in Minneapolis were down, but Progressive talk nearly doubled its ratings (from .08 up to a respectable 1.7) and tied a conservative talk station with a much stronger signal. The morning show on the Progressive talker was up 100% over the last ratings period, in fact. Another good sign-- KPOJ, the one Clear Channel station with a good signal, was up from a 2.8 to a 3.7 ... Not too shabby. And my understanding is that even with a weaker signal and constant rumours of the network's impending demise, the current Air America outlet in NY (WWRL) was up slightly... So progressive talk ain't dead yet!

Devorah,

Where have you been missy? I heard your interview on Sam Seder. Very impressive!

Thanks. I've been sick with bronchitis and haven't had a ton of energy. I also haven't had much voice! Good thing I did that interview when I could still talk!!! On the other hand, how can you miss me if I don't go away?

I'm glad you're feeling better, I've missed you. My advice, fluids, fluids, fluids.

Chicken soup gets my vote. It's the Jewish penicillin!

Chicken soup is medicine, U.S. scientists confirm

Thanks for the numbers devorah. We know progressive talk isn't going away any time soon even though there are continued statements of its demise from the right. Look for slow continued growth over the next few years as new talents are recognized and new markets are cracked open.