Peter B. Collins says lots of big advertisers demand they not be on Air America shows?

OK, I normally don't post stuff without link-o-mania, but I was listening to the radio while traveling today, and I came across one of the very few stations that airs the Peter B. Collins show. And during the show, he started talking about an "internal memo" from ABC radio he'd received -- a memo that had a big long list of national advertisers who had demanded that their ads not be aired on any Air America programs that might show up on these stations. He named names, lots of names, names you'd recognize but which I won't cite until I can find a link.

Like a good DUer, I searched on everything I could think of, but I didn't see any articles about this today. If there are, let me know, and I'll sheepishly mark this as another stupid dupe.

was it also applied to the jones radio network programs, or just AAR shows?

And I just found an MP3 of today's show online: link

However, I am here on dialup in my cheap motel room, so I won't be listening to the whole thing. I believe it was roughly 1:15 to 1:45 into today's show (right before I reached my destination and stopped listening), if someone would like to check into it.

(OK, now I'm downloading the show ... verrrrry slowly, at 56k ... but I will wait to see if the relevant portion is there.)

i think my brain has gone to sleep ahead of the rest of my body.

radio once and for for all...and the Limbaugh's can say, see liberal radio doesn't work...Fucking fascist corporations!!

Buy Blue! http://www.buyblue.org/directory/alpha

There is a ready market of over 40% of the populace in even the reddest of areas that are not currently served by political talk radio. What every business model requires, a ready-made market.

Problem is, the money boys (advertisers, station owners) are from the other side of the political divide, and most apparently would prefer to lose money. Even worse, they are now apparently buying up AAR affiliates with good numbers in order to push them off the air. No station, no problem.

So much for the free market.

Instead of trying to ‘fight the last war’, that is, model progressive talk radio after Reich-Wing radio, a different (and not really innovative), approach is needed.

This approach is . . . . use the NPR model.

In larger, left leaning cities, commercial Progressive radio will be viable due to the critical mass of advertisers. In smaller, or redder, markets, where most of the advertisers are prejudiced, funding would come from the ‘Corporation For Progressive Radio’ to offset losses.

As Liberals/Progressives, we would need to donate $100/200 a year to the corporation (I used to donate this much to NPR). If 1/6 of Kerry voters donated $100/yr., $1 B a year could be raised.

My belief is that until those in the Red areas (Phoenix, Missoula, Atlanta, etc. etc.) are provided access to an alternative to Reich-Wing propaganda radio, Progressive politicians will make limited inroads. Some discount the effect of Reich-Wing propaganda radio on the political shift, and dumbing down, of the electorate, particularly the ‘working class’. I do not. Radio is low cost (for the consumer), convenient, and pervasive among the ‘working class’.

One other change is that the on-air ‘personalities’ would need to accept that they are part of a movement, and park their ego, and need for $1 M/yr paychecks, at the door.

My experience with all cities, and particularly ‘Red’ cities (St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Des Moines, Albuquerque), is that the older/university neighborhoods are ‘Blue’, surrounded by ‘Red’ suburbs which are the enclaves of the middle and ‘working’ classes. That is, the part of the electorate that has been consistently voting against their best interest. Therefore, the primary strategy would be to ‘serve’ these areas. The ‘Blue’ would provide a critical mass of funds, with the CPR providing funds to keep the enterprise ‘just in the black’.

A secondary strategy would be a salient into smaller markets with larger universities (Columbia, MO, Springfield,. MO, Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, IA, Fort Collins, CO) and therefore a younger demographic. The dynamic in these smaller cities would be similar to the larger cities, with the relatively large progressive base proving the revenue to operate nearly self-sufficient.

A third, and probably most important, strategy, will be an air-drops into (typically ‘Red’) smaller cities that are rural regional centers (Quincy, IL, Topeka, KS, Waterloo, IA, Quad Cities, IA). These operations would probably require the most funds from the CPR.

Parallel to all of the above, ownership of stations should be the priority, or the sorry situation in Missoula, Phoenix and the Quad Cities will simply continue. With an adequately funded CPR, when a station comes up for sale, they would be ready. On-line funding drives could even be effected to raise funds to outbid the Christo/Corporatist oligarchy.

i have -and will in the future- contribute to alternative media. this could work and I'd sacrifice for the cause.

not Air America. Find your proof, then we'll talk.

right-wing con-artists ever again.

We definitely need some different business models for progressive radio to penetrate further into red areas. The same thing applies to nominally blue areas/states that AAR to date has barely penetrated. In Maine (some conservatives, but lots of people who call themselves independents but who are heavily influenced by repuke ideas) we have a low frequency AAR station in Portland that can barely be heard with lots of static during the day where I live (35 miles north of Portland) and not at all at night. There is no other access to progressive radio (with the exception of a few low frequency community radio stations) in the rest of the state (covering a very large area). A model that could support stations in small cities like Augusta and Bangor is what is needed.

However there would be one problem with the plan you describe as far as on-line funding drives. For-profit stations are prohibited from raising funds in this way. The stations would have to have non-profit status. With a combination of foundation support and funding drives maybe non-profit stations could be viable.

What I could envision is a members program, similar to AAR Premium, but much much larger in scope. Basically, a member-owned model, kinda like a farmers Co-Op or a credit union.

The non-profit approach would probably be the simplest model, but I would be nervous about a Reich-Wing justice department constantly challenging the non-profit status of the Corporation.

that could be a potential prototype (Air America Advocates): http://www.870thevoice.com/advocate.htm. You're right about the problem with the current dictatorship challenging the non-profit status ( they'd go after them for "partisan" activities).

I agree that AAR Premium could also be a way to do this, but these forms of support would have to happen on a much wider scale than they are now and lots more people would have to pitch in.

Having worked in radio stations most of my adult life, one thing that is sure as day is how skittish Sales departments are. In many operations...especially the small ones, they are the kings...or should I say the advertisers are and the Sales people will do anything, everything to make the sale and to keep them happy. You can have the greatest show in the world...win tons of awards and even have high ratings, but piss off an advertiser or the Sales Department and you're toast.

One thing that scares advertisers away is controversy. They want positive results and getting a ton of freepers stomping down your doors...best to avoid the entire mess.

Listen closely to your local hate radio station. You will hear some major advertisers...like the recent crap with Hannity and GM, but for the most part, the sponsors of these shows are small companies or mail order or other operations that buy in bulk and their commercials are place wherever and whenever...it's then easy to say they aren't sponsoring a controversial show, but instead are supporting the entire format.

Another factor, dare I say Mr. Collins avoids is the troubles AAR stations in particular have in selling. A major reason is most of these stations are small signals that have problems covering an entire market, thus they have very poor ratings and THAT is what advertisers really want to see. In the past, radio only had to compete with the local TV station(s) and newspaper for revenue. Today they take a backseat to cable and internet...plus with a shrunken economy, advertising dollars are very tight...and advertisers are more demanding as ever. If you can't produce, either through some tangible increase in sales that can be tied to your station or that you have high ratings, your station...no matter what the format, is going to suffer.

There's always been a battle between the "creative" and the "money" side of radio, and this sure sounds like it. The joke is that most Sales people were frustrated jocks with bad voices, while the Sales people say the "air talent" are leeches and prima donnas.

The only report I saw today of interest was the possible future liquidation of Clear Channel that emphasizes what I've stated here for weeks...radio is in dire financial straits and the AAR situation was symptomatic of an industry in distress rather than any "failure" of Progressive Talk radio.

I'd be curious to see if there is such a memo and where it originated from. The fact that many major advertising agencies avoid talk radio...both right and left, is not a shocker.

I think challenges to the rantings of right-wing hosts is a mixed bag. If DUers rise up against the lunatic garbage of a Rush Limbaugh, it has the potential to make advertisers say "Oh to hell with it. We don;t want to get involved in programming of any substance. Let's just advertise on Lite Music stations."

Didn't some of the crazies boycott Ford for placing ads in some gay magazines?

:(

Start listening at 1:42:20 into the above link. Here's a quickie transcript by me:

PETER B. COLLINS: I just got, and I got this from a source I will thank but not identify, an email that went out today from ABC Radio Networks. And it is a blackout, and it reads this way: "Please be advised that Hewlett Packard has purchased schedules with ABC Radio Networks between (certain dates). Please make sure you black out this advertiser on your station, as they do not wish to air on any Air America affiliates. Please see below for a complete list of advertisers requesting that none of their commercials air within Air America programming." There are almost a hundred corporations listed here, Jeff. I'll just buzz through a couple. Allstate, Avon, Bank of America, Bayer, BMW, a bunch of over the counter medications, Gold Bond and others. Cingular wireless. Clorox. Coke. Dell. Denny's. Discovery Channel. eHarmony -- the progressives don't do online dating? Epson, Exxon, FedEx, Frito Lay, GE, Goodyear, Heineken, Hershey's, Hewlett Packard, Home Depot, Hormel. These are the largest advertisers in network media in the country, and they're all on a list that says don't go on progressive radio.

JEFF COHEN, FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY IN REPORTING: Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. Has that been made public yet?

PETER: No, this is an internal document sent to stations, instructing them how to black out these commercials.

:wtf:

Who the hell do they think watches them?

Now, ABC radio networks comprises a lot of things besides radio talk shows. ABC's radio network includes ESPN Radio, Radio Disney, automated music formats, non-controversial talk programming, ABC News and even commercial packages sent out to affiliates (I worked at a station that got a ton of national ads from Westwood One, another big radio network).

Now, if these companies forbid commercial airplay on, say, Hannity's show (which is syndicated by ABC, BTW) then I'd likely give them a pass. As a previous poster said, many advertisers shun polarizing or controversial programming. That's why El Rushbo is hawking air mattresses and cheap metal buildings. However, if these companies advertise on conservative radio, then I'd call them on it, or at least demand an explanation.

This is a very good thread. I publish a blog about progressive talk (click banner below) and may even write an entry about this. Thanks for posting.

Have you seen the eHarmony commercials on TV, with the old guy who's supposedly a doctor of something or other?

Anyone that happy HAS to moonlight as an axe murderer or something.

Furthermore, Dr. Clark (founder of eHarmony) has books published through Focus on the Family's publishing house. Doctors Clark and Dobson are tight. :puke:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/145919/2183

...Hewlett Packard...There are almost a hundred corporations listed here, Jeff. I'll just buzz through a couple. Allstate, Avon, Bank of America, Bayer, BMW, a bunch of over the counter medications, Gold Bond and others. Cingular wireless. Clorox. Coke. Dell. Denny's. Discovery Channel. eHarmony -- the progressives don't do online dating? Epson, Exxon, FedEx, Frito Lay, GE, Goodyear, Heineken, Hershey's, Hewlett Packard, Home Depot, Hormel.

Does anyone know? How would one go about finding that info?

they advertise on radio...it's on republican conservative talk radio...these are the biggest corporations in America...Just like the only 5 media corporations NBC, ABC, CNN, ABC, & Fox) give huge donations to the republican party.

This is republican corporatism, that Reagan, the Bushies and the republican party have been pushing our country to, for years...It's republican ideology, just as it it is to get rid of Social Security (which they despise) and ALL social programs.

Someone said, "Corporate Fascism".

Air America station. This list may not be accurate.

That will serve them well.

the archives.

by everyone!

n/t
:kick:

:kick:

I had an email conversation with the manager of our local AAR station. It actually only aired an hour of Al Franken and an hour of Randi Rhodes. I complained and he told me he was having a hard time keeping even those hours on. Not because there weren't listeners -- on the contrary, they had lots of positive listener response to the shows -- but because the advertisers refused to advertise on liberal radio programming! This is a pretty red area and most of the local businesses are Republican-owned but he also said many national advertisers would not buy airtime for the same reason. If we could find out who these companies are that are making these programming stipulations to the stations, we could arrange a boycott. What makes me angry is that these are OUR AIR WAVES. They belong to the public and they are being used to propagandize us. We seriously need to do something about this.

Oh, by the way, there is no longer any AAR programming on that station. Nothing but right-wingers and info-mercials. :puke:

That cuts both ways.

if we could select a few strategic ones to really go after we are more likely to have an impact than if we boycott all simultaneously. That's not to say that individuals can use their discretion about others on the list (I regularly consult Act Blue and other similar directories in making my buying decisions).

If they can sway the public discourse with their dollars, we can with ours.

... because I will never do business with any of them again.

and Common Sense.

Check out White Rose Society Peter B Collins

http://www.whiterosesociety.org/

Friday, October 27th, 2006

On this show is Brad Friedman of Brad Blog http://www.bradblog.com/

Tom Engelhardt of TomDispatch http://www.tomdispatch.com/

Jeff Cohen of FAIR http://www.fair.org/index.php

Professor George Lakoff of book - Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate
The essential guide for progressives, this book is the antidote to the last forty years of conservative dominance of the national public policy debate. http://www.georgelakoff.com/

Another great Peter B Collins show ...Listen on http://www.whiterosesociety.org/

Friday, October 27th, 2006

:kick:

by a bit, so :kick:

dp

radio has such a difficult time and the need to expose it...with corporate fascism fighting it at every turn including the corporate media!

Even though more than half the of progressives & Democrats in the country buy their products!

Buy Blue! www.buyblue.org

:kick:

Is this NOT a right-wing conspiracy? Of course it is.

This week alone, I heard ads from Wal Mart, Coors, and Phillip Morris. You can't get much more right wing than those three corporations.

oh jesus YES!

Those be some mighty big right-wing fascist corporations, yes um, Massa "American Jesus". What station you listen to, again?

The point is there's obviously a list of huge corporations who won't(and we haven't seen the whole list only down to the "H's, the only progressive who has seen the list is Peter B Collins)nor will they consider advertising on AAR(or ANY progressive radio) - They want ALL progressive radio to fail for obvious reasons...Corporate fascism is what I see so clearly. Rove influenced? Who knows...BUT we need to find out more!!

Progressives also buy their products...

Let it be known!

Still......

Buy Blue: www.buyblue.org

:smoke:

:kick:

So, the list won't be made public because... just because.

as well as voting on election day.

Also White Rose Society does carry archives of the Peter b Collins show (Friday Oct. 27th 2006)

www.whiterosesociety.org