Breaking on CNN: Air America files for bankruptcy

[Rude Horner]

No story yet, but it's in their banner

I should say, on their website.

[SteppingRazor]

1. Oh boy ... can't wait for O'Reilly tonight

:eyes:

[RebelOne]

10. And don't forget that Sean Hannity will be gloating about it.

I listen to him on the way home from work so I can focus my road rage on the radio instead of the assholes on the highway.

[creeker]

133. plus--- "know your enemy" (Sun Tzu)

[liberalmuse]

11. Oh, he'll be on it like a loofah sponge...

but who really cares what this smug, arrogant, self-important, non-entity thinks?

[bluestateguy]

2. THEY WILL STAY ON THE AIR

The gloating from the Right will be nauseating. I mean, it's not like they have any elections to gloat over.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/13/D8KNQ9I80.html

Air America Radio, a liberal talk and news radio network, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a network official told the AP.
The network had denied rumors just a month ago that it would file for bankruptcy, but on Friday Air America said negotiations with a creditor from the company's early days had broken down.

The network will stay on the air while it resolves issues with its creditors, spokeswoman Jaime Horn told the Associated Press. A formal announcement was expected to be made later Friday.

[redqueen]

3. I wonder if that creditor is being unreasonable...

don't know *why* I'd wonder about that...

[seriousstan]

16. Unreasonable? Like, wanting to be paid on time?

You don't file bankruptcy unless you can't pay your bills. Even Frankin said he wasn't getting paid.

[Fluffdaddy]

24. Good Point. AAR is suppose to be a Business.

There goes my year AAR premium membership

[redqueen]

55. Love that DLC avatar.

:rofl:

[Fluffdaddy]

71. Thank You ..... Keep laughing

The DLC will be responsible for getting us back in power.

So Keep laughing

[redqueen]

72. How could I not, after a claim like that?!

*dies*

[Jim Sagle]

138. Whaddya mean, "us"?

[davidwparker]

117. Why? My premium downloads are still functioning. I prefer the paid

podcasts primarily. And since we don't have AAR in my area (Norfolk, VA), I like XM.

[redqueen]

54. No, unreasonable as in not setting up some kind of plan. n/t

[seriousstan]

60. I would think it is AAR's job to have a plan TO PAY IT'S BILLS on time.

People who have extended you services and credit have the right to expect you to pay it back according to the conditions you agreed to.

[redqueen]

67. Ooooh and now you're shouting!

:rofl:

Good day.

[DocSavage]

110. Only 20 million

no problem, let Soros write a cheque

[tavalon]

103. They need to fire a number of their suits

They have been running Air America Radio into the ground from the beginning.

I'm so not surprised.

[maddezmom]

4. link here:

Liberal Talk Radio Network Air America Files For Chapter 11
http://www.wnbc.com/news/10069724/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news

[davidwparker]

5. I don't see a problem with it unless airplanes from bankrupt airlines

start falling out of the sky.

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Air America Radio, not American Airlines.

[davidwparker]

114. Yes, I know. The point was that airlines file bankruptcy and still

fly. It sounds like it is still problems from the first guy who was CEO. The one who said that they had more launch money than what they actually had.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. how many times has that asshole with his TV show used BK laws?

That self-absorbed jerk who fires people on TV. Just think about that. He is such a pisspoor manager that he needs to use BK to protect his casino interests!

[JRob]

108. Sam Walton (Wal-Mart) filed a couple of time too...

[liberalmuse]

7. That's a shame...

However, I do think they need more radio personalities like Malloy instead of the middle of the road personalities who are getting paid a bloated salary, but don't inspire much passion. Also, they should add programs like 'Counterpunch' (I think that's what it is called) that take the media to task on their not reporting the whole truth. All in all, Air America just needs better and more creative programming. For instance, I like Springer, but his show is boooring.

[Garbo 2004]

44. Mike Malloy will be filling in for Springer next Thurs & Friday. That

should liven up the program: http://www.mikemalloy.com/

[davidwparker]

118. Oh, that will be good. I think AAR still streams the show. Mark that on

my calendar.

[davidwparker]

119. And, didn't the recent CEO go? Was that the one responsible for Mike

getting fired. If this is the case, maybe Mike will come back to his slot. There was some cosmetic industry dude running AAR. Now, I think they have a radiio dude as CEO. One can hope.

[Overseas]

154. I agree-- Bring back Mike Malloy and more exciting shows !! eom

[joefree1]

9. O'lielly won't laugh long ... some great news

Talk radio group ready to tune into politics of the left

Baltimore Business Journal - 2:51 PM EDT Monday
Oct 10, 2006
A group of media and political partners is teaming up to launch a new star search for progressive talk radio.
Clear Channel Radio, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Jones Radio Networks and Media Syndication Services, which is based in D.C., will conduct a nationwide talent search for the next voice of the political left.

The contest begins Monday and will culminate with a final broadcast in front of a live studio audience in the District. Entries will be judged by an expert panel that includes Ed Schultz, one of the highest-rated syndicated progressive talk show hosts on the airwaves.
The entire at-large contest will be managed online at TalkProgress.com, a Web site designed by Seattle-based Internet development company Nakea and by local promotions.

Clear Channel Radio developed the progressive talk format in March 2004 at one of its AM radio stations in Portland, Ore. The station's rating shot from 23rd to first in that market. Since then, nearly 100 radio stations industrywide have begun airing syndicated progressive talk content, including eight in the top 10 radio markets.
more ...
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/10/09/daily7.html

I get flack here for being a big fan of Big Eddie and Stephanie Miller but they're winning the ratings war. Liberals need to be loud and proud.

http://www.bigeddieradio.com/
http://www.stephaniemiller.com/

[liberalmuse]

12. I'd like to see Bartcop added.

I like his point of view on some of the issues, even the ones I do not agree with.

[Gregorian]

36. I totally agree. Bartcop is the king of common sense.

We need at least one of him on the public airwaves.

[davidwparker]

120. I love Stephanie Miller. It's not that I don't like Ed, it's that he is

not my taste. Kudos to him for serving those who are more centrist and outdoorsmen.

[Xeric]

13. It was run into the ground

By thieving and lying management. Possibly deliberately.
How else to explain the firing of one of their most popular personalities, Mike Malloy?

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ian David]

32. I heard some advertising sales people were less than enthusiastic. n/t

[mopinko]

49. i can confirm that this is true.

i looked into advertisting pinkobuttons a couple of times, and you can hardly get a phone call or email returned.
this whole mess was done on purpose. moles.

[Ian David]

65. At least they don't have the dentists nightguard commercials anymore

I think they deliberately put those commercials on the air to force people into changing the channel.

[LTR]

77. Jones Radio Networks does handle ad sales for AAR

I think AAR only does sales for their New York affiliate.

Still, it would be nice if they could let people know that.

[mopinko]

78. local affiliates do their own, also. nt

[LTR]

85. That's true

Just to clarify, Jones handles the network-allotted spots.

[redqueen]

57. I doubt anyone here would be suprised. n/t

[Teaser]

15. RAdio is increasingly ibecoming less relevant

If you've noticed, its been in the new, distributed media that the left has really started to dominate things. Trying to maintain a presence in a dying media format like public airwave radio is great, but creating a vital presence on satellite radio and the intarweb is of more importance.

[insanerepubs]

25. Actually

...radio is alive and well, especially AM talk radio.People aren't listening to AAR, why is the question we should be asking ourselves.

[Teaser]

38. I think radio is a medium for the past.

It's still alive, but it is not where the burgeoning demographics are going to find their entertainment in the future....however...

As to why AAR is not working, I'd hazard a guess that they simply failed to market their product. I've seen no advertising from them anywhere. No backs of buses...nothing.

You don't spend money, you won't make money.

[Dick Diver]

46. Actually, I've seen

numerous ads for AAR on kiosks and even on buses here in NYC.

[Teaser]

51. Really? They did shit in philly

nt

[Patiod]

104. There isn't an AAR station in Philly

One of the primarily African-American stations on the upper AM dial used to carry 6 hours of AAR a day, but that was about a year ago. No AAR since then, in one of the country's bluest cities.

[AllieB]

141. You never see any ads for Air America in the Boston area

and I speak to many liberals/progressives who've never even heard of it.

[NYCGirl]

91. Ads all over here in NYC — every other bus has a pic of Al and Randi! NT

[creeker]

135. As long as there is "free"radio a lot of folks who cannot listen to a lot

of radio(like me) will not pay money to listen.'nuff said

[byronius]

87. I don't agree, I know a bunch of people that listen all day.

It's quite addictive, especially Randi Rhodes. I never listened to talk radio ever in my life -- but now, I know the commercials by heart. Unfortunately. Still --

[davidwparker]

122. I listen all day, but its streaming, podcasts, and XM.

[BlueEyedSon]

105. Radio is big for peeps who are too dumb to use the Internets

[AllieB]

142. Radio informs the computer illiterate and those who cannot afford a PC

or internet connection. You forget that the vast majority of poor people do not have access to the internet at home.

[Jersey Ginny]

145. Radio informs anyone who drives a car. It's critical and I hope AAR

survives. I get my news from the internet and radio. The radio is a very important medium.

[davidwparker]

121. ABSOLUTELY!!! Satellite and podcasts! Even if AAR were on AM in my

area, and it's not, who wants to listen to AM?

AAR needs to put its eggs in the here-and-now and then backfill with AM. In the largest cities, go to FM at least.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. Why I Don't Listen to AAR

Shitty low power AM stations. It is that simple. AAR has been locked out of all decent AM stations, and I assume that they went to crappy AM because there were no FM stations available at all. The entire radio broadcast industry is locked up tight by groups like Clear Channel.

The solution is equally simple: diversification through re-regulation of the broadcast industry and re-establishment of the strict limits on station ownership.

[Quantess]

33. Satellite radio is pretty terrific

It's likely to be the future dominant airwave.
I love Satellite radio!

[JPZenger]

82. XM Radio is the Way to Go

Once you try satellite radio, you can't listen to broadcast radio anymore. No annoying DJs, most music stations have no ads, a choice of 150 channels, continuous 24 weather and traffic reports for all major US cities, stock quotes, and most importantly, Air America. (XM has an exclusive deal for XM). You can listen to your most favorite station all the way across the country.

[Kool Kitty]

101. Yep. AAR switching from low-power WLIB to

even lower-power WWRL in NYC convinced me to get it. I was only able to hear Sam and about an hour of Al before. Now I get AAR 24/7 and I love it. The rest of the satellite programming is terrific, too.

[Jersey Ginny]

146. WWRL is lower power? I thought so. I can't get it on my kitchen

radio anymore to listen at night.

[EnviroBat]

41. Me too.

I can't listen to all of the static and walkover. I can listen to Ed Shultz during the drive home, but in the morning, the low power AM station in southern Ohio still has their transmitter turned down even lower, (FCC Rules). I can't hear crap from the station.

[JRob]

109. not while Michael Powell is running the FCC

[Warren Stupidity]

136. Well then we are in luck!

Powell left a while ago. He was replaced by the equally loathsome Kevin J. Martin.
http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/martin/

[dragonlady]

113. Milwaukee situation about the same

A group here has been trying really hard to get a station, but there are no reasonably priced frequencies for sale.

:)

[HootieMcBoob]

143. True n/t

[NewJeffCT]

153. I can't listen, either

I'm in the Hartford, CT area and would love to listen. When they were on WLIB in NY at 1190, I could get them in sometimes. However, since they switched to 1600, they are overpowered by a Springfield, MA station that signs off at 7pm.

[Demonaut]

18. What can WE do to hepl AAR? fund drive, request a premium membership

with monthly dues? I'd pay.

[davidwparker]

124. Premium, man. This is what I do, in addition to XM. With Premium, you

can by-past all the commercials and listen to more of the content. Timeshifting is also great. For instance, if Maddow is dragging, I'm shuting down my Mac and going to listen to Stephanie Miller podcasts. Listing to what you want when you want is great.

[quiet.american]

19. All I can say is, Armstrong Williams is not my idea of progressive radio

Air America had such a good thing going in New York with their flagship station at WLIB. They had really built and established a solid progressive radio identity on a station with a strong signal.

Then, they moved to WWRL in mid-September and I've gone from having every radio station in the house tuned to them to not even bothering anymore (unless I stream through my PC, but even their streaming signal now cuts out every fifteen minutes.)

Imagine my surprise when I tuned in the morning of their much-lauded move to WWRL from WLIB and found they had replaced Rachel Maddow with Armstrong Williams?! WTF. Even then I gave them a break and said, well, WWRL has just retained this time slot for their own programming -- but then, I heard an Air America promotion trumping Williams as part of their lineup. Huh?

Oh well.

[Fluffdaddy]

20. I guess there's no place for left leaning radio...Sad

In the town the size of Philly other then PBS, there is only right-wingnuts on the air 18 hours a day on two radio stations................Damn :(

[geomon666]

21. There is a place.

But any business being run by incompetent jackasses is going to go out of business.

[AllexxisF1]

23. I stream their channel at work everyday.

The shows personalities could be a tad better at being entertaining. I personaly have no problem with paying for the service.

[redqueen]

59. LOL... interesting conclusion you jumped to there. n/t

[stepnw1f]

68. post #26 is for you (nt)

[Tracer]

22. Ad revenue?

Radio stations depend on ad revenue to keep them afloat.

Air America "seems" to have tons of ads, but they all fall into the category of "hair growth creams", "phony internet at-home businesses", PSPs, "time share sales" etc.

These can't be premium advertisers who would pay top dollar to get on the air.

[MalloyProducer]

26. Air America files for bankruptcy

Not because there's no audience; not because the on-air people are not dedicated; not because there are no advertisers; but, because AAR management - especially this new crop of right-wingers - was so incompetent, so ignorant, so unable to manange, there was no alternative but bankruptcy. How fucking sad . . .

Okay, right-wing pundits and media assholes: START YOUR LIES!

- Mike Malloy

[keta11]

27. In restructuring, my recommendations

Cut Al Franken salary
$10 per month internet subscription
Compete on price for ad rates

[marshall]

70. Doesn't Franken have enough money from SNL?

Why can't he just work gratis, and make his money off endoresements and investments? It's not always about money, Al!

[Fluffdaddy]

75. Do you work for Free ?

[w4rma]

86. That is a dumb idea. Disrespectful, too. (nt)

[NYCGirl]

92. He has been working gratis...and did so in the past, too. NT

[marshall]

98. Good for him.

That's one bill off the list, at least.

I wish I had made a stockpile of money so I could work for free on the causes I believe in. Maybe one day......

[davidwparker]

126. I think Al is doing that now. He certainly isn't worth the reported

million dollars. I still prefer Hartman to Al regardless of whether Al is gratis or not.

[maddiejoan]

28. K&R

How fucking true.

[shireen]

95. what would Smeagol do?

:P

[Vexatious Ape]

29. I can just hear that hectoring fascist

blow-monkey Neal Boortz about now. I imagine he's pleasuring himself on the radio over this,spinning it this way and that.

[Ian David]

30. The media is only as liberal as the right-wing conservatives who own it.nt

[IndyOp]

31. Hey Mike! I miss you!

There's no one to keep me ticked off enough to work into the late night! :(

:hi:

[tridim]

34. Mike, any idea if the incompetent management are going to be fired?

I would think that would be the first stipulation in the bankruptcy, or do they get to stay because they're Republicans? Maybe Bush will give them a medal?

I'm assuming that these idiots are the same group that pulled you off the air.

[Maat]

43. Can't wait to hear what you have to say on this, Mike and Kathy!

Our family misses you; we hope that you are back on the air soon.

We wish you and Molly and the rest of the family the best!

[jayfish]

45. IMO AAR Is A Bad Business Model.

They should focus on syndication rather than running their own stations.

Jay

[mopinko]

52. you know about how they run their business?

you can judge?
i think they should take the moles out back and crush their skulls with a shovel, like you do when they infest your garden.

[jayfish]

66. Yeah, this Being An Opinion Board And All,...

I thought I'd offer mine. Oh and I hope your mole-control plan was allegory with no basis in reality. I'm not really into killing wild animals because they infest my pretty garden.

Jay

[dionysus]

56. Hi Mike!

[onehandle]

80. How are you guys doing?

We miss your broadcasts from here in Decatur.

[CottonBear]

90. Hi Mike and Kathy! We miss you!

Hope to see you in Atlanta soon at a DU meetup! Hang in there!

Love you both! CottonBear from Athens, GA

[shireen]

94. how did right-wingers come to manage AAR?! nt

[cascadiance]

107. No doubt a lot of idiotic decisions by Goldberg...

Who was quoted at the beginning as being "inspired by listening to Rush Limbaugh" or something to that effect. He brings in Jerry Springer as his big "coup" (who's now off the air). They then proceed to kill off Sirius Satellite radio so that many of the more progressive radio crowd who wanted the two channels that were offered on that service felt "thrown away". Then he turns around and starts charging for podcasts. I would have been more apt to subscribe to podcasts had I not been shortchanged on my Sirius setup. Then he (and/or other of his management) kills off Mike Malloy, who was one of his cheaper costing talent but who was getting more audience than the rest. That's just stupid. That's not running a business. Malloy is someone that they should have modeled other shows after. He's what many of us want to hear.

[davidwparker]

128. I actually don't mind getting charged for podcasts since you don't have to

bother with commercials. I'm an AAR Premium member and I also pay for the Stephanie Miller streams.

I agree not keeping both Sirius and XM was dumb. Satellite is where things are going. I don't care about AM.

When I have to buy another car in the distant future, on the list of features is iPod integration and satellite radio.

[cascadiance]

151. Had they not pulled the Sirius stunt, I might have too.

I'd be more inclined to trust them and also reward them for giving me a service that I wanted. But when they forced me to get a different radio setup, and it now isn't working the way my earlier Sirius one was, I don't feel like shelling out yet again more money to them for a subscription. Translated, the money they asked me to pay for a new XM setup was taken DIRECTLY AWAY from the money I might have paid in to a subscription. They should factor that in to the silly "exclusive" business decisions that they make. I'll be there were many like me now that are content just to listen to KLSD or another local station, especially when they yank off one of my favorites in Mike Malloy off of their service for what appears to be more political rather than business reasons that they claimed.

Much as I want to have a service like Air America that I'd invest in and help them do good business, the current management there has made it difficult to do. They should go. I don't know if we could have someone like George Soros step in and bail them out on the condition that they fire Goldberg and his hired honchos, but that's something I'd like to see happen to get me to jump on board with a subscription, etc.

And Mike, if you are reading this, I do miss you too. The timing of muscling you off the air, seems minimally suspicious, if not part of the Karl Rove game that's going on every place, to do things like try to hide Grand Jury investigations into Brian Bilbray's residence here, as well as keep Duncan Hunter from being indicted until after the election. "The Man" is out in full force now. Got my absentee ballot that I applied for for the first time here in California, but I'm suspicious of what they'll do with that too when entering it into the system without someone like Debra Bowen in yet to protect our voting processes.

[davidwparker]

125. Mike, there is suppose to be a new CEO, not the cosmetics dude. Now

that he is gone, would you come back?

I keep holding on to XM hoping you'll turn up there. AAR Premium is enough for the other shows, but I prefer to listen to you LIVE. Which ever SATELLITE station you turn up at is the one that I will continue to pay for. I still have my Sirius receiver from when AAR was there.

There's been too much * monkey business that has happened with you not covering it. I've read you'll be on LIVE for Springer next week. I will be streaming you.

[PlanetBev]

35. So what happens now?

I'm a real dimbo regarding about bankruptcy issues. Isn't Chapter 7 worse the Chapter 11? My understanding is that Chapter 11 is a way to dig yourself out and re-organize. Correct?

[melm00se]

37. BK's

11 is a reorg...you have a chance to make changes to how you do business in an attempt to be able to cover your debts. 7 is a complete liquidation of all assets to cover debts.

It is interesting that they do not list any accounts receivables as assets, that, to my eye, indicates that there was little or no long term network level advertising...it was all in a trade out situation....not a good thing.

[PlanetBev]

40. That's for that info, melm00

I hit Tower Records last night to grab me some tunes before they close. Chapter 7 is so sad. End of an era.

[EnviroBat]

39. Well, I saw this coming...

After listening to those amateur hacks the "Young Turks" in the morning slot, I knew they were doomed. Very sad.

[PlanetBev]

42. I'll never forgive them for the loss of Malloy

Never

[Canuckistanian]

47. I agree, a totally boneheaded move

Many, many people canceled their subs, many email campaigns to get Mike back and a general loss of confidence in AAR management.

And not only Mike, but Marc Maron, the threatening (and subsequent time banishment) of Sam Seder have all left real progressive radio fans scratching their heads.

If it weren't for Randi, I'd have no use for them at all.

[shireen]

96. ditto

Mike was truly the heart and soul of AAR. I have little sympathy for AAR filing bankruptcy, simply because of what they did to Mike. I hope Randi, Thom, and Sam would seriously consider leaving AAR and forming a new company with Mike to syndicate their shows. They have a strong listener base, and would do quite well with the right marketing and financial backing.

[confludemocrat]

112. yep,

same here. Dumb.

[davidwparker]

129. I like the Young Turks. In my opinion, they did a favor by cutting Riley

to an hour. They should get smart and pair Sedar with Maron permanently. Otherwise, Sedar won't be able to withstand Stephanie Miller. I love Sedar, but Stephanie's show is better. Sam should have kept his night show.

I really don't see why EcoTalk has 5 hours a week. What a terrible mistake that was.

Mike should come back at 8-11. Then do Politically Direct from 11-midnight. Move EcoTalk back to weekends.

[LTR]

48. Smoking Gun has a copy of the bankruptcy filing

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1013062airamerica1.html

[tridim]

53. Gawd dammit, those docs show Malloy's home address!

Watch your back Mike. Please stay safe.

[JPZenger]

84. Owe $558,000 to Clear Channel Communications

According to the filing, they owe $558,000 to Clear Channel Communications (whose owners are close buddies of King George). They also own $2.5 million to Citibank, and over $100,000 to Mike Malloy. As noted above, they also owe over $300,000 to Al Franken.

[crikkett]

50. I never understood why they didn't sell ads on their streams+podcasts

It *can* be tastefully done. It *can* rake in some $$.

Crikkett
Post 995
(so close to 1000, so little to say today)

[davidwparker]

115. For podcasts, I'd rather pay rather than listen to commercials. For

streaming, I agree.

[quiet.american]

137. Actually, there is advertising on the streams. n/t

[mopinko]

58. i knew something smelly was going on when john kerry

failed to run a single campaign ad. other dems as well. the powers that be not only wanted to starve it, they sent their little moles in to tear it apart.
you think there is some kind of free market out there kids? NOT.

[redqueen]

62. I sincerely hope no one here persists in believing that myth.

Other places, I wouldn't be surprised...

[Freddie Stubbs]

63. The purpose of campaign ads is to win elections

Stations are chose based on their audiences and audiences.

[melm00se]

76. did you think that

there was anyone listening who didn't vote for Kerry?

Putting a Kerry ad on AAR falls under the "preaching to the choir" category

[mopinko]

81. first of all, you do need to talk to your choir.

they need their choir practice.
you want to advertise to the people likely to receive you well. that would have been the aar audience. he got plenty of free air. he should have "paid" for it, by running some ads.
but just exactly how do you think the wing nuts control the networks? do you know how much money is spent on campaign ads? the dems should be out there supporting THEIR media. they need aar, they love to come on and yack on aar, but do they write any checks? hell fucking NNNOOOO, they don't.

[davidwparker]

130. Maybe they didn't run ads there because they had the AAR vote already.

[hijinx87]

61. an upside and a downside

on the upside, it's a reorganization. they will stay on the air. on the
downside, the thing they fervently and vehemently denied just a few weeks
ago has actually transpired. that bothers me for some reason.

[redqueen]

69. Maybe because it hadn't transpired yet? And they were hoping it wouldn't?

Most people who are avoiding bankruptcy work with their creditors beforehand to avoid it.

[LTR]

73. The denial was probably via legal advice

They weren't ready to file yet, and needed to get their stuff in order first.

I see no problem with this. Corporations deny rumors all the time.

[Psephos]

140. Lawyers or no, a lie is a lie

Lying should not be part of the progressive m.o. Especially at a place whose very mission is to spread the progressive view.

Peace.

[LTR]

150. Oh, bullshit!

Sorry to be so rude, but I'm sick of being told how progressives are supposed to act.

This is the real world here. They couldn't say anything until they were ready to. Simple as that. It just so happens that Arthur Liu (who some may remember from AAR's early days) was trying to stick them for a ridiculous sum of money and being unreasonable about it. This is one of the reasons for AAR to finally file.

They said a month ago that they hadn't filed (true) and that they had no plans to (things change). If they said a month ago that they would file Chapter 11 in six weeks, AAR would be kaput by now. They'd be ruined.

Progressive, my ass. This is the real world calling!

[Psephos]

156. The bullshit came from AAR, not me

It's been two years of endless bullshit from AAR.

I was on board for a long time, but there comes a point where supporting a broken organization is like buying liquor for an alcoholic. I wonder what other revelations will arise as AAR swirls around the drain.

Back to Pacifica for me...

Peace.

[cboy4]

64. delete

[Fluffdaddy]

74. $20.2 million in debts, assets of $4.3 million......Jeez AAR is Done

I'm sad to say

[rocktivity]

79. As Al Franken beautifully pointed out

"I just flew into town on a airline that's been bankrupt for years."

Calm down, it might have been the smartest move they could have made.

:headbang:
rocknation

[NYCGirl]

93. And this morning he said he was doing the show from a phone booth!

This very well may be a rebirth — a very needed rebirth.

[davidwparker]

131. Needed indeed!

[confludemocrat]

111. No fan of the relative pablum of AAR, but you&Franken are right--calm down

USA Today operated at a loss for years until they turned a profit and now look at them
Fox News the same and probably a few others

Yeah, they had big parent companies behind them, but those are much higher overhead bizes

[Sunshine Jim]

83. been watching this since before they went on the air.

there have been so many bad moves made by the management that i'm convinced "they"

have always had a "sleeper" in there to pull the plug if we get to rowdy.

what is interesting are the "bloggie" communities that have formed there.

much like the one here, an amazing collection of individuals

working mainly to get some truth and understanding

of an incredibly complex political shituation.

[byronius]

89. It's a new mindset altogether -- I've never seen anything like this.

I came of political age in Arizona, when Meacham was Governor. This kind of free speech is amazing to me. I've always felt alone, entrenched, swimming in a red sea. Now, I feel like I'm home, with a bunch of utterly diverse, highly intelligent humans. My rate of self-education has vastly increased. What is now inside me can never be taken away. It is the New America. Born of Right-Wing-Rule -- we had to hit bottom to find out the truth, as a nation. What does this 'America' really mean? Does it mean being lying cheating torturing murdering harassing suffocating ignorant asshats -- or does it mean being strong, clear-eyed, fact-based, freedom-loving people? I say the latter. And AAR helped. I honor their service. In fact, I'm going to sign up for premium membership today.

Here We Come.

[gulliver]

88. They should try more entertainment.

There doesn't seem to be a market for political Everclear on the liberal side. They should leaven it a lot with entertainment. My favorite FM radio station here in STL bashes Bush mercilessly while being a pure entertainment station. Their ratings mean they do a lot more damage to Republicans than any 10 AAR stations.

As Joe Dirt says (paraphrasing), "It's not what you like. It's the consumer." AAR needs music, humor, and sex appeal. Liberals have the Internet for the facts.

[Placebo]

97. I need my daily Randi Rhodes fix!

As long as they're staying on the air, it's none of my business what their financial situation is. That being said, I wish they were doing better.

[oc2002]

99. Sad, but not in the least surprised. This was an inside job.

There are people in AAR managment that made sure it would go down.

[blues90]

100. I thought AAR was great for two years

They had a great line up with each host bringing it to a boil.

When Mike came on , the pot was boiling over which made the entire day .

I can only wonder why AAR would allow new suits to buy into the company basically destroying it , I suppose money is money if it was needed but it appears to have been a huge mistake .

If they could put it all back the way it was then continue on that would be great .

Yes , I know I am just a baby boomer wishful thinker who looks on the past and compares it today and I am very sad about this new world order neocon remains of a great country we used to have .

[LiberalHeart]

127. I stopped listening when they went with XM

I had just invested almost a grand in equipment and a lifetime Sirius membership when they announced they were switching to XM. Randi had promoted Sirius non-stop in those days, then boom, it was gone. I was ticked off, hated listening online, and wasn't about to invest in XM if that, too, could be dumped. I gave away my Sirius stuff and membership and never looked back. Only thing I miss is Joe Conason on Al's show.

[peacetalksforall]

102. The most important issue is our 'stars' - keeping them together

together is essential. I don't think any of us understand the set-up. They contract with local stations in most parts of the country, so most of us are not getting them in pure form most of the time. But lumping them together under an Air America type brand is essential for clout. I would hate to have our hosts thrown to the wind and not have an Air America center. In all this time I've never seen a flow chart of who owns what and who contracts with whom to understand the organization. I hope no one is trying to break them up.

LET'S FACE IT. WE CAN THANK THEM FOR MUCH. LAir America gathered the guests we needed to hear from - Dorgan, Boxer, Conyers, Rangel, all the Media Matters and specialist type guests, etc. The guests were able to present their case without a rabid right wing host and guest shouting them down within a 10 minute appearance on cable that used 4 of the 10 for commericals. We NEED to hear them. We need a center. We need them to fill our radio hours. When there is such a need, something will make it happen. It's time.

Schultz is not the be all of radio. He's not exactly left. He doesn't have enough antennas out to gather the information like Randi, Mike, Sam, Al. Sometimes he amazes me with the stuff he doesn't know about. It's one thing to come from a Republican like background - but after all this time, he needs to decide who he is and expand his knowledge. He is more on the shallow side of knowledge and understanding. But, he is the one with the secure job - not our Air America friends. Our need is not entirely met with Ed.

I think we can thank our stars that Randi, Sam, Mike, Laura and all the others were there when they were - because a change in our country and spirits has come about and a lot of credit goes to them = in spite of the reported and rumored, questionable ownership and tricks? What they brought us so far has been priceless. Sometimes delivered in a rough and rustic syle, but all to our advantage.

[krispos42]

106. Well said

I think Ed is the 'gateway' into what my boss terms the 'frothing liberals'. His voice sound somewhat like Rush Limp-bough, so I think he gets a lot of people who are scanning through the stations to pause for a critical one or two dozen seconds, and keep them hooked.

Rest comes when it comes. It took about a month for me to really enjoy listening to Mike Malloy, and when he did his nightly reading of "1984"... wow. And I was so pissed when AAR pulled him!

Here in the Twin Cities (home of the 2008 GOP convention, damn them!), they bumped Randi and Sam down three hours to make room for Thom Hartmann. Stephanie Miller from 8am-11, Al from 11-2, Ed from 2-5, the local show Minnesota Matters from 5-6, then Thom from 6-9, Rhandi from 9-12, and Sam from 12-3am. It's still a pretty good lineup, even if I'm listening to morning shows some 15 hours late! But it helps to listen to Thom and then Randi, because I can see how a story changed throughout the course of the day.

I'm glad they didn't replace Mike with Laura. I was not enthused when she subbed for him for a week. Jon Elliot was a pretty good sub, though.

[allisonthegreat]

116. they will make it...n/t

[anotherdrew]

123. where are the damned advertisers? boycott companies that don't advertise

there should be ads for MOVIES, music, and much more, yet all I ever heard was bullshit being advertised.

[mopinko]

144. where are the democratic candidates?

aar here in chicago is CHEAP. there are tightly contested races here. there is one little, dick durbin urging people to vote dem. that's it.

[lynne]

152. That's a novel concept. How would you go about doing that?

Of all the thousand's of businesses of various products and services that exist - do you plan to boycott them ALL?

[Festivito]

132. NPR had comments from Al-NO, Ed-No, Randi-NO, Rush-YES.

NPR is fundraising. Their ON THE MEDIA program has been right-wing for years. But, it really made me laugh today when the only commentator about a left-wing radio show was Rush Limbaugh.

Ed is not on AAR, so he's not a part of this.

Although, my Dearborn, Michigan AAR station is currently running the Tiger playoff game, which is fine by me. It was moved due to our unusually early cold, windy, even snowy weather tonight. Just as AAR files Chapter 11 reorganization and NPR enters fundraising.

And, didn't AAR just put in new facilities? I'm curious. Why did they do that? Did some Right-wingers pull strings and pull funding? Run ads and pay late, then had the bank call the loans?

I'm just curiouser and curiouser.

[blue cat]

134. Does this mean that it will go off the air?

Or what, because I love Air America.

[quiet.american]

139. No -- they have said programming will continue as usual. n/t

[Mistwell]

149. It might eventually mean that

They have a chance to reorganize and try to recover. But they have a huge amount of debt at this point, and some of their top people are leaving behind the scenes, so it will be a difficult road. It may end in them going off the air, and it might now. We shall see over the next six months or so.

[HuffleClaw]

147. no real surprise. they tried to go too far too fast. and failed.

plus, they have, imo, one, maybe two, decent shows. ok, sure i like janeane garofalo as much as the next liberal, but she wasn't exactly a stellar radio host. i didn't much care for 'marbles mouth' franken and jerry springer? what the hell were they thinking? randi rhodes rocked but one good host does not a network make.
also, they got well and truly screwed by clearchannel (and really, they should never have taken that bait), and had some pretty pathetic production values for even a college station so far as i'm concerned. all in all, i'd call it a good idea that didn't have the backing it truly needed.

[Mistwell]

148. Bummer

They may be able to recover, though they will have to go leaner to do it. They have lost more than most of the bigger dot-coms did - $9.1 million in 2004, $19.6 million in 2005 and $13.1 million so far in 2006. That's a lot of dough to burn!

The executives fleeing the ship is really the more disturbing element. Two directors, a President, an executive vice president, and a COO. That is a LOT of important people fleeing in a relatively short period of time. It means there is a lack of continuity internally now, lack of faith in a recovery, and loss of connections to outsiders who could help bail them out. Very worrisome for a company of that size. Its the sort of atmosphere that causes your smarter employees to start sending their resumes out.

Well, I honestly hope they can pull out of this. There are some decent hosts on that station too. I've followed Stephanie Miller on and off for many years now (she used to be a local talk radio host here in Los Angeles).

[Dragonbreathp9d]

155. With their ratings this shouldnt be an issue

[Mistwell]

157. $41,800,000 loss in 2.5 years not an issue?

Since when is losing almost $42 Million Dollars in two and a half years not an "issue"?

Their ratings are nowhere near enough to sustain that kind of burn rate.