Does anybody want Progressive Radio?

[SargeUNN]

According to Ed Shultz on his radio show this morning he stated that no progressive radio stations are coming because there is such a strong anti-obama sentiment in the country. Here in Phoenix KPHX seems to be off the air at least for a period of hours or longer. According to what I was told Newcomb said on his show that he hadn't been on air much lately because of business reasons but he was taking care of that. I am no fan of Newcomb, but I will give him credit for trying since I have tried as others to get a successful progressive station here and it isn't easy. I finally decided that it was unlikely because it is too hard to get support from those who have the money and the ones most likely to support you don't have the money. I don't really know that the progressive business community really wants progressive radio. What do you folks think?

[Monique1]

1. I thought I was progressive but the progressive yap has turned me off!

Progressives just want to dislike Obama and the Dems and give power to the TB repukes.

Sorry progressives you are so negative and throw our own under the bus - it is almost being hypocritical.

I know what you are going to say - so let me make my comment. Sometimes you have to go along for the ride.

I am sorry you don't like it - but you can't keep support if you don't support.

[county worker]

4. What are you talking about? If you really listen to the callers of progressive radio

and most of the hosts they are saying, they are disappointed in some of Obama's policies but we have to get behind the Dems and vote like there is no tomorrow.

I don't think you know what you're talking about!

[Exilednight]

28. I think you have it backwards, the DLCers throw progressives under ............

the bus. You can't court our vote and then not expect us to want progressive legislation in return.

[county worker]

2. Santa Barbara's progressive radio changed to Hispanic music.

One morning I tune in on the way to work and I thought I was not tuning in correctly. Here one day and gone the next.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Liberal talk isn't fake controversial or bullshit lie stuff. It's about depressing

real life stuff like low wages, environment, education & other practical unfunny matters. After listening to numerous tries over the years & also Pacifica, IMHO it has no "entertainment" value & thus no general audience.

[supernova]

5. Yep,

We're information mavens, not drama queens. Ergo, what we talk about isn't generally addicting in the same way Fux Snooze is addicting to their audience.

[county worker]

8. Stephenie Miller has some entertainment value.

When I drive to work I have a choice of the happy morning FM dj's or wing nut radio, Pacifica or Progressive talk on my I-phone. I use the I-phone. I'll admit it can be depressing and after a while you have to give it a rest.

[The_Casual_Observer]

11. I really miss the Air America feed we had out here.

Al Franken has a gift.

[Johonny]

20. she always picks my morning up

not the best informed show, but it is rather funny.

[SargeUNN]

9. Doing Progressive Radio myself for 3 1/2 years

a year and a half on Nova M/KPHX, and a year and a half on the Jeff Farias Show.com with affiliates in Mississippi, Texas, Kentucky and Sweden, I can disagree that it is boring. I had some really good interviews on my shows, had first hand reports, and comedy. Randi Rhodes has segments that are very funny as well as informative, Malloy has aired skits, interviews, first hand reports (I got started with my Katrina reports on Malloy and Rhodes shows) so that I have to say is totally incorrect. There are some host that are less entertaining than others, but to say progressive talk is boring is incorrect.

[The_Casual_Observer]

16. Well then, it must be something else then, because it sure doesn't

fly very high or for very long commercially.

[Radical Activist]

30. Yes. I have no interest in progressive radio for the same reason.

We have Stewart and Colbert and the internet.

[Codeine]

6. The only "talk" radio I really like is hard news. My NPR station

plays the BBB World Service during overnights, which is fabulous.

[Bobbieo]

7. Sarge - I doubt any progressive in AZ has the money to fight these

conservative tea baggers. I am about to see my state senator go down in flames to a guy who has been in court umpteen times for nonpayment of bills. Disgusting!!!!

[SargeUNN]

15. Actually it can be done

When Manzo ran Nova M it had turned a profit for months in a row, but the Drobnys didn't pay the bills and what went with the money I don't know. KPHX was very strong until Manzo, Farias, and others were fired because they told Shelly Drobny to move the station was a potential disaster so they were fired. Shelly didn't want the operation in Phoenix and he and Anita sabotaged the station. Now after we tried to make a go of the Jeff Farias Show Network we did ok early but the money was never enough to meet expenses and when we got a show on KXXT some said that it was wrong to have a progressive show on a christian network even though we actually became the first show to get in the ratings since KXXT was Air America. The management at KXXT wanted to keep the show but because we couldn't get our progressive businesses to support us we had to stop.

[tularetom]

10. Progressive radio has to dumb down it's message

Right wing radio gets listener through appealing to the lizard brains of low IQ people through fear and hate.

Unfortunately progressive radio aims a bit higher and IMO they have tailored their message too narrowly to catch the dumbass demographic in this country.

Ed Schultz. I think, gets it and he makes an effort to spice up his commentary with visceral remarks that appeal to the typical right wing radio listener.

Malloy also has figured it out, but he's been marginalized by the syndicators who are probably frightened of what he says.

[Iggo]

12. It's an anti-RADIO sentiment, Ed.

[Toucano]

25. +1

[JuniperLea]

13. You have to remember who runs/owns the media...

It's really hard to get progressives programming on the radio. I listen to Stephanie Miller almost every morning, and it's like a big celebration whenever they get a new affiliate station. Air America went belly up, so most progressives have started their own shows and are trying to syndicate. Mike Malloy, for example, is all on his own.

Until we take back our media/journalism, we're screwn.

[Curmudgeoness]

14. In Youngstown OH, a station has two hosts who are progressive,

one in the morning and one after (barf) Limbaugh through the evening. They do well, but there are lots of Repugs who listen and love to argue. I love these shows because 1) they put voice to most of my own opinions, and 2) I hear all the arguments from both sides. I think that a station devoted only to Progressive Radio would not get the other side arguments, so we would end up arguing with each other. And that is just sad. And hopefully, we are above some of the antics of the RWers---and if we aren't, that would turn many off. Without stupid antics and lies and deceits and hatred, I am not sure there would be entertainment value enough to draw many listeners.

[doc03]

17. I do but Clear Channel owns every damn channel in my area. I

did have Sirius but after Air America went under I dropped it.

[BlueIdaho]

18. What the republicans did right.

They spent decades buying small am radio stations and newspapers across America and then carefully controlling the message. Never mind the message is bullshit, it's wrapped in a flag and hung from a cross. Its appeal has been nurtured and developed to dog whistle pitch. Add to that the increasing use of mass media to drive the same narrative until we see what we see now, a sophisticated echo chamber designed to catapult the propaganda through repetition of a simple message built on an abusive notion of what "American" and "Patriot" mean.

We can create a counter network filled with honest open discussion of real traditional American values and the important role of government in protecting our citizens from corporate abuse, but we are going to have to build it one brick at a time.

[SargeUNN]

19. one thing I have not said

Looking at the chances of starting a progressive station one fact jumped out that we experienced. The progressive audience is so divided that the market might not be there anymore. The audience for shows were affected by the Obama bashing and I saw my audience where if I said something good about Obama then I got a caller who would call in and get in a heated rant about how I was an Obamabot, and when I would say something negative I would get told I was an Obama hater, with neither recalling when I said something opposite their view. It got to be where I dreaded doing the show because I didn't know how many would listen, who would call me one or the other above mentioned names, and the more I tried to just stay honest the worse it got and the more my listening audience dropped off. I checked and found most Progressive host were experiencing this as well. Right now I will say I am not sure I would ever put myself through that again, but if we progressives start working together while accepting differing opinions, I might consider it. Right now I just don't believe the commitment is there and the progressive community is together enough. You are free to disagree but this is my observation and I do have a better view than most.

[meeshrox]

21. I have progressive radio in my area...

They cannot claim to be forwarding any political position because they are non-profit but I consider their station progressive (at least compared to schmucks like Tod Schnit on AM radio). The station is WMNF and anyone can listen online for free...it's an awesome station and I've been a listener/supporter for two years now. Consider checking them out: www.wmnf.org My favorite show is radioactivity; you can download/listen to shows from the archive, too. Today's show was a good one to start! And no, I'm not an employee and I'm not receiving compensation!

[ornotna]

22. best little radio station on planet earth

We are blessed in this area with that.

[meeshrox]

23. Indeed

and when I finally get the hell out of here, I'll continue to listen and support! Woohoo! :)

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

24. Progressive Radio is redundant by its very nature,

Progressives don't look to a voice of authority for constant reinforcement of their beliefs, while conservatives are dependent on it.

[marmar]

26. I definitely think that's a big part of it......

I listen for the insights of a Thom Hartmann, though.

[meeshrox]

27. I agree we don't need reinforcement

but progressive call-in shows are constructive. Most of the tightie-whitie-righties that call in are quickly reasoned with and they move on. It's worked well on my local station. There are no screening procedures and people are mostly civil.

[Exilednight]

29. Ed's not my cup of tea. Randi Rhodes is an idiot, but I loved Al Franken when .........

he was on the air. Rachel is obviously quite smart and not afraid to take on right-wingers, and she even manages to treat them with respect while still telling them how stupid they are. I wish Keith would do a radio show, but on the other hand I don't think he would handle callers all that well.

[w8liftinglady]

31. and Rachel maddow's morning show...

[krispos42]

32. If you want real critisism of Obama, lefty radio is the place to be.

Unlike right-wing radio, which has delusions of reality (birthers, socialism, etc.) the left-wing stuff is grounded pretty well in facts.

[w8liftinglady]

33. Air America and the other progressives in DFW don't make it.

I'm sure funding is a big part of it.I listen to XM radio left and KERA public radio.That's as good as it gets.I love Thom hartmann.

[Paulie]

34. www.WeAreCitizenRadio.com

www.mikemalloy.com
www.normangoldman.com

These three podcasts keep me sane.

(and oh how I miss the late great local WCPT show www.familyvalueswithanoyvey.com )