I Don't Need A Survey . . .


. . . to tell me how imbalanced talk radio is. Hell, I live it. Still, this new survey the Center for American Progress put out on the structural imbalances in talk radio is worth a read:

In the spring of 2007, of the 257 news/talk stations owned by the top five commercial station owners, 91 percent of the total weekday talk radio programming was conservative, and only 9 percent was progressive.

What this says to me is that there is a market out there that the radio stations are failing to reach. I'm pretty sure it is a combination of risk-averse corporate behavior plus a lack of imagination plus a kind of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. I'm sure the report gives a bunch of other reasons too.


Sean Paul Kelley June 20, 2007 - 1:20pm
( categories: Radio Appearances )

Convince the masses that destroying the commons is good for them. Let me count the tax breaks that the uber wealthy warlord overclass have granted themselves.

Beyond the failings of the FCC to insure that the Airwaves belong to the American Public, there must be a market for this nutwingish swill that passes for communication. The giant land grab that is going on right now is the 700mhz band or known as the current TV band that is going to become available once HiDeff TV becomes the law of the land in TV broadcasting. The 700mhz band is going to be the wireless network of the near future.
The 700 MHz spectrum could give birth to the much-anticipated third pipe, but phone and cable lobbyists are currently pressuring the FCC to sell companies like AT&T and Verizon our airwaves

In addition, when I use services that are advertised on progressive radio, that there is always a mention of the station and radio DJ or talk show host that carried the advert. I do multiple thousands of dollars of business with some of these advertisers. Making sure that the correlation of why I chose their business over another is that they support progressive radio and that they do provide good service.

"The president's job is to think not only about today, but tomorrow"
george bush delivers deep insights in a speach given on
April 19, 2007
Tipp City High School
Tipp City, Ohio

Peter C June 20, 2007 - 2:06pm

Rush and Hannity are liars to protect Bush.
How can you protect a liar.
By more lies.

repressive governments mix administrative clumsiness & inefficiency with authoritarian tendencies.

kimmy June 20, 2007 - 8:09pm

Advertisers would rather pitch to dimwitted folks because they are more easily swayed by weak forms of persuasion. Hence the commercial radio predilection for conservative talk and vapid music.

Smart people, particularly smart people with principles, are naturally going to be a harder nut to crack for businesses whose offerings do not sell on their own merits. At least ten times harder than conservative slackjawed chumps, I'd guess....

chalo June 21, 2007 - 3:21am

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