Air America Radio

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This article is about the American radio network. For other uses, see Air America (disambiguation).
Air America Radio
Image:AAR2007.gif
Type Radio network
Country United States
Availability North America
Founded by Sheldon Drobny
Anita Drobny
Jon Sinton
Broadcast area Nationwide online
Launch date March 31, 2004
Website
Official site

Air America Radio (commonly abbreviated to AAR) is an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming. The network started programming on March 31, 2004 and features discussion and information programs with hosts reflecting progressive points of view. The network specializes in presentations and monologues by on-air personalities, guest interviews, calls by listeners, and news reports. The company is owned primarily by Green Family Media, made up of New York real estate investor Stephen L. Green and his brother Mark J. Green, who closed on the purchase of the network on March 6, 2007 for US$4.25 million.[1][2] The Greens' purchase of Air America Radio followed the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on October 13, 2006.

Contents

[edit] Programming overview

Air America Radio's progressive talk radio programming and radio shows consist primarily of news, talk, comedy, interviews, guest editorials, and listeners' telephone calls. The talk portions feature some extended host monologues in the classic talk radio format. Live and pre-recorded comedy routines, featuring various comedians, are also aired. As with most syndicated broadcast networks, local affiliate stations are able to choose which programs to air subject to contractual arrangements.

[edit] Format

The shows follow a half hour format from 6 minutes past the hour to 28 minutes after the hour followed by a hard break for six minutes until 34 minutes past the hour. The final hard break occurs at 58 minutes past the hour leading into the news at the top of the hour.

[edit] News

Before June 29, 2007, Air America featured their own news summary breaks at the top of each hour, with content from wire services such as the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI). Newscasters included Bill Crowley, Wayne Gillman, Mike Piazza, and Mark Scheerer. Some affiliates use other news services or run their own newscasts during the six minute "news hole" at the top of the hour. AAR later switched to AP Radio Network News, and more recently Free Speech Radio News.

[edit] Public affairs and editorials

The public affairs programs tend to closely follow current happenings in the news, with monologues and reflections offered by the hosts and their guests. Listener comments by phone or the internet are worked into these segments along with the interviews.

[edit] Music

Although better known for its political shows, Air America also features music-oriented shows, and otherwise uses music in a variety of ways. Most of the talk shows have their own theme songs, using 'bumper' music to segue between commercials and segments. The music in use is generally commercially released rock music. On The Real featuring Chuck D has a strong music focus. Other shows dedicated to music include The Steve Earle Show and The Kyle Jason Show.

[edit] Weekday programs

Air America produces twenty one hours of weekday network programming. The entire schedule is carried on the network's internet stream, and affiliates may carry some, most or all shows.

The network's current schedule, as of Tuesday, April 22, 2008, consists of:

[edit] Weekend programs

On many Air America affiliates, weekends feature repeats and highlights from the network's weekday shows, combined with new original programming and some syndicated shows produced independently.

Original network programming for weekends includes:

[edit] Former programs

[edit] Syndication

On September 8, 2005 Air America Radio formed a separate syndication division, designed to offer additional programming and services to both progressive talk and other talk/music formats. Air America Syndication was used to syndicate Thom Hartmann, and later Springer on the Radio which aired at the same time as The Al Franken Show and The Sam Seder Show respectively on the regular network lineup. Springer ended his show on December 5, 2006 and Franken's ended on February 14, 2007. On January 29, 2007, Air America announced that Hartmann would replace Franken on the regular network lineup. There currently are no programs syndicated as a part of Air America Syndication.

[edit] History

In late 2002 Chicago entrepreneurs Sheldon Drobny and Anita Drobny, angered at the firing of their favorite radio host, Mike Malloy, decided to try to get Malloy syndicated nationally. At Mike's behest they called Atlanta-based radio executive Jon Sinton and requested a national berth for Malloy. Sinton, citing a radio programming doctrine known as "formatic purity" that argues for thematic consistency in music and talk programming, explained to the Drobnys the difficulty in getting a single progressive on the then-exclusively conservative national radio, and suggested instead that they start a full-service network--one that would give radio stations a full complement of progressive talk. The Drobnys hired Sinton as CEO of AnShell Media, and the three went about raising money. The first official fundraiser was in October, 2002 at the home of Arianna Huffington. The gathering was enthusiastically attended by many Hollywood notables. Sinton's brother, broadcaster Carey Bruce Sinton, suggested calling the venture Central Air, a name that stuck until just before launch.

AnShell announced its intentions publicly in a New York Times article in February 2003 in which writer Jim Rutenburg interviewed Jon Sinton about the need for a balanced national discussion. Sinton, the Drobnys and their associate, Javier Saade, a Harvard Business School grad and venture capitalist, continued to raise awareness and money throughout 2003 by spending time in NY, Washington DC and Los Angeles. Sinton met repeatedly with Al Franken, to convince him to become the network's anchor talent. After mentioning actress and activist Janeane Garofalo during an appearance on Judy Woodruff's Politics Today show on CNN, Sinton received a call from Garofalo stating her interest in hosting a show. On a fundraising trip to LA, Sinton, at the suggestion of Al Franken, met with Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead and convinced her to come along as VP/Entertainment Programming. Around the same time, he talked former associate Shelley Lewis into leaving her job producing American Morning for CNN to come aboard as VP/News Programming. Meanwhile, fundraising was difficult. During a trip to Washington DC, former Clinton Chief of Staff Jon Podesta suggested a young lawyer, David Goodfriend, who introduced the Drobnys and Sinton to his former college roommate, Evan Cohen. Cohen had made millions in the Pacific Rim with advertising and research companies. Having taken the idea as far as they could, the principals sold AnShell Media to Cohen and his partner, Rex Sorensen, a broadcaster from Hawaii, who formed Progress Media, with Cohen as chairman, and Mark Walsh as CEO; Sinton remained as President.

In early 2004, talent, engineers and producers were hired, a lease deal with New York's WLIB that would allow the nascent network a New York home and affiliate was signed and at noon Eastern time on March 31st, the newly re-named Air America Radio Network was launched.

At that point, Air America Radio was the only all-progressive talk radio network. A predecessor, the UAW's I.E. America Radio Network, which was home to hosts such as Thom Hartmann, Peter Werbe, and Mike Malloy, never gained national attention. Its last day on the air was February 27, 2004, only weeks before Air America took to the airwaves.

AAR became the fastest growing network in modern radio history as Sinton, through his longstanding contacts, was able to assemble a national network of 100 stations, including 18 of the top twenty markets, in just six months.

[edit] Difficulties and turnover

At the time it started Air America Radio, Progress Media stated it had secured US$30 million in venture capital before its debut. The actual amount was later estimated by the Wall Street Journal to be closer to US$6 million, though Sorensen said that an investor had backed out at the last minute.[6]

Two weeks after the on-air debut of Air America Radio, programming was withdrawn in two key markets due to contract disputes. Multicultural Radio owned two stations contracted to carry Air America programming, in Chicago and Santa Monica, California. Air America alleged that Multicultural Radio had sold time on its Los Angeles station to both Air America and another party, and claimed that that was why it stopped payment on checks due to Multicultural while Air America investigated.

Multicultural Radio noted that Air America bounced a check and claimed it was owed in excess of US$1 million. Air America Radio filed a complaint in New York Supreme Court, charging breach of contract and was briefly granted an injunction to restore the network on WNTD-AM in Chicago. On April 20, 2004, the network announced the dispute had been settled, and Air America's last day of broadcast on WNTD was April 30, 2004. The New York Supreme Court ultimately concluded that the injunction was improvidently entered and that Air America Radio's court action was without merit, dismissing Air America's complaint and awarding over US$250,000 in damages and attorneys' fees to Multicultural.[7] According to a subsequent lawsuit filed by Multicultural, Air America Radio never paid the sums ordered by the court.[8]

Four weeks after Air America's debut, its CEO, Mark Walsh, and executive vice president for programming, Dave Logan, left the network. One week after those departures, its chairman and vice chairman, Evan Cohen and his investment partner Rex Sorensen were forced out by the remaining investors who asked Sinton and the network's executive producer, Carl Ginsburg, a lawyer and experienced newsman, to operate the company.

As part of a reorganization, the Progress Media Board of Directors bought the assets of that company, creating a new company, Piquant LLC. A change which accompanied the reorganization was a decision to stop trying to buy radio stations and lease air time, and to allow affiliates to carry programming outside of the network's offerings.

On February 28, 2005, a new CEO, Danny Goldberg, was named, and in April 2005, Gary Krantz was named president of the network. Ginsburg and Sinton were named co-COOs with Ginsburg in charge of operations and Sinton running programming and affiliate relations.

In December 2005, over Sinton's objections, CEO Danny Goldberg broke up the network's morning drive-time show "Morning Sedition", and let comedian and co-host Marc Maron's contract lapse. While the increased overhead for the show's heavily produced format may have been a factor in the show's demise, Maron claimed that Goldberg did not "get" or agree with the comedy on the show. Maron exacerbated the conflict by calling attention to his situation during the show for several weeks, prompting a petition drive that garnered over 5,000 signatures. This was to no avail, as Maron announced on November 28 that his last show would be December 16, 2005. Maron was offered an evening show, which ran briefly on affiliate KTLK in Los Angeles, but Air America never followed through with promised national syndication and the show was cancelled in July 2006.

Goldberg announced his resignation on April 6, 2006, after a little more than a year on the job.

Janeane Garofalo's last day as co-host of The Majority Report was on July 14, 2006. Although several reasons for her departure were cited (including her outside acting responsibilities), rumors claimed the relationship between Garofalo and co-host Sam Seder had become increasingly strained.[9]

By the late summer of 2006 Sinton and Ginsburg's influence was marginalized (both would leave in short order), and the network began to fray. On August 30, 2006, nighttime host Mike Malloy was fired from the network. In the two weeks before the firing, Malloy had announced an impending multi-year deal for him to stay with Air America (and to return on the air in N.Y.C.), and so far the firing has not been explained. Rumours persist that Malloy's criticism of Israel during their bombardment of Lebanon in the summer of 2006 may have played a role. News of his termination was conveyed via a short statement on the homepage of Malloy's website, posted by his wife/producer Kathy Bay Malloy.[10] His final show was on August 29, 2006 filling in for Rhodes. No mention of his firing was made during the broadcast. Malloy's firing drew criticism from Air America on-air talent, including The Majority Report's Sam Seder and Randi Rhodes. It also began a massive online campaign, including a petition that has over 17,000 signatures as of October 2006. On October 30, 2006, Malloy resumed his show on a newly created progressive radio network, Nova M Radio.

In 2008 Rhodes herself was suspended from the network, prompting her to leave Air America Radio and join Malloy at Nova M Radio, taking much of her audience for the time slot with her.

[edit] Gloria Wise controversy

Further information: Air America-Gloria Wise loan controversy

In July 2005, the Bronx News reported that the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club of Co-op City, a non-profit organization providing services for children and seniors in the Bronx, loaned US$480,000 to Progress Media, then owner of Air America Radio. It later turned out that there had been four separate transfers from Gloria Wise, of $80,000; $87,000; $218,000; and $490,000; between October 2, 2003, and March 14, 2004, totalling $875,000, and that no interest was to be paid on these loans.[11]

Since then, the city has suspended further funding of the agency, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America has revoked the group's right to use their name, likeness or logo. At the time the funds were to have been transferred, Evan Cohen, former chairman of the now-defunct Progress Media, was also Director of Development for Gloria Wise.

In response to this report, Air America Radio's owners at the time, Piquant LLC, issued a press release stating Piquant had "no obligation to Progress Media's business activities”, and Piquant, as previously agreed, would "fully compensate" the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club.[12] While Gloria Wise remains under investigation, Air America has since repaid the loan.[13] On May, 28, 2008, Evan was arrested at Guam International Airport for a warrant from the State of Hawaii. He is indicted in Hawaii for money laundering and the stealing over $60,000 from a Honolulu, HI based landscaping company.

[edit] Bankruptcy filing under Chapter 11

On October 13, 2006, Air America filed for protection from creditors, i.e. bankruptcy, under chapter 11, at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.[14] Air America continued broadcasting while the finances were worked out with the creditors. The company had US$4,331,265.30 in assets and US$20,266,056.23 in liabilities. Al Franken alone was owed US$360,749.98 and Rob Glaser, founder of Real Networks, was owed the most at US$9.8 million. The filing had over 25 pages of creditors and shows the company lost US$9.1 million in 2004, US$19.6 million in 2005 and an additional US$13.1 million by mid-October in 2006.[15][16]

[edit] Air America sold to Green Family Media

On January 29, 2007, Air America "signed a letter of intent to sell its business to SLG Radio LLC, an entity controlled by Stephen L. Green, the founder and chairman of SL Green Realty Corp, a company that controls 27 million square feet with a market capitalization of US$12 billion". Air America CEO Scott Elberg said of Air America's sale, "We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with Mr. Green, which will solidify Air America’s future."[17]

The sale was completed on March 6, 2007 to Green Family Media, a new company created by Stephen Green and his brother Mark J. Green. Stephen became the network's chairman, and Mark became president of Air America, with a hands-on role. Former chief executive Scott Elberg remained as chief operating officer.

Mark Green announced on Thursday, April 25, 2007 that Westwood One would take over the handling of Air America's ad sales from Jones Radio Networks.[18][19] In addition, a new lineup was unveiled for the radio network. He also announced a major redesign for the network's website, in addition to a new logo.[20]

On March 14, 2007, the new owners of Air America announced[21] the hiring of long time radio veteran David Bernstein to be the new Vice President of Programming. Prior to joining Air America, he was best known as the program director at New York radio station WOR from 1995 to 2002.[22]. In an interview with the New York Daily News,[23] Mr. Bernstein explained his vision of Air America's future as "I don't see our purpose as 'answering' conservative radio or Rush Limbaugh. There's no clear majority in this country today. We want to talk to everyone and help everyone make the right choice." On November 15th, 2007, industry news site Radio Online reported that Mr. Bernstein is exiting Air America.[24]

[edit] Ratings

Al Franken, host of Air America Radio's former flagship program, The Al Franken Show.
Al Franken, host of Air America Radio's former flagship program, The Al Franken Show.

In Arbitron's Winter 2006 ratings book, the most recent available as of May 2006, ratings at Air America stations nationwide averaged a 1.2 share in markets for which Arbitron reports results four times a year.

Some of the network's highest ratings come from station KPOJ in Portland, Oregon, where the station ranks second among AM stations and sixth overall. Other markets with previously high ratings include Seattle and Madison, Wisconsin. WXXM in Madison had announced on November 10, 2006 it would switch to all sports programming by the end of the year.[25][26] Following a very vocal backlash from the station's listeners[27] and syndicated hosts,[28] Clear Channel in Madison later backtracked, deciding to leave the progressive talk format on the station.[29]

[edit] Affiliates

Main article: List of Air America Radio affiliates

As of April 4, 2008, Air America programming was carried on 60 terrestrial broadcast stations in 47 markets[30]. Forty of these stations broadcast a majority AAR programming.[citation needed] During the 3 1/2 years of the network's existence, Air America has lost 40 affiliates to other programming or formats. Air America counts any station that carries any of their programming as an affiliate, similar to radio networks such as ESPN Radio.

[edit] Air America Radio XM 167

Main article: Air America Radio (XM)

Air America programming can be heard on XM Satellite Radio channel 167, titled "Air America Radio". The XM network is the exclusive satellite provider of Air America and has been since 2005, and the channel is broadcast on both US and Canadian platforms. XM167 carries a majority of Air America programming, but it also carries a few other liberal and progressive shows produced outside of Air America, including Jones Radio's Ed Schultz and Bill Press, and former AAR personalities Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes off of Nova M Radio. The Thom Hartmann Show is on tape delay to evenings in favor of The Ed Schultz Show, which is broadcast live. As a result, the recently added third hour of The Rachel Maddow Show is not heard on XM.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Air America Fire Sale", The Smoking Gun, 7 Feb 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. 
  2. ^ Associated Press. "Green brothers close deal to buy liberal talk radio network Air America", San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 March 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. 
  3. ^ Louise Story. "Air America to Be Acquired by New York Investor", New York Times, 30 Jan 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.  subscription required
  4. ^ Rhodes leaves Air America. Radio Ink. 10 April 2008.
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ Wetmore, Ken. "Nobody was duped: Sorensen denies allegations surrounding Air America", KUAM News, 24 June 2004. Retrieved on 2006-08-03. (English) 
  7. ^ (15 Oct 2004). "Radio Free America, Inc., v Multicultural Radion, Inc., Order and Judgement Index no. 105834/4" (.PDF). Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
  8. ^ "Chapter 11 Rumors in the air again", New York Daily, 14 Sep 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-14. 
  9. ^ Seder v. Garofalo: Scientology Smackdown. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  10. ^ Mike Malloy Fired by Air America Radio. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  11. ^ http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=19659&v=0331713021
  12. ^ Air America Radio. "Statement from Air America Radio". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
  13. ^ Air America Funds Returned To a Bronx Boys and Girls Club - September 28, 2006 - The New York Sun
  14. ^ Air America Radio Files for Bankruptcy Protection. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  15. ^ Free Fall Radio: Air America Goes Bankrupt. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  16. ^ Air America Radio Files for Chapter 11. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  17. ^ Air America Radio (29 Jan 2007). "Air America Radio Announced Today That it Has Signed a Letter of Intent". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
  18. ^ "Big changes for Air America", LTR - The Alternative Media Resource, 25 April 2007. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  19. ^ "AAR Reveals New Program Line-up and Ad Sales Arrangement", Talking Radio. Retrieved on 2007-04-25. 
  20. ^ "Extreme Makeover - Air America Edition", LTR - The Alternative Media Resource, 21 Dec 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  21. ^ "Air America Radio Appoints VP Of Programming", Radio Ink Magazine, 14 Mar 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-22. 
  22. ^ "Air America Appoints David Bernstein VP/Programming", Radio Online, 14 Mar 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-22. 
  23. ^ "New PD sees Air America as just good radio", New York Daily News, 19 Mar 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-22. 
  24. ^ "David Bernstein Exits Air America as VP/Programming", Radio Online, 15 Nov 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-15. 
  25. ^ Clear Channel press release. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
  26. ^ Madison Air America affiliate will switch to sports. The Business Journal, 10 November 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
  27. ^ "Clear Channel backlash in Madison", LTR - The Alternative Media Resource, 12 Dec 2006. 
  28. ^ "Schultz on 'The Mic': "That's no way to run a railroad"", LTR - The Alternative Media Resource, 08 Dec 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  29. ^ "The Mic lives!", LTR - The Alternative Media Resource, 21 Dec 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. 
  30. ^ www.airamerica.com/stations. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.

[edit] External links

[edit] Official site

[edit] Air America fan sites

[edit] Air America critics

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