Reply #27: Here's one possible explanation. [View All]

[Skinner]

I think that they were very rude to send your demo back unopened. But it reminded me of something, which might explain the odd behavior at Air America radio.

Growing up, my stepfather worked for the DuPont company. Everyone in Wilmington, Delaware, did back then. In those days, it was the "Chemical Capital of the World" not the "Credit Card Capital of the World."

My stepfather said that whenever the DuPont company received an unsolicited letter from a scientist or inventor suggesting a particular product or telling them about some breakthrough, they would send it back. Wherever possible, they wouldn't even open this type of mail. (I'm not really sure how they filtered the mail -- maybe they sent all the mail to the legal department for screening or something. But that's not really the point of the story.)

The reason they did that is because they did not want someone outside the company taking credit for a multi-billion dollar DuPont product, and then suing them for royalties. The financial risk of opening this mail for them is too great.

Just imagine this scenario: DuPont spends a decade and a hundred million dollars developing a product -- for example, Tyvek, that wrap that gets put on houses. Then six months before they patent the idea and unveil it to the world, some guy sends them a letter with the exact forumula for Tyvek, and DuPont reads the letter. What is that guy going to do when DuPont unveils their new product Tyvek, and that product makes a billion dollars for the company? Here's what he'll do: He'll sue DuPont for millions and millions of dollars.

Which brings us to Air America. I have no idea why they sent your demo back unopened. But my guess is that it is for the same reason.

Maybe Air America is worried that the Demo tape might include some really great idea for a new show or something -- an idea which Air America might develop on their own at some point. They don't want someone who sent a random demo tape to take them to court claiming that Air America stole their idea. If Air America doesn't listen to the demo, then they can't be accused of stealing.

It's just a thought. I don't claim to speak for Air America, and I have no idea what their official reason might be. :shrug: