Help Save Atlanta's Air America Radio

[UnityDem]

The sale of 1690-AM has now been finalized. The sale was closed on Thursday,
May 18th, and the clock is ticking. The new owner is WMLB/JW
Broadcasting, which has expressed an intent to move their current
programming on 1160-AM directional signal to the 1690-AM stronger
signal. Their 1160 programming is non-political, does an eclectic mix
of arts and entertainment.

The Air America contract with 1690-AM will end on June 11th. The
current Air Atlanta format will continue on 1690 until that date. After
June 11th there will be one of three things happen: (1) renew the
contract with Air America and continue on 1690, (2) renew the contract
with Air America and change it to 1160 station, or (3) discontinue Air
America programming in Atlanta. Obviously the third option is one we
don't wish to see happen. If Air America/Air Atlanta goes silent on our
radio waves on June 11th, the management of Air America will have to
shop the affiliation around to other local radio stations. Of course we
have no idea how long that would take, nor whether it would work out.
Therefore:

ACTION ITEM: (1) Please start calling the new Atlanta owners of 1690
immediately and urge they please continue the present broadcasting
format and arrangement for 1690 Air Atlanta. Flood their offices with
phone calls from concerned listeners who care that Atlanta's radio
market needs civic dialogue that welcomes all viewpoints - not just the
right-wing radical views that dominate the Atlanta market.

(2) Write an email nicely asking that the new owner please continue the
programming for Air America/Air Atlanta, 1690-AM, for the Atlanta radio
market. Point out that it serves a moderate-to-liberal market that is
otherwise untapped in a listening area that is progressive and votes
predominantly Democrat, as evidenced in the 2004 elections. PLEASE be
respectful and sign your messages "thank you for your consideration" --
show the new owners that A/A listeners are intelligent, well-mannered
folks.

(3) Please pass this information to your own email lists and ask
friends to join us in this cause.

CONTACT 1160-AM:
Phone Number: 404-681-9307
E-mail:
General Manager: [e-mail]
Station: [e-mail]

[Janice325]

1. Thanks for the heads up.

AAR is one of the few "good things" going on in "our country" right now.:cry:

[bunkerbuster1]

2. They'd move 1160's content because 1690's signal is stronger?

I didn't think it was possible to have a weaker signal than 1690's.

Anyway, thanks for the notice. I'll get my nice letter-writing skills all polished, and I do intend to send a diplomatic request outlining all that we get from AAR's content, but first, just one thing--

Do you have any links to sources verifying any of what you've written?

[RebelOne]

3. I can't receive 1690 either in Marietta where I work

or in Woodstock where I live. The only way I can listen is online.

[bunkerbuster1]

6. FWIW, I tuned in to 1160 yesterday and today during my commute

1. Reception wasn't all that different for me, compared to 1690, which is intermittant.

2. Odd mix of really-oldies and 60s oldies, and some musical commentary. At least it's not RW political, from what I can tell.

Guess my point is, if the AAR programming winds up staying on the air on 1160, it'd be way better than losing it altogether.

I can't believe Air Atlanta can't make a financial go of it. They seem to have paid commercials booked for all the times I hear them.

[RubyDuby in GA]

4. We heard it from Mike Malloy at our last get together...

http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/peachbuzz/entries/2006/05/15/degarmo_coming.html

Air America leaving Atlanta?

Air America, the liberal talk radio network featuring the likes of Al Franken and Randi Rhodes, might be losing its Atlanta affiliate next month, when bakery magnate Joe Weber takes over the AM/1690 signal. Weber, who purchased 1690 for $12 million, told Buzz that he’s planning to move his eclectic music station at AM/1160 to 1690 because it has a better signal, especially at night. He’s negotiating with Air America to lease airtime on 1160. Atlanta-based Air America President Jon Sinton said the syndicate is pondering options.


If 1690 is a better signal........holy cow.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

5. Thanks for the heads up. I listen every day when I commute

& will miss it. Sounds like it will be moved to 1160 am - I'll try to tune it in & see if I get it. Cannot believe the is has a weaker signal than 1690 am - what is it a cb radio. I will contact them.

[ezod]

7. AAR at 1690 is gone today.

And I am bummed out. Tried 1160. Nothing there. I actually went out and bought a transistor radio for the express purpose of listening to Morning Sedition at work. First Maron is gone and now AAR altogether in Atlanta. This is so not cool.

Looks like I'm burning last week's Marc Maron shows on mp3 and listening through an FM transmitter.

May Neil Boortz die in a fiery small plane crash ha ha ha just kidding.

[klook]

8. Hope they get a station - til then it's AAR on the web

I tuned in 1160 and they had some boring stock market show for day traders. This is a drag. I'm going to contact the AAR network and tell them they need a station in Atlanta! There are a lot of listeners here who want to hear them.

[CottonBear]

9. It ended last night in the middle of Radio NAtion with Laura Flanders.

I was driving south on I-75 toward Atlatna. It was there and then it was gone and replaced by static.
:cry:

[RebelOne]

10. My co-worker just returned from lunch and said he was listening

to Al Franken on 1690-AM and it was a brand-new episode. Anyone else hear it?

[ezod]

11. Yes. Al is still on.

From what I have heard, that's the only show they picked up though...So I kinda thought that was bad news, in that they wouldn't try to move the entire lineup over to 1160.

[bunkerbuster1]

12. The new 1160 line-up is mostly non-politicalish talk

I caught a couple of morning segments, curious to see what they'd be running, since I gather the station owner is kinda making that up as he goes along. So far it's mostly business news/investment stuff, and some guy sounding a tad xenophobic but not too hideous, certainly nothing like WSB's fascist line-up.

Still hoping they'll understand that with a little advertising, AAR could be HUGH!!1! in the ATL.

[CottonBear]

13. I just spoke w/ Jeff Davis of 1160-AM RE: Air America

He said that I "should get XM radio."

I said "I really can't afford XM radio at this time."

He asked "how much does XM cost?"

I said it is too expensive for me to afford at this time due to the initial investment required in addition ot the monthly fee."

He said "It's XM's fault that 1160 stopped broadcasting Air America because XM competes with 1160-AM."

I said "I know many people who listened to 1160-AM AAR."

He said "We still carry Al Franken."

I said "I want the entire Air America lineup. I want Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy."

I told him that I would love for him "to broadcast Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes and Laura Flanders and Ring of Fire."

He said that I "should contact Clear Channel because they own six station in Atlanta and they could broadcast Air America."
:(

BTW, the receptionist was very nice. I spoke to her first about how I really wanted AA back. She said the manager had gotten a lot of calls and she'd put me through to his voice mail. To my surprise, he answered the phone. I was polite but he seemed annoyed. I think he may be getting a lot of phone calls and e-mails about the programming change.

I told him that I listen in Athens and Oconee County and even on I-75 almost all the way to Dalton.

He didn't offer any hope for returning AA to the airwaves on 1160-AM. :(

[CottonBear]

14. I meant to type 1690-AM instead of 1160-AM in the post above. n/t

[Cookie wookie]

15. Feel sick about it.

There is NOTHING to listen to on the radio. NOTHING. No trip home with Randi. No evenings with Malloy. No Laura. And the programming on 1690 now is f'ing junk, just to fill the airwaves and keep AAR out. This person didn't take away our AAR for nonpolitical reasons. He put that stupid inane garbage on 1690 to kill the only sign of life we had on the radio. We live in the f'ing Soviet Union of America.

Listening to that stupid programming made me think of the movie Good Morning Vietnam, when the Lt takes over the station from Adrian Cronauer and starts playing polka music.

"Lt. Steven Hauk: Furthermore, you are to stick to playing normal modes of music, not weird stuff. Those who we'd find acceptable here would include Lawrence Welk, Jim Nabors, Mantovani...
Adrian Cronauer: ...Percy Faith...
Lt. Steven Hauk: Percy Faith... good!... Andy Williams, Perry Como, and certain ballads by Mr. Frank Sinatra.
Adrian Cronauer: Would Bob Dylan be outta line? "

<snip>the audience response to Hauk replacing Cronauer on the radio:
Staff Sgt. Dreiwitz: Sir, these letters are unequivocal! Uh, e.g.

Staff Sgt. Dreiwitz: "Hey, Hauk. Eat a bag of shit. You suck." Now that's pretty much to the point, sir, not much gray area in this one. "
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093105/quotes

How many criminals,idiots, bigots, and other miscreants are there in this country to be able to control that the majority of the country's people have NO VOICE in the media?

[Politicub]

16. Big bummer

I need to get XM for my car. I gave up Morning Edition for AAR when it started broadcasting in Atlanta. I tuned to Morning Edition yesterday when I noticed that AAR is no longer on 1690.

It almost put me to sleep, when the overt bias towards the Bush admin wasn't making me angry. Today Morning Edition was touting Bush's 4 point bump to 38% approval as the second coming. Please -- that bump is due to his campaign for bigotry on marriage, and this wasn't even mentioned. It was rah rah rah... Iraq is great! And what's great for Bush, is great for America!

[Cookie wookie]

17. I had to give up Morning Edition a long way back

That was my bread and butter morning information source until the * administration and all their criminal inbred followers turned it upside down and inside out until it became a mockery of truth.

This afternoon tried 1690 and there was some old classic rock playing.... okay, did anyone tell the mastermind who programs for the station that any music on AM sounds like crap. Why would anyone listen to it when they can turn on FM and listen to the same o same o in stereo.

I feel like this fascist sicko society is closing in on us, like night descending.

Somehow losing AAR just seems like the straw. Last night couldn't sleep well. Kept thinking of the violent breakin down the street, imagining the faces and lives crushed and destroyed at Gitmo, men driven insane, and the death of any opposing opinion on the radio.

Here we are in a state in which 58% of the citizens disapprove of the job * is doing, but all the stations on the radio are like audio versions of that window sticker that * lovers are so proud of for their SUVs, the "W The President". They are the audio seal of approval of W.

No programming for 58% of the people. Okay, so someone tell me again how this is about market driven....

I was so mad at Randi lately for talking so much and not letting anyone get a word in edgewise -- even great guests like Willie Nelson and Joe Wilson. Randi yak yak yak.

What I wouldn't give to get in my car tomorrow for the commute home and turn on Ms. Yakety Yak.

[CottonBear]

19. I'm listening to Ms Yakety Yak online right now!

I miss hearing her in my car. :cry:

[Cookie wookie]

18. Thing is, the masses need to hear an opposing opinion

And the masses don't likely have XM. All they have is W radio.

[doni_georgia]

20. Got email from Jeff Davis

Basically said same thing to me he did to Cotton Bear - that I should get XM or listen online, or listen at night on 1530. This irks me to no end. Looking at who owns the radio stations in the Atlanta area, I simply don't see us getting another station. I would love to see who the investors are for the guy that bought 1690.

[CottonBear]

21. I just can't believe that there is no more Air America in Blue Atlanta.

I bet that there was some sort of GA GOP/Republican/corporate media plan to rid the air waves of real information and intelligent political analysis and commentary.
:(
Jeff Davis really pissed me off when he suggested that I get XM after I told him that I listened to AA on 1690 AM in my car every day. He pissed me off by suggesting that I should ask Clear Channel to broadcast AA. He has either has no concept of fairness and balance RE: the public airwaves or he just doesn't give a damn. I have no idea who listens to his strange programming on 1690. I find it rather bizarre and not at all pleasant. I can listen to any sort of weird or old music on tape or CD.

I want my Air America. :cry:

[UDenver20]

22. He doesn't care...

Not to be crude, but he doesn't care.

His objective is running "the voice of the arts"

even though it sucks.

But, I'll keep the pressure up and chime in to him with my feedback as well.

[Lost in ATL]

23. I think Jeff Davis is right

I contacted Clear Channel corporate, stating the fact that I was doing so on the recommendation of Jeff Davis, and received a cordial, but non-committal response. My pitch, that they convert WGST to a progressive format. I pointed out that many of the Clear Channel affiliates have been doing very well with a progressive format. I mentioned KPOJ Portland, WXXM Madison Wisconsin, KQKE San Francisco, and even WKBF in the Quad Cities (Rock Island, Ill) An example is that Fall '04 that WKBF had a 0.8 Share, and after a switch to progressive talk, they moved to a 2.6 share Fall '05.

My point- a liberal talk format makes economic sense for Clear Channel in Rock Island, Illinois, and it will make sense here.

Some other points that I didn't mention, but I will share with you, was that WGST has moved from a 2.3 share to a 1.9 share during the same period. This is not a good trend. Kimmer can't leave the studio without getting into a fistfight, has lost his producer and most of his staff. Rush is loosing listeners to Clark Howard! With the Braves being in a slump, WGST will probably see another ratings hit.

I would much rather have progressive talk on AM 640 than 1690. I think go ahead and let JB Broadcasting continue their swill and we press to get progressive on AM 640 and remove an odious Fox and Friends affiliate from the Atlanta airwaves. Win-Win.

Step 1, Per the Clear Channel response to my e-mail, we should contact WGST programming and let them know we would like to see a change to a full-progressive format on WGST. I would be very hesitant to see them put up just one or two shows- we need a full schedule of progressive content with a left-leaning news feed as well.

Step 2, Repeat step 1 until we get our way.

Thanks for listening...

[bunkerbuster1]

24. Sensible proposal. (That'd be a dream come true.)

Really, where is WGST headed? What would they have to lose--a shitty 1.9 share? I'm sure that with the same promotional budget they're blowing now, they'd have that with an all AAR lineup. And tweaking it a bit to bring in someone local to take, oh, I don't know, Jerry Springer's slot? -- they'd rock.

All AAR needs to make it big in Atlanta is a decent signal and a few billboards. Feel it in me bones I do.

[CottonBear]

25. Welcome to DU Lost in ATL!

:hi: Glad to have you here. Jump right on in! :)

Thnaks for the info. I shall call WGST. What sort of proogrammming do they currently have?

[bunkerbuster1]

26. It's solid RW a-holerie from noon to six

starting with Rush and ending with the Kimmer.

I guess some might argue this "Kimmer" guy isn't as 24-karat awful as some RW hosts who are relentlessly pro-Republican--he makes weak attempts to poke fun of the GOPee sometimes--but he's really in his element when he's making stupid Ted Kennedy "jokes" and suchlike.

Of course they've got the Braves, which would be a big deal, except the Braves also broadcast from an FM outlet these days and I imagine most people who can tune in the less-staticky FM signal do so rather than deal with GST's crackling at night.

The other radio people, I don't really know--check out the lineup at

http://www.wgst.com/main.html

[Lost in ATL]

27. Thanks for the welcome aboard

CottonBear,

Regarding the WGST lineup, bunkerbuster had mentioned Rush and Kimmer. I personally find Kimmer insulting, but he also presents the best target because he has become a liability to the station with some of his recent antics. Too bad the guy who sued him didn't get a lawyer.

Some of the other shows are a good local morning news show, but it slides into a right wing rant with a local guy called Denny Schaffer late mornings. Then onto brush-lintball, Kimmer and then either Braves or Phil Hendre. Overnights they run a show called CoastToCoast AM, which I think is really pretty good what I get to hear of it. The signal gets throttled back really badly at night per FCC requirements. Weekends are somewhat of a hodge-podge, some good, some best-of and some really far-right stuff.

I would really encourage you to just call the Program Director Randall Bloomquist to suggest a change to a full progressive format. Remember, this has to make sense as a business case. Point is, Air Atlanta leaving Atlanta has opened up that format so a station making a change to this format would be able to attract those listeners left without a media outlet. I am also convinced that there is a much larger audience who never came across Air Atlanta, or if they did became frustrated with the poor mechanics of the station. This is an untapped market that could be exploited with a bit of promotion.

Be careful if the question comes up about what shows should be put on the station. The answer should be "Are you interested in a change to a progressive format?" I would not immediately start talking about AAR or any particular program lineup- this guy is a Program Director and he would resent you attempting to program his station for him. Answer would be something like, "There are many good progressive hosts that would sound good on your station. Can we arrange a meeting and I could bring some bios and demos and we could review them together." Also, understand that it will be necessary for you to sell him, but a change like this will have to go to the General Manager so you shouldn't expect to get any kind of commitment. According to Clear Channel corporate, program decisions are made on the local level so the people that need to be convinced are right here.

You will probably get some objections- "... we currently are under contract with Rush, Phil, etc." This isn't a problem for the local shows, but it is a bit of and issue for the syndicated shows. There is a way around this, however. Being under contract generally means that you have to run the network revenue spots, but they don't necessarily have to run the show. They would have to play the network commercials until the end of the contract but usually not obligated to play the show content.

They may bring up Air Atlanta's lackluster ratings. There is every reason to believe that with a station that would own the progressive niche and had a good quality signal could build a solid listenership. Add top-notch local talent, solid engineering, technical, and production resources plus a flair for promotion they could make a successful move in the market. This has been the case for other progressive stations in the Clear Channel family of stations.

The advertising/money objection may come up. A change of this nature could give an aggressive sales force an exciting new message to take to potential advertisers. It would be a chance to go back to advertisers that they haven't worked with for a while as well as provide a hook to use for cold-calls. The ability to be able to successfully approach and sell advertisers is more important than Arbitrons- broadcasting is a business and advertising revenue is the goal.

I really don't want to go into too much more strategy in the event that there are Ditto-heads lurking. I just wanted everyone to know that I am serious.

PM me if you would like to discuss this further.

[hourglass]

28. Has anyone spoken with Air America lately

I saw the earlier post about Jeff Davis, but has anyone spoken with Air America? What are they waiting on?

[Lost in ATL]

29. What Air America is doing

Here is some information about what AAR is doing...

<http://www.clpoliticalparty.com/2006/06/air_america_upd_1.html>

[newyawker99]

36. Hi hourglass!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[doni_georgia]

33. What programming does WGST have? Let me tell you

Their line up includes

Denny Schiefer from 8-noon

Rush Limpballs from noon-3

Kim Peterson (aka the Kimmer - most inane radio host ever)

Limbaugh is all you really need to know - he is their bread and butter and no way will they drop him. Besides WGST is the local FOX Radio affiliate. Nuff said?

[newyawker99]

35. Hi Lost in ATL!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Lost in ATL]

30. OK, here is where I step off the cliff

I have been looking around for a credible and organized effort to get progressive radio back to Atlanta and so far I haven't found anything. That being said, I am taking a dive off the cliff and organizing one. Please visit

<http://www.atlantaprogressivetalk.com>

To start a grass-roots information and action exchange.

Thanks in advance

[bunkerbuster1]

31. ok, I registered.

although I can't really promise never to "post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful,
threatening, sexually-orientated or any other material that may violate any applicable laws." I'll do my best though.

[Lost in ATL]

32. Great

I may need to rework the disclaimer.

[doni_georgia]

34. I registered as well eom