Art Bell

[kingotnw]

Hey FTF. Re-read my post. My phone totally messed it up so I had to redo it and not only fix the million typos, but add in all the info it seemed to cut out for some reason. Pretty much everything you said is addressed in my post.

[refined1]

Art's latest Twitter message "This is not a tease".  I feel very confident we are getting our Art Bell back in some form or fashion.  There are so many different scenarios as to how this could happen.  Podcast?  Maybe teaming up with Whitley Streiber and doing Dreamland again? Perhaps broadcasting from KNYE?  I will eat my hat if he returns to C2C!  They took his show which was brilliant and turned it into something I don't even brother listening to unless it is being hosted by John Wells.  In true Art Bell fashion he is creating excitement by being playful which I find to be one of his most endearing qualities.  I am as excited as a kid before Christmas!     

[GSD]

I've grown tired of reading this bullshit about Art being too old. You obviously haven't read the last twenty pages or so of this thread... if you had... you would know that the two top djs are both comperable in age to Art (stern and Limbaugh) and. Other do full time gigs. Not tonl full time, but stern hosts two full time radio shows and a TV shoe, and Limbaugh has a full time m-f show, plus all the extra stuff he does.

You would also know that the difference between part time pay, and full time pay for someone. At the level of Art is massive. He has most likely inked a 8-9 figure contract, which is par for the course for somone at his level. Also, no way in hell a company invests big time in Art Bell's return if he isn't doing at lest 4-5 nights a week. Anything less than that and he wouldn't be able to build rebuild his fan base.

If you had so lily read over the past couple of days, you would already know this stuff. It is blindingly obvious that Art is starting a new full times show. There is DJ ply no other alternative to that. This run up Is huge. If you and two or three other people want to be ageists then so be it. But don't try to bring us Dow. We are all happy here. Fall in line.

Chill out and take your meds, damn dude  :. I'm offering an opinion, nothing more.

I sincerely hope that Art has inked a massive deal that proves my prediction wrong. I love the guy and would love to hear him 5 nights a week.

That said, Howard Stern IS NOT close in age to Art Bell. Howard is 59 and Rush is 62, art is 68 going on 69.

I don't believe either of those gents have young kids either. I also never said a radio station would spend the money to put him on 2-3 nights a week, I said C2C might by having Art in the line-up.

[GSD]

Stern is 9 years Art`s junior, and has taken meticulous care of his health. Not only that, he has a full staff of assistants, and co-hosts, etc.. HUGE difference from a chain smoking, 68 year-old man in questionable health, working all night and trying to spend time with his daughter during the day.

Limbaugh is 61 or 62 and also has a complete staff of people handling ALL his needs and callers, etc.. Besides, he works 3 hours a day, in the middle of the day, and has no guests. Again, HUGE difference.

I think it`s very reasonable to believe Art may just do a part-time gig on the weekend (my firm belief), or some other similar arrangement.

Bingo.

My thoughts exactly.

He's not in great shape and no radio network is going to invest tons of money in someone as unhealthy as bell is.

[PB the Deplorable]

Bingo.

My thoughts exactly.

He's not in great shape and no radio network is going to invest tons of money in someone as unhealthy as bell is.

He quit smoking when Asia came along, and if sitting was what had been bothering his back he's had time to take care of it.  Why do we think he's unhealthy now?

[kingotnw]

Chill out and take your meds, damn dude  :. I'm offering an opinion, nothing more.

I sincerely hope that Art has inked a massive deal that proves my prediction wrong. I love the guy and would love to hear him 5 nights a week.

That said, Howard Stern IS NOT close in age to Art Bell. Howard is 59 and Rush is 62, art is 68 going on 69.

I don't believe either of those gents have young kids either. I also never said a radio station would spend the money to put him on 2-3 nights a week, I said C2C might by having Art in the line-up.

It's not directed at you personally. But we keep having to rehash this same stuff over and over because people don't want to read two days back in the thread. Family time hasn't ever been something that Art did a lot of. It sounds nice in the press and to your fans to say you want to spend time with your kids, but the realities of the situation with him leaving C2C in the first place was over contract disputes, he never wanted to retire, and was basically forced into it. The day his non-compete clause was up earlier this year he was on the phone looking for a new radio deal. I am quite sure Art loves his children, but the only time they have come up as a reason for not being on the air is when he was having contract disputes and negotiations. I was privy to a glimpse into what he was wanting earlier in the year right after the NCC was up, and it was a full time show then as well.

Premiere paid Art very, very well to take a few years off. Believe that. Guys like Art don't lose who they are. Radio is a part of him. He'll do it until he dies. He renewed his license to broadcast out of his home in Parhump as of the middle of this past June.

As I said in my other post. That fact that Art is using his own website again proves without question that Art outright owns the show he has coming up.

[kingotnw]

He quit smoking when Asia came along, and if sitting was what had been bothering his back he's had time to take care of it.  Why do we think he's unhealthy now?

He's not unhealthy. His health was never an issue. He was having major contract issues with Premiere and he just didn't want to air his dirty laundry to the public.

[FightTheFuture]

Hey FTF. Re-read my post. My phone totally messed it up so I had to redo it and not only fix the million typos, but add in all the info it seemed to cut out for some reason. Pretty much everything you said is addressed in my post.

Well, look, you make a fine argument. At this point, we all have to admit, anything could happen. It`s all complete, unmitigated speculation until such time Art Bell makes the big announcement. Frankly, I think he`s asked  Keith to "play around" with his website until he decides to let people know what the Hell he`s up to.  Nothing wrong with that, but it has become a bit juvenile...in my humble opinion.

[kingotnw]

Well, look, you make a fine argument. At this point, we all have to admit, anything could happen. It`s all complete, unmitigated speculation until such time Art Bell makes the big announcement. Frankly, I think he`s asked  Keith to "play around" with his website until he decides to let people know what the Hell he`s up to.  Nothing wrong with that, but it has become a bit juvenile...in my humble opinion.

Fair enough.

As far as the website thing goes. It looks like his announce date is probably August 1st, give or take a day or two. Personally, I think it's cool that he is doing some stuff for his fans that have followed him during his off time. That's really how I am looking at it. I can see how some would be annoyed with it, given the past teases. But since we know this is the real deal, I am able to have fun with it.

Also, apologies if I came off sounding a bit aggressive in tone. Normally I would have edited back before I posted it and took that type of thing out, but since my phone decided it was going to post something I didn't mean for it to, I had to go in and get things in there quick from my PC. I just wish that people would not tell people they are going to be disappointed or what have you. We are all clearly fans of Art Bell, and this is the first time in years we have had something to get excited about.

[kingotnw]

New question for everyone here...

Most likely Art and Keith are going to have a message board on Art's site when it goes live. Is everyone going to sign up and post there, or just continue to post here exclusively?

[MikeJ]

I guess that Fort Rock is M.I.A.

I am beginning to suspect that Fort Rock lost internet privileges at the institute.

[PB the Deplorable]

... Even Noory, who has been at C2C for over a decade now and has somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-15 million listeners nightly, doesn't have that...

One of the recurring themes around here is Noory's ratings.  Unlike TV, the ratings for radio shows seem to be treated like state secrets.

I've heard the 12-15 million figure before, and that sure seems like a lot of people for a late might/overnight radio show, depending which time zone one is in.  12-15 million listeners in the middle of the night every night in a country of 300 million means 5% of the population is up listening to George Noory.  Please tell me that can't be.

Aren't those numbers cumulative - the total number of listeners over 5 days (or even 7 days for C2C), which would make it something like 2.5 - 3 million per night?  And that includes anyone that tunes in for just the first hour or just a segment or even just a few minutes? 

That is my understanding of what these numbers mean.  But since they are not released to the public, and even people that get them for their station don't have access to the full ratings for the show, I tend to think even those are grossly exaggerated.

I doubt very much George's listeners are all glued to the radio for the full show the way Art's were either.  So if a certain percentage are tuned in for just the first hour, and others are just listening for a segment or several while driving home, and still others are just listening while other stations are playing commercials, my guess is he has very few people still with him by the end of the show.



This s all just speculation on my part, and I'm not invested in any of it.  As an industry insider what do you make of the 12-15 number?

[onan]

There is some ageism going on here... its kind of expected. We all use our frame of experience to make assumptions. 70 y/o are often portrayed as doddering. But John Glenn went into space at 77.

As to smoking, for most smokers there are telling signs of adverse effects but not always. And I think Art quit a more than a decade ago. That being the case his lungs although may have been affected they are more than likely fully functional. People are running marathons in their 70's. I have no idea how Art's health is. But from the little I see he is still quite vital. And running a radio show as mentally challenging as it may be, it isn't laying asphalt. I don't see his physical health as an issue in any way.

[GSD]

Here's what I do know.

Art is an investment to a radio network. Period.

At 68 going on 69, given his past history of smoking, and any other undisclosed health issues, anyone looking to invest in Art for big bucks would require a pretty damn good guarantee on their investment. I don't see any entertainment company investing in the likes of someone like Art for "Big Bucks", certainly not 8 or 9 figures as speculated by "KINGOTNW". 68 is the maximum age some life insurance companies will issue a policy.

It's not unreasonable to believe Art may come back full time, but I seriously doubt it will be for an epic amount of money. 

I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up on SIRIUS either.

[Marc.Knight]

I am beginning to suspect that Fort Rock lost internet privileges at the institute.

That's what happens when you pretend to swallow your meds.

[GSD]

There is some ageism going on here... its kind of expected. We all use our frame of experience to make assumptions. 70 y/o are often portrayed as doddering. But John Glenn went into space at 77.

As to smoking, for most smokers there are telling signs of adverse effects but not always. And I think Art quit a more than a decade ago. That being the case his lungs although may have been affected they are more than likely fully functional. People are running marathons in their 70's. I have no idea how Art's health is. But from the little I see he is still quite vital. And running a radio show as mentally challenging as it may be, it isn't laying asphalt. I don't see his physical health as an issue in any way.

Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule. Look at the shape Clint Eastwood is in for example. Sly Stallone looks great and so does Arnold. That said, HUGE difference to compare the relatively flabby Art Bell to exceptional people like Glenn who spent a lifetime in shape.

I'm just saying that he has a small child, and while the dude's family prioritization seems questionable, none of us know for sure what's in his heart. He may not want to be away from his little daughter enough to host a full time radio program.

I think it's realistic to bank on 5 solid more years for Art.

[Designx]

What if that status bar on Art's website gets stuck at 99%?

[onan]

If you say Fort Rock 3 times facing a mirror, in the dark...

[VtaGeezer]

Stern is 9 years Art`s junior, and has taken meticulous care of his health. Not only that, he has a full staff of assistants, and co-hosts, etc.. HUGE difference from a chain smoking, 68 year-old man in questionable health, working all night and trying to spend time with his daughter during the day.

Great post.  The difference between 59 and 68 may be 9 years on the calender, but any geezer will tell you its far more in terms of energy and resilience to a daily grind with pressure.  And when one realizes that Art B insisted on running the day-to-day business of a major national radio program from a small home in a remote location with his untrained, ailing wife as his Business Manager, is there any question how he ended up being screwed and stripped of control by PRN?

I've said it before; running a big national show in an industry full of sharks isn't like running the deli and living upstairs. If Bell comes back, I hope its with a pro management and production team who work for him.

[onan]

What if that status bar on Art's website gets stuck at 99%?

Keep seeding damnit.

[lonevoice]

There is some ageism going on here... its kind of expected. We all use our frame of experience to make assumptions. 70 y/o are often portrayed as doddering. But John Glenn went into space at 77.

Good afternoon, onan.  I used to hear tell of a guy with big brass ones the size of chuch bells.  He had to carry them around in a wheelbarrow so he wouldn't clang too loud when he walked.  I used to think that guy was John Glenn, but I read a post from earlier this morning that made me think otherwise.   

We now return this program to its regularly scheduled doomfapping.



 

[MikeJ]

Here's what I do know.

Art is an investment to a radio network. Period.

At 68 going on 69, given his past history of smoking, and any other undisclosed health issues, anyone looking to invest in Art for big bucks would require a pretty damn good guarantee on their investment. I don't see any entertainment company investing in the likes of someone like Art for "Big Bucks", certainly not 8 or 9 figures as speculated by "KINGOTNW". 68 is the maximum age some life insurance companies will issue a policy.

It's not unreasonable to believe Art may come back full time, but I seriously doubt it will be for an epic amount of money. 

I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up on SIRIUS either.

Sorry to join the bandwagon, but I hate it when people say 68 going on 69, like that means anything.  I don't know anyone over 10 who says they are X going on X+1.  Also, you seem pretty confident that Art is being held together by duct tape and chicken wire, but s far as I can tell that is pure speculation on your part.  Not to compare the two, but Churchill, who smoked and drank regularly, became prime minister of the UK at 66.

[MikeJ]

That's what happens when you pretend to swallow your meds.

lol

[kingotnw]

Here's what I do know.

Art is an investment to a radio network. Period.

At 68 going on 69, given his past history of smoking, and any other undisclosed health issues, anyone looking to invest in Art for big bucks would require a pretty damn good guarantee on their investment. I don't see any entertainment company investing in the likes of someone like Art for "Big Bucks", certainly not 8 or 9 figures as speculated by "KINGOTNW". 68 is the maximum age some life insurance companies will issue a policy.

It's not unreasonable to believe Art may come back full time, but I seriously doubt it will be for an epic amount of money. 

I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up on SIRIUS either.

Stern is getting over $125M per year.  Limbaugh is getting right around 60M a year. Art will be in the middle of those two.

[kingotnw]

Sorry to join the bandwagon, but I hate it when people say 68 going on 69, like that means anything.  I don't know anyone over 10 who says they are X going on X+1.  Also, you seem pretty confident that Art is being held together by duct tape and chicken wire, but s far as I can tell that is pure speculation on your part.  Not to compare the two, but Churchill, who smoked and drank regularly, became prime minister of the UK at 66.

Age means nothing. Quite honestly,  it stands to reason that Art will be better at his job now than he was before. The ageism thing going on here is crazy. I understand that given the audience Art attracts, there are going to be a percentage of people who are going to take a pessimistic view of things, and some people just don't understand that someone Art's age right now is 'younger' and in better shape than someone who was 55 in the 1990's, when Art was at what most consider to be his prime. Art's age is a non-factor to him, and I know for a fact that the companies he would be inking a contract with won't care. It's not like he is going to drop over dead in the next year or two like some are seemingly implying.

[onan]

Of course, there are always exceptions to every rule. Look at the shape Clint Eastwood is in for example. Sly Stallone looks great and so does Arnold. That said, HUGE difference to compare the relatively flabby Art Bell to exceptional people like Glenn who spent a lifetime in shape.

I'm just saying that he has a small child, and while the dude's family prioritization seems questionable, none of us know for sure what's in his heart. He may not want to be away from his little daughter enough to host a full time radio program.

I think it's realistic to bank on 5 solid more years for Art.

No way to know... its kind of pointless to follow all these rabbit trails. Art could get hit by a bus tomorrow. With 10 years to form a plan to return to radio, I am sure Art has thought this through. And like I said it isn't laying asphalt.

And Art's daughter is getting into an age where parents are still involved but there are few nights of sleeplessness and fewer times of them eating a crayon and a quarter.

And Art is a big boy, I am gonna let him have the keys to his car.

[Juan]

Re ratings:  Talk show ratings are counted by average weekly listeners.  There was a Time Magazine article from, IIRC, 1997 that gave Art's weekly listeners at 10-million.  Talkers Magazine published talk show ratings in 2012, and Noory's were at 3.5-million.   I think, though I don't know for sure, that both figures are M-F, not weekends.  sNoory talks about how many stations he's on, but, with the demise of music radio, in a number of geographically large markets, talk stations are simulcast on both an AM and an FM station.  The FM station allows folks to listen in office buildings, plus sometimes one transmitter is on one side of the market and the other is on the other side, giving better coverage.  Should Noory count such simulcasts as two stations?  I'm sure he does.

[VtaGeezer]

Aren't those numbers cumulative - the total number of listeners over 5 days (or even 7 days for C2C), which would make it something like 2.5 - 3 million per night?  And that includes anyone that tunes in for just the first hour or just a segment or even just a few minutes? 

Unless one subscribes to Arbitron ratings, its hard to find hard numbers for radio ratings. I believe you're correct; the base for radio ratings is the weekly number, and it includes all or almost all who tune in, whether for 3 hours or 3 minutes.

[kingotnw]

Great post.  The difference between 59 and 68 may be 9 years on the calender, but any geezer will tell you its far more in terms of energy and resilience to a daily grind with pressure.  And when one realizes that Art B insisted on running the day-to-day business of a major national radio program from a small home in a remote location with his untrained, ailing wife as his Business Manager, is there any question how he ended up being screwed and stripped of control by PRN?

I've said it before; running a big national show in an industry full of sharks isn't like running the deli and living upstairs. If Bell comes back, I hope its with a pro management and production team who work for him.

ROFL @ "any geezer"... That comment right there just assured everyone that they don't need to take your comments about age in a serious manner at all.

Art does a 90 minute prep time before each show, always has. He like reading the ads, and enjoys running his board, which is nowhere near the work you seem to think it is. You realize that all he needs to do is have a computer sitting in front of him, right? I would imagine Keith will be doing support for him during his shows. Running your own show now is probably 1000 times easier than it was just 10 years ago, and I don't think that's an exaggeration at all. Though I do find it amusing seeing people who have never done work in modern radio say things like this, and radio hosts and DJs love it because people seem to think they are doing a ton more work than they really are, the reality of it though is these days, all you really need is yourself and a producer on site. Staff for most radio shows are considerably lower than they ever have been before. There really isn't any of the busy work there was before. As long as you have a good producer/tech guy (I would assume that's Keith for Art), it's all pretty effortless. The hard part is filling the dead air, and Art has no problem doing that.

[GSD]

Also, you seem pretty confident that Art is being held together by duct tape and chicken wire, but s far as I can tell that is pure speculation on your part.  Not to compare the two, but Churchill, who smoked and drank regularly, became prime minister of the UK at 66.

LMAO. Good ones! 

You're absolutely right, it's just speculation. I'm perfectly fine with being wrong and hope that I am. I like Art like everyone else and hope the best for him!