Art Bell

[Eddie Coyle]

If you remember that far back... You would maybe even remember what I am talking about if you think about it. Remember when he used to brag about how many listeners he had when the ratings came out? He would go on and on about it for probably 30 minutes. Right about the time he was really breaking as a nation wide radio personality. When this thing with Art Bell came up, he used it as a chance to make fun of Art's listeners, saying that "the only guy who has better ratings and wider syndication than me is that guy who talks to all the nutcases about the aliens(Art Bell)". I'm paraphrasing because as you can see, I don't have an audio transcript. The only reason I even noticed it is because I was such an avid fan of Art at the time, I thought hearing about him on Stern's show was cool since I would listen to both Art and Howard's shows while trying to sleep on the bus before shows, but it also bummed me out because he was making fun of Art's fans, which included me. I'm willing to concede that he may have been speaking about a specific major market, but I seem to remember it was overall.

       I'll concede that Stern could have said that about Art...but the caveat being, that Stern never gave credit or recognition to people he considered competition("they're ripping me off,Robin")...so maybe Art's being an overnight host to a somewhat niche audience allowed Stern to not view Art competitively. So it's a compliment, but almost a bit demeaning.

     
  Stern turned on Dee Snider(!) for taking a local AM drive shift in Connecticut in the late 90's.

[nooryisawesome]

Someone should send drudge a tip.

[ItsOver]

Someone should send drudge a tip.

Maybe he's busy waiting for the Zimmerman verdict. 

[morphiaflow]

One thing that if it's been brought up, I haven't seen it, regarding the time slots: a lot of stations only air Coast because they're forced to accept it as a package deal with Limbaugh. So if those stations know they are dropping Limbaugh, it's a foregone conclusion that they're dropping Coast as well, leaving that timeslot open. And even if they have Limbaugh till the end of the year, who's to say they won't jettison Coast sooner than that, since they know they times they are a'changin' anyway?

And the whole Cumulus deal really does make this bigger than we could have imagined when this started to break, and absolutely speaks to and supports Art's being "bound" not to say anything yet, but assuring us it's not a tease. There are big money, big contracts and lots of legal niceties to get out of the way.

As I said on page 310 when I first noticed the real-time updates on artbell.com....I predict Art Will host a late night paranormal talk show on terrestrial radio, on the Red Eye/Cumulus show with Ross Mitchell announcing, hopefully getting George Knapp aboard soon (even if he did say something nice about Wells lat night), and maybe even Ian; and that he will directly compete with the current incarnation of Coast. No satellite, podcast, or return to Premiere.

An announcement of SOMETHING is clearly imminent. Maybe Art will break it to his fans the same day the official press release goes out from Cumulus to the traditional news outlets.

No matter what, you can bet that Coast & Co. have had a good idea for a long time that this is happening, and they are somewhere between cockily not worried at all, and absolutely terrified.

[HorrorReporter]

Someone should send drudge a tip.

hours ago that was done

[ItsOver]

....I predict Art Will host a late night paranormal talk show on terrestrial radio, on the Red Eye/Cumulus show with Ross Mitchell announcing, hopefully getting George Knapp aboard soon (even if he did say something nice about Wells lat night), and maybe even Ian; and that he will directly compete with the current incarnation of Coast. No satellite, podcast, or return to Premiere.

That's still what I'm thinking, too.  Sounds like a win-win for both Cumulus and Art.  It's going to be great to hear Art with Ross announcing again.  I'm more excited than Jorch listening to Springheel Jack for the millionth time.  Get ready for a ride. 

[Eddie Coyle]

       Drudge really likes mushroom tips.

[morphiaflow]

       Drudge really likes mushroom tips.

Personal experience, Eddie?

[ItsOver]

hours ago that was done

All joking aside, Drudge is probably holding back out of respect for Art and not wanting to upset the apple cart for Art.  I always had the feeling there was a lot of mutual respect between Drudge and Art.

We're almost at T-minus 10 seconds, all systems go, waiting for ignition.

[Eddie Coyle]

Personal experience, Eddie?

      I've never Weinered him my Weiner. Yet.

[nooryisawesome]

One thing that if it's been brought up, I haven't seen it, regarding the time slots: a lot of stations only air Coast because they're forced to accept it as a package deal with Limbaugh. So if those stations know they are dropping Limbaugh, it's a foregone conclusion that they're dropping Coast as well, leaving that timeslot open. And even if they have Limbaugh till the end of the year, who's to say they won't jettison Coast sooner than that, since they know they times they are a'changin' anyway?

And the whole Cumulus deal really does make this bigger than we could have imagined when this started to break, and absolutely speaks to and supports Art's being "bound" not to say anything yet, but assuring us it's not a tease. There are big money, big contracts and lots of legal niceties to get out of the way.

As I said on page 310 when I first noticed the real-time updates on artbell.com....I predict Art Will host a late night paranormal talk show on terrestrial radio, on the Red Eye/Cumulus show with Ross Mitchell announcing, hopefully getting George Knapp aboard soon (even if he did say something nice about Wells lat night), and maybe even Ian; and that he will directly compete with the current incarnation of Coast. No satellite, podcast, or return to Premiere.

An announcement of SOMETHING is clearly imminent. Maybe Art will break it to his fans the same day the official press release goes out from Cumulus to the traditional news outlets.

No matter what, you can bet that Coast & Co. have had a good idea for a long time that this is happening, and they are somewhere between cockily not worried at all, and absolutely terrified.

Very very good point about premier packaging rush with c2c. This is going to really hurt c2c way more than an art comeback. It means noory will have to stand on his own legs.

[morphiaflow]

Very very good point about premier packaging rush with c2c. This is going to really hurt c2c way more than an art comeback. It means noory will have to stand on his own legs.

I'm sure he'll rise to his knees.

[Cynnie]

I sent in a news tip to huffington post about this ..now im prolly on some nutjob list

[bateman]

Very very good point about premier packaging rush with c2c. This is going to really hurt c2c way more than an art comeback. It means noory will have to stand on his own legs.

Sort of. Rush is only on like 40 Cumulus stations.

[ItsOver]

Very very good point about premier packaging rush with c2c. This is going to really hurt c2c way more than an art comeback. It means noory will have to stand on his own legs.

How's that "long-term contract" feeling right now, Jorch?  Hope you enjoy the lounge lizard circuit with your Elvis routine.

[nooryisawesome]

Sort of. Rush is only on like 40 Cumulus stations.

That's a nice chunk.

[bateman]

That's a nice chunk.

Yeah but it's a drop in the bucket compared to all the CC stations. The only reason this is a big deal is the WABC angle. And it's so much less of an issue in 2013 than it would've been even 10 years ago. Internet streaming & podcasts kind of make "big sticks" less & less relevant. Rush will be fine on WOR.

Though I take your point: it could leave a nice opening for Art.

[nooryisawesome]

Got a feeling coast to coast is going to be just about all clear channel.

[bateman]

Got a feeling coast to coast is going to be just about all clear channel.

Looking that way. To paraphrase Lew Dickey when he took over Citadel, "You don't put Pepsi in a Coke machine."

[Da_Brain]

Lol arts listeners are nutcases. That's not controversial. I always thought stern respected bell for his high ratings.

Wow! Stereotype much?

[morphiaflow]

Rush will recover. Hannity will recover. Coast will suffer a blow. Not a death blow, to be sure, but a measurable blow nonetheless.

[Ravenna]

Yep. 77.7% now. It looks like an announcement today at this rate.

It's been stuck there for quite a while now.  I'm wondering if its rate of pace is slowing down now that it's coming close to the denouement.

[bateman]

It's been stuck there for quite a while now.  I'm wondering if its rate of pace is slowing down now that it's coming close to the denouement.

My prediction: 85, then 95 as the night progresses & then an announcement as Snoory begins polluting the airwaves at 1:00.

[ringthane]

Sort of. Rush is only on like 40 Cumulus stations.

I barely understand this. I get that Rush is the star, and Premier is using him to prop up Noory... late night programming is nil anyway, C2C still generates revenue, so stations probably don't care that much having to take Snoory.

How will Cumulus dropping Rush affect the Rush/Noory package? Do some folks think that Premier will no longer have the pull to force a Rush/Noory package due to Art being in Cumulus' stable?

IE, I don't see a scenario happening where a station tells Premier "we want Rush, but we're not taking Noory because we plan on bringing Bell on for overnights." Couldn't Premier just tell stations it's all or none? No Noory, no Rush?

If a station has the choice of Art with no Rush or having Rush and Noory, I think the business choice is obvious. Unless I'm missing some obvious (or subtle) factor here.

EDIT: I think one of my misunderstandings is how Premier and CC work in tandem, what their relationship is, etc.

ie, Cumulus seems to me to be one entity that uses its own talent, whereas CC outsources (?) it's talent from Premier. How that affects C2C re: Cumulus potentially picking up Art, I have no clue.

[nooryisawesome]

Wow! Stereotype much?

I consider myself one of the nutcases 

[ItsOver]

Looking that way. To paraphrase Lew Dickey when he took over Citadel, "You don't put Pepsi in a Coke machine."

Hahaha...   Jorch is more like putting "Little" K Cola in a Coke machine.  That, or a can of Drano. 

[bateman]

I barely understand this. I get that Rush is the star, and Premier is using him to prop up Noory... late night programming is nil anyway, C2C still generates revenue, so stations probably don't care that much having to take Snoory.

How will Cumulus dropping Rush affect the Rush/Noory package? Do some folks think that Premier will no longer have the pull to force a Rush/Noory package due to Art being in Cumulus' stable?

IE, I don't see a scenario happening where a station tells Premier "we want Rush, but we're not taking Noory because we plan on bringing Bell on for overnights." Couldn't Premier just tell stations it's all or none? No Noory, no Rush?

If a station has the choice of Art with no Rush or having Rush and Noory, I think the business choice is obvious. Unless I'm missing some obvious (or subtle) factor here.

I guess it depends how hard Premiere pushes that end of it. I'm not intimately familiar with their "affiliate relations" procedures. There are already Cumulus stations that pay for Rush & don't take Noory though, WABC being the most prominent of them.

[bateman]

EDIT: I think one of my misunderstandings is how Premier and CC work in tandem, what their relationship is, etc.

ie, Cumulus seems to me to be one entity that uses its own talent, whereas CC outsources (?) it's talent from Premier. How that affects C2C re: Cumulus potentially picking up Art, I have no clue.

Premiere is owned by ClearChannel. They're the syndicator. Rush, Hannity & C2C have had a deal for most Cumulus affiliates to distribute their shows; it's been in place since the Citadel days, but will run out at the end of the year, maybe even sooner if one party manages to wiggle out of the contract for one reason or another. Like I said, I don't know intimate details beyond that, though.

[Robert1972]

My local station has Snoron but not Rush so who knows what will happen. Find out soon enough I guess

[Zoxo]

I see Art signed in here yesterday!!! Come on Art!!!! Fill that bar!!! Deliver that message!!!! I've refreshed all of the places you may post a gazillion times already lol  :