Art Bell

[AppealPlay]

I wonder how much an ad in QST costs?  Trying to Google it.

[BellBoy]

...The "all in" doesn't sit well with me. Haven't we been there before?.....

A point I've made before...

[AppealPlay]

A point I've made before...

Still have PTSD.  Don't remind me!

[littlechris]

Art, I understand that you want to keep what you offer as pure as you can to your vision. That said, sometimes compromise is necessary, both as a vehicle and a marketing tool.

I think that the majority of your long time listeners/followers have found you and MITD. A percentage of these ( and I know quite a few) will catch you live on the net/radio if available,  if they are able, however for whatever reason will not subscribe.

Perhaps you need to reconsider, as others have suggested, by opening a youtube channel not only with clips, but with a couple of knock out classic MITD shows. I posted this a little while ago, referencing how John B Wells, Rense and others do this. It's difficult to sell something to people that they can't touch, taste, feel or hear.

You also may want to reconsider your rules about commercial time to gain some other large affiliates. None of us here want to hear too many commercials, however a small increase in commercial time may be just what it takes to get MITD out there on the radio airwaves for those who don't know who you are, have never heard of MITD etc....and we won't mind.

Your long time audience is staid and true...you have us. What you need is a new expanded audience to make MITD a larger success. IMHO you can't just count on people who know who you are to get the word out. That pretty much has been done. You need new people to find you, promote you and MITD, love what they hear and get the word out...and "share"...a new biggie in this new tech world. You need to give them something to share.

One last point. You have been off the "airwaves" more of less for over a decade, give or take. This is a very long time any business.

We know who you are, your history, your legacy, the thousands + hours of pure joy programming you have given us, however for the last 10 years, there are so many who have no clue of who you are, nor the history and the past....and they probably don't care unless they stumble across what you are offering and fall in love with you and the show, considering the vast plethora of podcasts out there today, many of which are free live and for archived shows.

Sometimes you have to give a bit to get.

How about contacting John B Wells, maybe even Alex Jones....get on the air with them and plug the show.

What about someone like Stern and/or some of the other "heavy" hitters in audio media? Try to get on the air and plug MITD, however you need to give those listening something to go to, to check out like free audio via youtube or some other media.

Also, embellish your website. Establish a Youtube channel that people can go to, listen and "share". 

Your show descriptions are scant IMHO. The material before the show could be amplified to better follow big time with material relative to the show etc. and what you can refer to during the show. You were the pioneer doing this....it could be much better today on artbell.com depending on the guest and topic.

You could provide highlight audio clips of each show, for past shows on your website as an appetizer for those who come to artbell.com.

Anyway, FWIW, that's all I have.

There is a lot more competition out there these days in this genre then there was in years past.

Yes, people want audio quality, they want convenience of access, but they also want to "take a ride"....I hope. That's what you need to drive home and broadcast IMHO as no-one else does....and let them hear and know that you do.

I wish you nothing but the best of success in getting to the top of this list in this arena.

I do agree with many of your points Freyja,

I think Art should completely do away with his paranormal news segment (which i happen to enjoy) and convert that into commercial space for his Am stations.

-C

[nika01]

I don't think we are talking about any money driven scheme here. However that said, Art posted what he did for a reason don't you think?

Obviously what he is referring to is "marketing" of MITD, no? ...and sadly yes, doing something like he does costs$$ and I would bet he would like to make some too.

Dont know what the reason for his post was, honestly.  In part one, all is ok, in part 2, there is an issue. Is it a show stopping issue, or is it a desire to grow. If it is a desire to grow, I think he is being impatient. If it is a show stopping issue, then......

[albrecht]

Somehow, any game developers here, get Art Bell and MITD mentioned (or even featured) in video games (I'm older...whatever that stuff is called now on "steam" or even on the sold games?) Or players to mention him (I think the kids chat and make comments when playing?) Idk, just a thought.

[BellBoy]

For me, the quantity of ads increasing a bit is in no way a deal-breaker. If it's five more minutes per hour of the screaming-lady, no thank you but Papa does need to pay the bills. I'd prefer to see Art blasting from flag-ship stations in EVERY major market on the planet (London station! London station! Please! Please! Please!). Principle can be a very shaky and precarious thing to stand on.... and we've all seen before what can happen, when Art goes "all-in". 

At the risk of appearing pedantic... I shamelessly quote myself.

[Freyja]

I do agree with many of your points Freyja,

I think Art should completely do away with his paranormal news segment (which i happen to enjoy) and convert that into commercial space for his Am stations.

-C

Thanks for your kind word LC.

I think his "abby normal" news is what differentiates his program more than anything else...and it's great IMHO. I would hate to see that go.

I would suggest that rather than eliminating this segment which is what sets MITD  apart from all others, that he move it to another time slot...maybe a break for Art?

Why does news of any kind have to be at the bottom or top of the hour?!?!? ...it could be at some quarter hour, no? 

[AppealPlay]

Alex Jones I'm sure would be delighted to have Art on.  Alex Jones is buddies with Joe Rogan and maybe Joe could help set that up in exchange for Art going on his podcast?

American Rifleman is a publication I read cover to cover every month.  I think their ads are far more expensive than QST, though.  Either way I feel like the people that read those magazines are the same type of people that would be interested in MITD.

I'm not really familiar with paranormal magazines so I don't have any clue where to begin there.

[Zenman]

Friend of mine who I hadn't talked to in a long time emailed me after the Leykis interview and asked me if I knew Art was back. So I know from personal experience that the interviews work.

Also, the Trump idea sounds great. If Art could swing that, the controversy alone would be trending on a major scale. Definitely a marketing exposure idea winner.

If Art could nail down Trump as a guest at least a couple days ahead, we could blitz it the same way we did the original Blitz. Much of the free world would be listening, and then later talking about it demonstratively at length with the ones who happened to have missed it.

[ziznak]

how come nobody ever says lets DDOS c2cam?


shit did i just say that?

[Uncle Duke]

Hopefully Art will have nothing to do with Alex Jones.

[AppealPlay]

how come nobody ever says lets DDOS c2cam?


shit did i just say that?

I don't want to go to prison.

[albrecht]

how come nobody ever says lets DDOS c2cam?


shit did i just say that?

Better yet CryptoWall 3.0 message to people but instead of making them pay make them listen, post on FB, and Tweet about MITD and Art Bell. (I'm kidding- that crap really, really sucks and I've lost what little bit of respect to hackers on account of what happened to a relative.)

[coaster]

I think some of you are over thinking this thing with the all-in talk.

[Freyja]

Hopefully Art will have nothing to do with Alex Jones.

Why not?

[AppealPlay]

Why not?

Yeah, right?  If it helps get Art more listeners what's the problem with him going on Alex Jones?  He's not direct competition as they are different time slots.

[albrecht]

Why not?

I might be wrong but I recall hearing how he didn't like him (and certainly doesn't believe the 911 stuff.) Sort of like with Bill Cooper, RIP, back in the day- some baggage there that probably wouldn't help things or turn out well....

[Freyja]

Friend of mine who I hadn't talked to in a long time emailed me after the Leykis interview and asked me if I knew Art was back. So I know from personal experience that the interviews work.

Also, the Trump idea sounds great. If Art could swing that, the controversy alone would be trending on a major scale. Definitely a marketing exposure idea winner.

If Art could nail down Trump as a guest at least a couple days ahead, we could blitz it the same way we did the original Blitz. Much of the free world would be listening, and then later talking about it demonstratively at length with the ones who happened to have missed it.

I think that's a great idea considering the current political climate in the US.

Blitz aside, Art interviewing Trump could/may go postal, if Art is willing to release portions of the program on other media channels to be share, like YT, that can be Twittered, FB'd etc.

[AppealPlay]

I might be wrong but I recall hearing how he didn't like him (and certainly doesn't believe the 911 stuff.) Sort of like with Bill Cooper, RIP, back in the day- some baggage there that probably wouldn't help things or turn out well....

Bill Cooper...he had some good ideas and probably some truth mixed in with truckloads of bullshit.

[AppealPlay]

I think that's a great idea considering the current political climate in the US.

Blitz aside, Art interviewing Trump could/may go postal, if Art is willing to release portions of the program on other media channels to be share, like YT, that can be Twittered, FB'd etc.

No way The Donald goes on Art, though.

[ziznak]

twas joking yallllll

[nika01]

Sounds like a collection of half baked gimmicks to me. What is wrong with the idea of natural growth. Im sorry, but I dont think any of us know what the situation really is. Specifically, is the show sustainable in its present configuration or not? I repeat, Art's last email delivered two divergent (at least in my mind) messages.

[Freyja]

I might be wrong but I recall hearing how he didn't like him (and certainly doesn't believe the 911 stuff.) Sort of like with Bill Cooper, RIP, back in the day- some baggage there that probably wouldn't help things or turn out well....

Yeah, I hear you, however sometimes you have to give a bit to get. Jones IMO has a huge respect for Art although he may not agree on many of Art's previous stands/opinions on certain issues.This would be a great opportunity and challenge for Art to do what he does best without personal bias.

We are talking about marketing here. Jones has a huge conspiratorial following. His articles from infowars and prisonplanet are constantly on Drudge. Drudge would be a great vehicle...provided there are audio clips that readers can go to.

There is also Red Ice, Project Camelot....(redacted) get some interviews for Art there...huge following.   

[albrecht]

No way The Donald goes on Art, though.

I suggested The Donald a while back, before the polls and his surging. It might've had a better chance then, but I still hold out hope. I would be an interesting interview, like or hate him he has had an interesting business career, and now with the politics and tv show stuff. And would promote MITD for sure now.

[albrecht]

Yeah, I hear you, however sometimes you have to give a bit to get. Jones IMO has a huge respect for Art although he may not agree on many of Art's previous stands/opinions on certain issues.This would be a great opportunity and challenge for Art to do what he does best without personal bias.

We are talking about marketing here. Jones has a huge conspiratorial following. His articles from infowars and prisonplanet and constantly on Drudge. Drudge would be a great vehicle...provided there are audio clips that readers can go to.   

Interview with Matt Drudge! Would be a coup and good marketing! He tried a radio show a while back and doesn't give many interviews. Would be interesting interview...besides the big promo for MITD.
ps: I agree with you on Alex. If Alex could keep it together a bit because his story is actually very interesting. Leveraging "free" media (access tv, internet, youtube, pirate radio, torrent, free documentaries, etc) to millions in money and maybe in listeners/viewers.

[PB the Deplorable]

... a youtube channel not only with clips, but with a couple of knock out classic MITD shows

... You could provide highlight audio clips of each show, for past shows on your website as an appetizer for those who come to artbell.com.   

There were lots of good ideas in your post, I especially liked the above ideas of a YouTube channel with clips of each show, and a few full shows that people could access and listen to, perhaps a few of the topics that would appeal to the widest audience (UFOs?, GIS?, one of the ones on science?, ect)

[PB the Deplorable]

I do agree with many of your points Freyja,

I think Art should completely do away with his paranormal news segment (which i happen to enjoy) and convert that into commercial space for his Am stations.

-C

Perhaps keep the paranormal news for those listening on the stream and on podcast replays, but allow radio stations that wish/need to carry more commercials to run them in those time spots?

[AppealPlay]

I was under the impression that the terrestrial stations played commercials on the news segments?

[PB the Deplorable]

Sounds like a collection of half baked gimmicks to me. What is wrong with the idea of natural growth. Im sorry, but I dont think any of us know what the situation really is. Specifically, is the show sustainable in its present configuration or not? I repeat, Art's last email delivered two divergent (at least in my mind) messages.

True, we don't 'know what the situation really is', however he did ask the board for ideas, in fact he said ''any idea's are welcome''. 

Your ideas are don't change, and allow natural growth to take its course, and that's fine