“Big” radio now has 4 major players left…
Clear Channel being run by Robert Pittman, former CEO of AOL/Time-Warner. Pittman is a lifelong major political donor to the Democratic Party.
Cumulus Media, run by the Dickey Family of Atlanta, Georgia
CBS Radio, publicly traded, but still controlled by the aging Sumner Redstone, whose extreme liberal political leanings are well documented.
Townsquare Media, a company funded by OakTree Capital that has quietly been amassing a large empire of failed small market radio operators and the unprofitable castoffs from Clear Channel
So as Cumulus Media is consolidating its clout and facing the decision about the future of its programming, what insights can we get about Lew Dickey, the autocrat who makes all the important decisions in his company? He has placed Geraldo Rivera on WABC and KABC already, citing a need for “more balance” against the existing ABC Radio Conservative Talk lineup of Limbaugh and Hannity. Is that just a business decision or a reflection of his own views on politics?
First a little biographical info about Mr Dickey. He is very active in the National Association of Broadcasters. He holds a degree from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard. His brother John W Dickey is joint Operating Officer of Cumulus
Let’s see what the FEC database says about the Dickey Family’s political donations…
John Dickey made 3 contributions for a total of $3000, all to the NAB’s Political Action Committee, which is non-partisan lobbying fund for radio and TV.
Lewis Dickey has given $25,000 to the NAB’s PAC in 9 contributions.
For political campaigns, Lewis Dickey Jr gave:
– $2,500 to Saxby Chanbliss (R-Georgia)
– $500 to Carli Fiorina (R-California)
That’s it. Mr Dickey is very frugal according to all accounts.
Most of the Dickeys in Georgia seem to have some family connection with Dickey Farms, which grows peaches, but I can’t find any actual information that he is related to the company, although I do notice some similarity in their approach to running a business. The other Dickeys in Georgia are mostly generous Republican donors.
http://www.gapeaches.com/