Michael Savage is no Glenn Beck.
When the Savage news broke, I signed up for his newsletter, on the theory that when he made his industry shaking announcement, his newsletter would have details, and as we get closer to the relaunch on Cumulus, we might get more details of what to expect, encouragement to use social media to spread the word of what stations will have the show, appearances on Fox News to promote the show, etc.
So far, all I have is 4 “carefully selected” advertisements from assorted hucksters.
Oh wait, huckster is that other guy on Cumulus.
Michael Savage doesn’t even have a ‘real’ website. BUT I still can’t wait for the premiere on Tuesday night!
Savage on Cumulus. Hmm How does that help ?
It makes Savage happy cause he’ll be back on KFSO so he can yell at his former Communist friend that runs the City Lights book store – the guy who stole his girl friend.
You probably think I’m making that up 😉
The assumption seems to be – not yet known for sure – that Savage will be put on the major market radio stations formerly owned by ABC – WABC, WLS, WJR, WBAP, KCMO, WMAL – talk radio network tended to not be able to get their shows on those high profile stations with large potential audiences.
Mr Dickey has a big decision to make. Savage thinks he will be on those stations, but 10s of millions of people who have never heard of Savage in major urban markets may hear him for the first time, and that might trigger new rounds of boycotts. CAIR and the SPLC don’t care much that he’s on a station in Festus Missouri – but he becomes much more on their “list” if he is suddenly talking in New York, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Washington DC, etc
This deal has an amazing lack of detail – how long, how much, whether he gets a % of the advertising revenue. Beck, Rush and Dr Laura have an important difference in their contract I really doubt Savage got – all three have their own production companies. Premiere sends Rush a check – out if that check, Rush is paying for his studio, the salaries of the 20 or so people who work for him – he has nobody hovering over him telling him what he can or can’t say.
I don’t think Savage has the ability or desire to run his own production company. If that’s the case, he will quickly realize he just moved from one prison to another. Mr Dickey and/or the managers will be in his face constantly “suggesting” things he should do to improve the show – and bring in radio consultants, etc. My guess is that John Batchelor will have a few weeks of vacation, but isn’t going to be in the unemployment line.
Another factor that I don’t know is when Levin’s contract is up and whether eventually they or Savage want him in the 6-9 PM time slot
“It makes Savage happy cause he’ll be back on KFSO so he can yell at his former Communist friend that runs the City Lights book store – the guy who stole his girl friend.
You probably think I’m making that up 😉 ”
LOL That is Hilarious !
If events go as Art suggests above, that Savage gets time on major stations in New York, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Washington DC, etc… Savage could raise the blood pressure of the operatives in CAIR and the SPLC into the stratosphere, perhaps even on the scale of HAARP, straight into the ionosphere.
Of course, as Art noted, Savage “becomes much more on their “list” if that happens.
According to Savage’s web site, his new show will be heard live on KSFO San Francisco, KLIF Dallas and WFTL Fort Lauderdale. It will also be heard, according to his site, at an unspecified time on KPRC Houston, WJR Detroit, KSTE Sacramento, WPRO Providence and WWCK in Flint, Michigan. And many others, it says, but it doesn’t say which are the many others.
I don’t see WABC or KABC or WLS on that list.
Today’s newsletter actually mentioned the news, but nothing beyond what was in the news release the day it came out.
Well, I wonder if my mom will get to listen (she only does an actual radio, not streaming…) – we live in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Didn’t see anywhere very close. http://www.cumulus.com/listen/
That’s the list of Cumulus Owned and Operated stations – I would expect Cumulus to syndicate the show to other stations where they don’t have their own “cluster”, but probably not on CBS (KDKA) or Clear Channel (WPGB-FM).
KQV-AM is probably the best long term hope, but there is a good chance the only hope is a distant AM station like WJR in Detroit.
It’s becoming clearer that Cumulus is not all that thrilled they have Savage – no station is yet promoting the show and they are holding off on putting their best stations on the line. Savage really only cares about KSFO-AM in San Francisco.
Thanks Mr. Stone.
Tonights the big night, really interested in hearing the show tonight. I bet he doesn’t breath a word and acts like nothing happened.
Despite what I reported earlier from the Savage site, on Tuesday night WPRO Providence was running Batchelor while fellow Clear Channel station WPRV Providence aired Savage.
For those who are confused now, WPRO is owned by Cumulus, but an old school clear channel AM station (not to be confused with Clear Channel)
If you don’t yet know, I now live under the glide slope to runway 27L at O’Hare airport. It may just be weather, but tonight there are a large number of very large planes operating during the voluntary noise abatement window (10
PM+) Perhaps something is about to pop in the Middle East
Well, it looks like Cumulus barely stuck their toe in the water. KSFO is the main station Savage wanted. WABC, WMAL, WLS, KABC did not pick up the show live. WJR in Detroit is carrying it on delay.
I had to work tonight – I did not get a thorough list, but the pattern is pretty clear. Switching horses takes time. Unknown is if any non cumulus stations picked up the show. Disney I think still has residual ownership in the ABC stations and may have a say on this.
This just in from Fox Radio News – don’t french kiss your dog.
One other little tidbit – what is a “five day a week weekly newsletter”?