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Why Rush Limbaugh Is Dragging Down AM Talk Radio
Radio Survivor ^ | March 6, 2015 | Paul Riismandel

Posted on 03/06/2015 11:00:39 AM PST by Bratch

Talk radio veteran Darryl Parks is a harsh critic of how the format continues to lose touch with most of the radio audience who aren’t white male baby boomers. In a new post this week he takes aim at Rush Limbaugh, describing the leading conservative talk host’s “fall into oblivion.”

Parks notes that Limbaugh’s program is sinking in the ratings in New York and Los Angeles and has been shuttled off to lower ranked stations. Now it’s rumored– as first reported by Robert Feder–that his Chicago affiliate is preparing to dump ol’ Rushbo, too. A spokeswoman for WLS-AM owner Culumus Media has denied that rumor, though Parks says, “three different Cumulus executives have told me on different occasions they wish they could get rid of Limbaugh’s show and they can’t sell it.”

What’s best about Parks’ tough love missives for talk radio are the behind-the-scenes details he drops about how the business really works. It’s common knowledge that the Limbaugh show is produced by Premiere Networks, which is conveniently owned by iHeartMedia, giving it easy access to hundreds of stations. But Parks fills out the story, revealing that along with requiring stations to carry Rush, “the local stations have to pay a ‘rights fee’ in addition to the barter commercial inventory they broadcast from the network. There was no negotiation whether to broadcast the show or what fee was to be paid.” Barter inventory are the commercials included by in the show that stations air without compensation.

As a result, he says this non-negotiable requirement to carry and pay for the program, “forced local stations to lay-off other talk hosts, producers and gut news departments. Talented people left the radio business and the death spiral for talk radio began. It began years ago.”

I knew about the barter obligation, but I didn’t know that even iHeart’s own stations had to tithe, too. But I guess the heavily indebted company has to find some way to keep writing checks to fulfill Limbaugh’s $400 million contract.

It’s important to point out that Parks identifies as a Republican, lamenting how talk radio has missed the boat on reaching younger generations. He says he tried to warn Clear Channel execs of the impending fall, but his advice fell on deaf ears.

Me, I see this as just more evidence as to how the commercial radio business is a victim of its own greed, myopia, and mismanagement, typified most clearly in the way iHeart doubles-down on Limbaugh at the expense of anything that remotely resembles fresh programming. Radio isn’t dying, but their AM talk audience, and hosts, are.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amradio; demographics; rush; rushlimbaugh; talkradio
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To: Arthur McGowan
2) Everyone who is really informed knows Rush is a sell-out, because he is one of those “conservatives” lacking the courage to discuss the crudely-forged birth certificate bearing the typefaces of six typewriters, the forged draft registration, etc., etc.

Rush retains his marbles.

61 posted on 03/07/2015 3:23:01 AM PST by cynwoody
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To: cynwoody

Presumably, you retain your marbles.

How do you explain the presence of the typefaces of six different typewriters on the “birth certificate”?


62 posted on 03/07/2015 3:37:01 AM PST by Arthur McGowan
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To: Arthur McGowan
I agree. Rush is a sell out.

I will never forgive him for ignoring Obama’s eligibility and the sloppily created birth certificates. SHAME ON HIM!

If and when hard core tyranny comes to our nation, Rush will sell his talents to the fascist oligarchy. He will spit shine the jack boots crushing our necks. Count on it.

63 posted on 03/07/2015 3:52:48 AM PST by wintertime
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To: Arthur McGowan
They didn't have computers. Every time they wanted to add to the document, they had to roll it into a typewriter and type on it. Or sign it with a pen. Or annotate it with a pencil. If you are too young to have had to do that, you are an not qualified to opine.

But the truth is, it doesn't come down to document analysis. It's basic logic: they recorded an unusual birth as best they could, not having any idea of what what Anarchist Annie had whelped would become, much less to have conspired to make it happen half a century in advance.

Anybody who doesn't realize that is a conspiracy drooler, inviting mockery.

Face it: He's a natural born traitor!

64 posted on 03/07/2015 3:55:35 AM PST by cynwoody
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To: Colinsky

I disagree with what you are saying about the Rush Revere books. I see the kids calling in as a plea to parents to please buy the books so that the next generation learns about our history and heritage. The children’s testimonials are proof that at least some of them are paying attention. People aren’t taught much of this in schools anymore, and that includes their parents.

I’ve not read the books, but I had the education from my parents, whose history expertise included relatives going back before the Revolution.


65 posted on 03/07/2015 4:02:53 AM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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To: Arthur McGowan

As an early Rush listener, the past 5+ years I rarely listen - and then only for a few minutes.

He sounds more GOP-E Republican than his early days as a Conservative. When he’s talks about his golfing buddies who reject social conservatives, he’s really speaking for himself.

Add his choice of a homosexual to perform at his wedding and pushing amnesty lovers from GWB to Walker), it’s not hard to understand where he truly stands.

Finally, I find his arrogant demeanor to be very abrasive to his audience and lacks any respect for us.

As others posted, he’s had a great run and was a lone voice for Conservatism in the beginning; however, there are far more options available that offer a real conservative voice.


66 posted on 03/07/2015 4:03:38 AM PST by newfreep ("Evil succeeds when good men do nothting" - Edmund Burke)
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To: cincinnati65
Well....My “terminal fatigue” began when Rush and the rest ignored Obama’s eligibility and the blatantly forged birth documents. I am still disgusted.
67 posted on 03/07/2015 4:05:27 AM PST by wintertime
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To: cynwoody

I’m 61. I know what a typewriter is.

ADD to the document??? When? Why? What is there to ADD to a birth certificate? There’s nothing on a birth certificate about the child’s health, or school career, etc.

The multiple typewriter faces resulted from the fact that portions of a number of typed documents were cut-and-pasted to create the forgery.

Why are some parts of the image 8-bit and some 16-bit? Why are there layers at all?

Why is the father’s RACE given as “African” when Federal and state regs at the time mandated “Negro” or “Colored”—and “African” isn’t a race at all?

Why is there information in spaces marked in pencil with a “9” when “9” was the code for “there is nothing in this space.”

Why is the number stolen from a dead baby’s birth certificate?

“Obama,” whose legal name is Barry Soetoro, is an illegal alien. He has NEVER BEEN an American citizen UNLESS his biological father is the Communist Frank Marshall Davis. But he is still an illegal alien NOW because he became an Indonesian citizen when he was adopted by Lolo Soetoro.

It’s obvious you know none of the relevant facts about the crudely-forged “birth certificate.” I am absolutely baffled by the desire of so many people to know nothing.


68 posted on 03/07/2015 4:44:35 AM PST by Arthur McGowan
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To: wintertime

I have never understood the SPELL that keeps so many “conservatives” from caring about Obama’s status as an illegal alien. I’ve lost count of how many people have said, “I refuse to discuss it because nobody could possibly get away with that”—thereby proving that somebody COULD get away with it.

You’d be amazed how many people believe that every Presidential candidate has to pass some sort of security clearance from the FBI and CIA. I’ve had countless people say that that’s the reason they think “birthers” are crazy—the “security clearance” that a President must have.


69 posted on 03/07/2015 4:48:33 AM PST by Arthur McGowan
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To: cynwoody

It is plainly evident that you have not studied the issue.


70 posted on 03/07/2015 4:51:33 AM PST by wintertime
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To: Arthur McGowan

I have a conservative brother who insists that Obama’s eligibility can’t be important because **Rush** didn’t discuss it!

As I said previously, I will never forgive Rush and I am still disgusted with him.


71 posted on 03/07/2015 4:54:19 AM PST by wintertime
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To: USARightSide

Even when talk over voices can be distinguished, on radio and TV the effect is annoying. Limbaugh’s key innovation as a radio host was to not have guests or a sidekick. At the time, this was thought impossible, but Limbaugh’s talent made it work — to the astonishment of his station manager. For Limbaugh, it was an up or out move.


72 posted on 03/07/2015 4:54:42 AM PST by Rockingham
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To: Bratch
I rarely listen to Rush. But I listen everyday to Beck's show, and almost every day to Levin.

Beck isn't as smart as Mark or as intellectually coherent, but he is more entertaining and more comfortable talking about spiritual issues.

I need a little levity at work, which is why I also listen to Howie Carr in late afternoon drive-time.

Lately, I've continued listening to the Blaze after Rush's show, and have discovered Buck Sexton. He's different. He is very smart and knowledgeable about history, but a little wet behind the ears. He doesn't have a populist instinct, which may hurt him in the long run.

73 posted on 03/07/2015 4:58:09 AM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: Bratch
Radio isn’t dying, but their AM talk audience, and hosts, are.

People who listen to talk radio do so because they care about the issues that are plaguing this country. The only alternative is FM music or FM sports shows and from what I've witnessed, they've changed formats and jockeys more often than talk radio has........

74 posted on 03/07/2015 5:00:14 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Uncle Sy: "Beavers are like Ninjas, they only come out at night and they're hard to find")
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To: wintertime

There is virtually no one in Congress, in either party, and no foreign leader, who does not know that Barry Soetoro is an illegal alien.

You can’t kill 57 million babies, and have an entire political system that tolerates the killing of 57 million babies, without having a country that is dying.


75 posted on 03/07/2015 7:07:25 AM PST by Arthur McGowan
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