Is Rush Limbaugh in Trouble?

Politico Magazine ^ | May 24, 2016 | Ethan Epstein

[EveningStar]

Earlier this year, as that unmistakable bass line of the Pretenders’ My City Was Gone faded into the background, Rush Limbaugh opened his daily three-hour broadcast with characteristic bombast. “[According to the] latest research data,” he intoned, “the audience is expanding at near geometric proportions, as people seek guidance, answers, explanations, information, and an answer to the basic question, ‘What the hell is happening out there?’" ...

And yet, there are signs that all is not well in the Limbaugh radio empire. Because even as his influence is sky high and his dominance at the top of talk radio remains unchallenged, as a business proposition, Limbaugh’s show is on shaky ground. In recent years, Limbaugh has been dropped by several of his long-time affiliates, including some very powerful ones: He’s gone from WABC in New York, WRKO in Boston and KFI in Los Angeles, for example, and has in many cases been moved onto smaller stations with much weaker signals that cover smaller areas.

Why? Because four years after Limbaugh called Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” on air, spurring a major boycott movement, reams of advertisers still won’t touch him. He suffers from what talk radio consultant Holland Cooke calls a “scarlet letter among national brand advertisers.” And for someone who has said that “confiscatory ad rates” are a key pillar of his business, that spells trouble. (Limbaugh ignored multiple interview requests.)

Limbaugh’s extremely lucrative eight-year contract—estimated to be worth roughly $38 million a year—is up this summer ...

[Pelham]

Sounds like a good portion of this is the free market at work.

When your fees are higher than what buyers are willing to pay they drop you if you won’t accept less.

[mountainlion]

So what is the story on the source? Is Politico Magazine right or left? What is the background on the writer? Things are going to start getting dirty with lots of mud slinging. Rush is hitleries worst enemy so there will always be lots of mudslinging there. I would support Rush more than McCain or Romney and maybe even hannity if he apologized for lying about no voting for the Colorado primary.

[Sooth2222]

I listen to Rush while I'm on my afternoon jog. (So no real time wasted.)

I've been listening since 1988. I agree with Rush about 50% of the time. (That's still much better than Obama, who I disagree with about 99.6% of the time.) Sometimes Rush comes up with ideas that are extremely insightful -- and sometimes he doesn't.

Listening doesn't cost me anything. For free, it's well worth the price!

[Lazamataz]

Why [is Rush collapsing]? Because four years after Limbaugh called Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” on air,

Wrong. They don't call it Propagandico.com for nothing.

He's collapsing because he's embracing the Republican establishment.

[Safetgiver]

OK. Missed something there.

[353FMG]

Is Rush against Trump? Since when?

[Pelham]

“Why is it always the conservative radio hosts? Why is there no report on the leftist media falling apart? “

Probably because the great leftwing radio experiment collapsed in a steaming pile years ago.

[Lazamataz]

Is Politico Magazine right or left?

They literally serve as a mouthpiece for the Obama administration. Extreme left.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Rush is better than ever. One of a kind!

[Former Proud Canadian]

Yup, Rush is in trouble, Trump’s campaign is fading. I put that right up there with: Hillary is competent, Ronald Reagan is a fool, the internet will never go anywhere, automobiles are a fad...

[Pelham]

You mean like “Hillary will never be elected to the Senate”?

[Fungi]

I read the entire article. It mentions how JC Penny and Sears “refused” to return. Excuse me? JC Penney and Sears can barely pay their own employees much less advertise on a national show. Some advertisers have returned, witness 1800Flowers and Shari's Berries. Never expect much truth from a rabid left wing site such as Politico, just a political ax to grind.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I didn’t realize Rush made $38 million a year. Sounds like this contract renewal will pay him less. Radio ad revenues are down, listenership is down.

I expect Rush will still be around, just that his new contract won’t pay him nearly that much money. As you were saying, this is the free market at work. I expect Rush will still be in radio, still nationally syndicated, but will be paid based on the market situation now.

[Pelham]

“He’s collapsing because he’s embracing the Republican establishment. “

Yep. Funny how if you base your career on advertising yourself as a conservative people might expect you to live up it. But anyone who was paying attention during W’s administration already knew that he had his snout firmly entrenched in the GOPe rump.

[frnewsjunkie]

He’s in trouble because he made fun of half his radio audience while he was trying to get Cruz elected.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I suspect that the internet has affected his business. I’d probably listen to him if FR etc didn’t exist.

---

I’m a kindred spirit. I used to listen to more talk radio years ago. But, time and work constraints, plus the attraction of the internet, have me spending much more time on Free Republic than spent listening to talk radio.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

If anyone is in trouble it has to be Hannity.

I find myself listening to the new up & commers such as Rich Zieoli on 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia via IHeart internet radio. WABC & WOR in NYC, programming has become stale. I do listen to Rush everyday via internet, through my iphone, in my car & at home.

[onona]

KOOOONAAAAH

I found Jeff Kuhner via FR, and I am liking his show.

[DennisR]

Really. I have actually tried to listen to Alan Colmes, but could not stand listening to him after about three minutes. But he’s a liberal, so I guess he gets a pass...

[hawaiianninja]

I've been reading that Limbaugh is in trouble since I first started listening to him

Same here. I see this is as more of the usual liberal/establishment attempts to misrepresent Rush's popularity, business stability and longevity. For the conservative Rush to lose affiliation with certain stations in EXTREMELY liberal hubs like New York, Los Angeles, and Boston: Duh! It's business. It happens. It's amazing he got picked up to begin with. And he's bound to be picked up by another station, if he hasn't already. This Politico hack writer seems be hoping that Rush does fail just to claim credit for being first to write about it.