Tom Athans (nee Democracy Radio) joins AAR team

[doc9464]

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/tvstations/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001393844

This link is to the Media Week article explaining that former Democracy Radio CEO Tom Athans has joined AAR's new syndication outlet.

A sample of the article is posted below:

As the co-founder and former CEO for Democracy Radio, Athans was responsible for developing and producing two of Progressive Talk’s most popular shows, The Ed Schultz Show, currently syndicated by P1 Productions on more than 100 stations and The Stephanie Miller Show, developed in association with WYD Media.

In his new position, Athans will head up Air America’s new syndication division and develop new programming to expand AAR’s lineup. He will also head AAR’s Washington, D.C. office.



This is an interesting move. Two groups that kinda split on philosophy during the idea forming stage for Air America Radio and Democracy Now have now started working together.

Well, this should be hopefully a resource that can be put to good use. If only he could "hijack" Stephanie Miller to AAR that would be great. But seriously, it will be interesting to see how Athan's beliefs will inter-mesh with the AAR management team. Hopefully they will be able to mutually find some pursuable goals. The goal is always to grow progressive radio. I hope they will remember that during this transition.

[bierkenstock]

The part of the article not posted here says Tom Athans is not a broadcaster but a political operative ("Prior to heading Democracy Radio, Athans was on staff in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives")with good old fashioned inside-the-beltway connections ("He is married to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.").  The article also states, "He will also head AAR’s Washington, D.C. office." (Translation: He's AAR's new lobbyist.)

Once again, AAR shows an unwillingness or an inability to hire people who know radio.  Yet again, politics trumps entertainment.  Apparently they believe their cause is just, so they will triumph without having to worry about doing good radio, attracting listeners and selling advertisers.  

Why should Stephanie Miller want to be "hijacked?"  She seems to be doing OK with Jones Radio handling syndication.  The only inducement that would make sense would be to have her replace Morning Sedition in the line-up.  Just like the only compelling reason for Thom Hartmann to sign with AAR would be if they promised him Franken's slot.

[FloridaBear1776]

Most big-chain radio execs either are conservatives or have consumed the kool-aid about liberal talk radio being unviable from the get-go. Hiring one of them would be akin to hiring Ann Coulter to run moveon.org.

[KJCB]

> Most big-chain radio execs either are conservatives or have
> consumed the kool-aid about liberal talk radio being
> unviable from the get-go. Hiring one of them would be akin
> to hiring Ann Coulter to run moveon.org.

Big Radio is eeeevil and moneygrubbing. Until they learn that libtalk makes money. Then they're no longer eeeevil.