The self-styled liberal talk radio network, AirAmerica, is asking visitors to its Web site to become their "associate" by giving them money. It's not deductable. $50 gets you three bumper stickers, $100 gets you the stickers plus a tote bag, and $250 gets you stickers, tote, and a personal thank you. Not much in that goodie closet. You don't get stock. (I call it "self-styled" because I hate to see more snotty talk hosts on the air, conservative or liberal.)
Articles are popping up suggesting AA is in big trouble, to be begging for money from supporters. Well, of course they are! Startups are always in trouble. As are political parties, which is, you gotta believe, what AA, sort of, is. Therefore, why shouldn't they be asking listeners to contribute?
About 70 stations are giving the network a try on their cripple AMs, but these are it-couldn't-be-worse-than-we've-got-now business decisions, not a signal that there are thousands of progressive radio station CEOs and managers out there, waiting for a chance like this.
I think you'll see more of this--commercial stations looking to public radio for new ideas of all kinds. Public radio and TV have long since proven that the audience will help make the nut, even when they're expanding the on-air "messages" (Read "commercials") of their corporate "underwriters." Will your listeners send you money to keep you alive? If you're running eight-unit spot breaks?
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