The
Wall Street Journal, owned by Fox Network's
Rupert Murdoch, published a surprising story in February. The piece is titled,
Talk Radio’s Advertising Problem, and it seems the biggest problem in talk radio today is
hate monger, Rush Limbaugh. But first, in the WSJ piece, writer Hannah Karp explains just how bad the problem is:
Talk and news stations combined generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2013, down from $1.6 billion in 2011, according to the latest numbers from media research firm BIA/Kelsey. Pure talk-station revenue fell to $205 million, from $217 million. The number of talk stations shrank to 510 from 546 over that time period, while the number of news stations increased by 150 to total 1,524.
Here's where it gets interesting.
The shift reflects more than younger listeners flocking to digital media.Radio executives said the erosion of ad dollars from talk stations was driven in part by a series of organized social-media campaigns by liberal activists in early 2012 that scared away advertisers.
That would be campaigns created by hundreds of thousands of
angry everyday people who joined online groups like
#StopRush,
Boycott/Rush,
#FlushRush, Facebook pages/organizations like
NOW,
UniteWomen.org,
Being Liberal and
Political Loudmouth… , and online news groups that include,
Media Matters,
Liberals Unite, Addicting Info, Alternet, Think Progress,
CrooksAndLiars, and
Daily Kos.
Most of the social media campaigns began in 2012 after Rush Limbaugh blasted an unknown college student for advocating birth control at a congressional hearing. Limbaugh berated her on air for three days. He called her a 'slut' and 'prostitute,' and told her if 'he' had to pay for her birth control (a bogus statement), then he wanted to see a video of her having sex. Because this is how Limbaugh operates: (VIDEO)
There are many more reasons for this protest. Many believe Rush Limbaugh promotes, and provokes racism, homophobia, and misogyny. Thousands of malign
Limbaugh quotes have been documented. He calls children on government-assisted lunches 'wanton little waifs and surfs,' implies gay men are 'pedophiles,' calls women 'semen receptacles,' and calls documented immigrants a 'lazy', 'invasive species' of 'mollusks' and 'spermatozoa'.
This kind of hate speech can lead to bullying, abuse, violent hate crimes, and murder.
People around the country, as well as here at Daily Kos, have witnessed the slow deconstruction of Rush Limbaugh's career, due to protests, boycotts, and petitions. We've seen firsthand how powerful it can be when the public takes to their own means, after being ignored by mainstream media, the FCC, and the radio industry.
Some are concerned that the Limbaugh is adversely affecting Liberal talk shows. That is not the fault of the people. That is the fault of Bob Pittman, president of iHeart Media and Clear Channel, for continuing to air Limbaugh's misogynist, racist, anti-LGBT bile nationwide. Ironically, his colossal media company is the same radio network that axed the Dixie Chicks from all Clear Channel stations, after the country music trio publicly denounced George 'W' for starting the war in Iraq. Yes, the network cut all Dixie Chicks airplay from their 800+ stations, because that kind of fee speech is unacceptable. How things do come around. Yet Pittman/Clear Channel/iHeart still support Rush Limbaugh. There's your trouble, Bob.
A year ago, iHeartMedia—formerly known as Clear Channel —moved Mr. Limbaugh’s show from its flagship Los Angeles talk station, KFI, to another of its Los Angeles stations, KTLK. KFI’s revenue had fallen to $39 million in 2013, from $48.1 million in 2011, according to Bia/Kelsey. An iHeartMedia spokeswoman declined to comment.
Not to mention, Clear Channel/iHeart, the
Bain-brained network home of 'Hate Radio,' continues to remain
billions in debt.
So, one can say, when the Wall Street Journal numbers prove social media activism is kicking the ass of Rush Limbaugh and hate radio, I'd say the boycotting consumers, as well as the activists, are doing something very right. So much for Rush Limbaugh's new PR team trying to ridiculously claim StopRush is made up of a handful of 'bullies'. That's called desperation. This is a clear victory for the people in this country who value free speech, and who have chosen to take action, rather than sitting around bitching about Rush Limbaugh. They want to see the end of hate speech on our public radio airways, and according to WSJ numbers, they are being heard.
To join this highly effective protest:
Sign: Limbaugh Sponsor & Clear Channel Petition
Visit/Like: BoycottRush Facebook Group
Join: The Fight To Flush Rush
Visit: StopRush.net for an extensive list of Limbaugh Sponsors
Twitter: #FlushRush and #StopRush
Rest in peace Kossack, Richard Myers. We will finish this.
Special thanks to Gary Flinn, Freya Malin and BoycottRush page follower, Mickey O, for your hard work.
