12/22/06: 'Mic' fans celebrate decision - Clear Channel kills plan to pull progressive radio
'Mic' fans celebrate decision
Clear Channel kills plan to pull progressive radio
By Judith Davidoff
December 22, 2006
The timing of Clear Channel's decision to keep its progressive radio format on the air couldn't have been better for Maggie Thomas.
"Yesterday was my birthday, and that was the best present I got," said Thomas, who turned 45.
Thomas, who lives on Madison's east side, was one of thousands of local listeners who urged Clear Channel in recent weeks to reverse its decision to replace "The Mic" at WXXM/FM 92.1 with Fox Sports Radio on Jan. 1. Activists delivered a petition with 5,466 signatures to Clear Channel on Wednesday, and hundreds of listeners rallied against the move last week, with U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Air America co-founder Terry Kelly also denouncing the move.
Local advertisers also organized to show their support, and Clear Channel, in a move that is being watched nationally, listened.
"Madison is really a microcosm of what could be taking place around the country," popular radio host Ed Schultz said this morning. "There is a mindset with the progressive format that it's shaky territory for advertisers, and it's simply not true."
Schultz, whose show reaches 2.25 million listeners nationwide, said he was excited about Clear Channel's move and "how it all came to work together."
"It's really encouraging to see listeners so passionate for the radio industry and to be so vocal and organized."
Activist Valerie Walasek, who spearheaded the petition drive, said she hoped Madison's experience would inspire activists elsewhere.
"The other communities facing a similar loss of their progressive talk radio stations can do this," Walasek said.
Boston and Cincinnati lost Air America programming recently and Gary Tipler, who also helped organize opposition to Clear Channel's move, said other cities are facing similar threats.
Jeff Tyler, vice president of Clear Channel Radio-Madison, said in a news release late Thursday that it reversed its decision after being "overwhelmed" by the outpouring of support for "The Mic" "from the public, some of our community leaders and some dedicated local advertisers."
Tyler has said in the past that ratings for "The Mic" were sub-par and that some advertisers were leery of its programming; he stressed in the news release that pledges of advertising support from local businesses played a key role in the station's decision.
Barb Wright had a hand in that.
She owns the Dardanelles restaurant on Monroe Street, and actively rallied support for the station among advertisers in recent weeks. She said today that businesses and listeners have a stake in helping "The Mic" succeed.
"It is essential that we have an informed electorate with intelligent debate on the issues," she said. "I found that, contrary to some opinions, the business community is ready to step up to the plate to ensure that progressive talk radio is not only sustained but will flourish."
Wright and Walasek said they are committed to help the station bring in additional advertising support to "The Mic."
Tipler said broad support for "The Mic" emerged once there was a forum for it.
"We've had people from Columbia County, rural Dane County and even abroad write, call in to the shows or show up at our events to air their observations and opinions," Tipler said. "It demonstrated that we must stand up and take action to preserve the things we sometimes take for granted - free speech and democratic institutions."
"The Mic" is an Air America affiliate, carrying headliners Al Franken and Randi Rhodes. The station's other popular shows include Schultz's "Straight Talk From the Heartland" and the Stephanie Miller show.
Miller's and Schultz's shows are part of the Jones Radio Network, however, and not Air America.
Kelly, who is now the main financial backer for Air America, which recently declared bankruptcy, said Clear Channel's reconsideration shows that "community activism works and that if you get at it from enough sides and enough depth people still have the power to influence things for the better."
It is, he added, "a wonderful example of how real democracy works through grass-roots organizing."