WI/AHC: Left Leaning Talk Radio Culture in the US?

Basically, Im wondering how you bring about a left leaning talk radio culture to balance out the right leaning talk radio culture around the same time the right wing version arose. What would be the impact of such a thing in the US?
 
A more populist left-wing Democratic Party that hangs on to its working-class identity. Once the GOP replaces the Dems as "the party for the working man," it becomes harder for left-wing voices to really get into traditionally rural and working-class spaces like radio.

You also need people financially and ideologically committed enough to get into that market and find that niche.
 
It is a phenomenally MISSED OPPORTUNITY on the part of American lefties, liberals, and progressives. Kind of unbelievable once you think about it. approaching the level of borderline ASB
 
According to some folks NPR fills that niche. Most of the 'liberals' I know get their ideology from other venues, like periodicals or seminars & lectures. Back in my youth there were some left leaning talk radio shows, but I cant remember them retaining a audience past the 1970s.

...
You also need people financially and ideologically committed enough to get into that market and find that niche.

Talk radio was developed big as a low budget air filler by commercial radio. During the 1970s & 80s radio became dominated by the large companies & those were uninterested in leftist oriented format. Their marketing research told them advertising revenue lay with the likes of Limbaugh, Liddy, ect...
 
According to some folks NPR fills that niche. Most of the 'liberals' I know get their ideology from other venues, like periodicals or seminars & lectures. Back in my youth there were some left leaning talk radio shows, but I cant remember them retaining a audience past the 1970s.

Talk radio was developed big as a low budget air filler by commercial radio. During the 1970s & 80s radio became dominated by the large companies & those were uninterested in leftist oriented format. Their marketing research told them advertising revenue lay with the likes of Limbaugh, Liddy, ect...

So what if someone's research showed liberal talk shows would result in advertising income too?
 
Some media companies would have gone with it. Others were run by conservative businessmen who would have been loathe to present such a thing. ie: Murdochs media empire would have a cow if marketing were to show liberal listeners as the wave of the future.
 
. . . Back in my youth there were some left leaning talk radio shows, but I cant remember them retaining a audience past the 1970s. . .
I really got into radio when I was 15-years-old, probably a late developer in this regard.

This was 1978 in Houston, Texas, and I don't remember any left leaning talk shows.

If you have time sharing a couple of your experiences, I for one would very much appreciate hearing about them. Thanks. :)
 
A more populist left-wing Democratic Party that hangs on to its working-class identity. Once the GOP replaces the Dems as "the party for the working man," it becomes harder for left-wing voices to really get into traditionally rural and working-class spaces like radio.

You also need people financially and ideologically committed enough to get into that market and find that niche.
The 1960s produce a political party to the left of the Dems, it isn't a serious national force (maybe 1 or 2 legislative seats) but it focuses on building up its state/local level infrastructure while using high profile propaganda campaigns for national office to keep a national presence. That organiation, lets call them The Freedom Democrats, make a conscious effort to build up a presence in radio.
 
There was Al Franken's "Air America", which apparently was deeply unsuccessful.

I 'member when that went on the air in New Orleans. I already listened to that station. It featured Imus, a local food critic, Phil Hendrie, and Coast to Coast. Wasn't thrilled with the format change but I tried to listen to Air America.

It was terrible radio. Not a reflection on the points being made, just the hosts. Franken was boring. Some nighttime guy (Malloy?) was a crazy conspiracy but. Randi Rhoades was OK in small doses but the rest of the lineup was unlistenable.

They would need hosts who were thoughtful and funny.
 
Never heard of it . . .
They're all across the board! This guy I know said he once tuned in and they were playing this weird arhythmic drumming. Well, I for one live and die for arhythmic drumming. ;)

Okay, seriously, it's a mix of music and left-wing politics. Tonight Monday 90.1 KPFT has:

7 pm The Monitor
8 pm Queer Voices
9 pm Thinkwing Radio [not entirely left-wing!]
 
Demographics poses a significant problem. Whereas the liberal coalition can agree on one, national political party, when it comes to radio stations the coalition fragments. There are stations with largely African American listeners, others geared towards Hispanics, others generically to the youth market, still more to the educated elite. Any of these might have a liberal voice, but the numbers just aren't going to tell.
 
You know who comes to mind as a bit too early for a lefty/populist talk radio sensation: William Jennings Bryan.

Flipping the 1960 election or butterflying Ike's second term could stack the chairs very differently.
 
Actually...we did have (economically) leftist/populist talk radio - Father Charles Coughlin comes to mind.

If George Wallace had stayed liberal, he could easily have been a populist radio personality on the center-left.
 
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