Midnight miracle: Art Bell’s very organic show has become a must listen-to program
I read a Talkers.com article yesterday, one also posted by Art Bell, about fans of the talk radio show host joining together through social networking to do advertising on his behalf.The way that Bell has regained his notoriety and fame has become quite an organic and real process. A few years ago, a post was entered onto Bellgab.com, then Coastgab. The poster said “Art Bell Quits Coast” on the…
Drama drama drama.. As the desert turns
Such drama with the Art Bell show, all of the time.
It started with this:
It followed with Leo Ashcroft leaving the program and the network over whatever disagreements exist behind the scenes.. then the former newscaster went on Facebook to complain he wasn’t paid and lots of other things about Bell.
The truth is Leo made lots of money. The real deal was he got paid by the commercial’s that ran in his newscast and it was a lot. On top of that he got 1% of total ad revenue which was about to be raised to 2 % but he quit because he said he could not get along with Keith. After I told the exact truth at the start of the show last night he now hates me I see. The guy is in total meltdown mode. I feel sorry for him. As for the offer he said he got from Coast, that was told first to Amy because he wanted to take her along with him but she refused. He also told Heather about it both on the phone and In print (which she has) and finally he told me as well. I am still not sure if it was real or he just made it up as a bluff, either way it’s bad. I was not going to say a word on the Friday show even as stressed out as I was about the situation but he started posting crazy stuff on his FB site asking people to email me or call in on open lines so I felt I had no choice as the messages started to roll in.
Art
Then someone posted this on BELLGAB:
Then..
Well..
The ‘then’ is still being written.
As the cactus turns.
A few days ago, Art Bell announced the he was joining with Nexus to provide up to 4,000 stations the ability to ‘flip the switch’ and broadcast MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT to whatever program directors decide to pick up the show..
It looks like the nighttime revolution is beginning to pick up steam..
Bell last night wrote on Facebook,
New Stations for MITD: First come first served:
Starting in Dec KFMB SanDiego/La
Starting early October:
KFRH Fm 100KW Las Vegas 104.3
KBET 790 AM Las Vegas
KTKN 930AM Ketchikan, AK
KLZ 560 AM Denver, CO 5KW
WDCD 1540 Albany, NY 50KW
And so it begins, this is how we take
back the night. Please call your local station and request MITD but make sure it is not the station that carries that other show but instead the competition.
And this tonight came from Bell on the same forum:
The Stations are coming fast now but I will not post them till we have signed agreements. It is because of what you all are doing in calling and asking them to pick up the show, please continue, IT WORKS. Available on XDS on Oct 1st.
Art
DAWN IN THE DESERT: ART BELL’S UPDATE
For days, Art Bell has teased a major announcement for today. That announcement hit–it also portends a major development in his program MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT and another enormous opportunity for him to change the night time air waves.. From Bell: ANNOUNCEMENT from ART BELL: It has been a great two Months start but now it’s time to get serious. Starting Oct 1st Midnight in the Desert will send an…
For days, Art Bell has teased a major announcement for today.
That announcement hit–it also portends a major development in his program MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT and another enormous opportunity for him to change the night time air waves..
From Bell:
ANNOUNCEMENT from ART BELL: It has been a great two Months start but now it’s time to get serious. Starting Oct 1st Midnight in the Desert will send an XDS feed by Satellite to almost 4000 Radio Stations in Stereo, which means all they have to do is flip a switch and we are on.Now that we are taking this step, we need your help. Please call your local station Manager or Program Director, tell them you would like Midnight In The Desert on their station and that we are now starting Oct 1st on XDS.Share this with everyone! It’s time to Take Back the Night.
Art Bell
The talk show legend included this YOUTUBE video in his update:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrdTwwZ1wc]
There is a certainty that more stations will pick up the program..
There is also no doubt that the producers at COAST TO COAST AM and George Noory are closely watching.. and seeing a MIDNIGHT rider nipping on their Premiere Heels..
// MORE //
A press release tonight from NEXUS and MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT explains more details:
Nexus Broadcast will be delivering Art Bell to over 4,000 new affiliates via XDS Satellite feed in Stereo, starting October 1st.
As easy as a flip of a switch, Nexus and Midnight in the Desert are inviting AM and FM terrestrial stations to carry the full 3 hour format (2 hours and 58 minutes from the top).
MORE
COMPETITION:
George Noory and Red Eye Radio are the main stays overnight since Bell left. While Clyde Lewis maintains a market of Premiere, Coast to Coast AM is the main attraction and would potentially be the biggest loser in a successful MIDNIGHT showing..
There seems to be some sort of history being made–forgive me for ignorance, but I have ever heard of such an offer being made to 4,0000 potential customers on radio..
DEVELOPING..
Art Bell has fans waiting until Monday to find out what this speculation is all about..
A new baby ? An expanded network? Another retirement?!
Inquiring minds are inquiring..
Undoubtedly a big weekend of messages on Bellgab awaits fans desperate for any piece of information that may shed light on what this mysterious and somewhat reassuring post on Facebook actually means ..
Art Bell in pop culture.. And in Scooby Doo..
I agree too.. He is reinventing it and purposely so. He’s been on the cutting age of technology throughout his career .. And at 70 he’s more comfortable learning and using new things than those decades younger than him..
And in doing so, he’s going to change the way we get live radio delivered to the device if out choice—but most importantly, make listening to long form talk radio cool again. Each bumper song at a time…
He said that last night on Midnight in the Desert..
On so many levels that would be spectacular…
I hope the Donald takes up the offer.