I have to credit Air America for helping to rope me back into politics, as far as that is a good thing. Today it's not feeling like a good thing.
Air America Media is ending its live programming operations as of today. The company, which blamed a bad economic environment, intends to file a Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to carry out a closing of the business.
In a memo from from Charlie Kireker, chair, Air America Media, he said the past year has seen a "perfect storm" in the media industry.
Air America Radio, which ultimately ran on 100 radio outlets, launched in April 2004 with both known personalities, such as comic turned Sen. Al Franken, and then-unknown future stars, like Rachel Maddow. It was credited as a rare progressive voice in mainstream radio broadcasting, a medium dominated by conservative talk-show hosts.
Air America is not alone in financial woes; major radio players like Clear Channel, Citadel and Emmis have reported revenue shortfalls. The industry's veteran trade magazine Radio & Records closed last year.
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