Air America, CEO Danny Goldberg, Party Politics, New York, Los Angeles
TOP DOG JUMPING SHIP
After Just A Year, Air America CEO Goldberg Out
Exclusive To The Radio Equalizer
By Brian Maloney
After just over a year at the helm of financially troubled liberal radio network Air America, CEO Danny Goldberg is on his way out. Still unclear is who, if anyone, will replace him as top dog.
The changes take effect Friday, April 7, according to an internal source.
Goldberg, a former record label executive overseeing rap, hip hop and pop acts, joined the ailing network in early 2005.
He's also a partisan activist and lefty book author, contributing to many ultra-liberal politicians, including embattled Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA).
While exiting day-to-day operations at Air America, Goldberg will continue in a minor, contractually-based role, working one day a week from home. Through the end of 2006, he'll be paid $400,000 on an annualized basis for his temporary role as "Vice-Chair".
In addition, he'll receive $400,000 in deferred compensation covering 2005, $100,000 to cover 2006 travel and entertainment, plus ongoing clerical support. An initial share award representing 2% of the company will now become fully vested.
On a light note, if the company makes a profit in 2006 or 2007, Goldberg will be entitled to a share. And if the Radio Equalizer buys a lottery ticket with the winning numbers, we'll be entitled to a cash jackpot!
Until now, Goldberg was working under a contract with a 2010 expiry date, while its replacement runs out December 31.
In his new, hazily defined role as "progressive liason", he'll work out of Los Angeles during the summer. Air America is also expected to cover his costs for this "project".
Given the emerging details of Goldberg's new agreement with Air America, the Radio Equalizer wonders: will Danny merely serve as a paid partisan activist during an election year? This further reinforces Bill O'Reilly's theory that Air America is a political organization thinly disguised as a for-profit corporation.
So what happened? As Air America's financial situation has become increasingly precarious, relying on cash infusions from Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, joined by Democracy Alliance contributors George Soros and Peter Lewis, management tensions have run high.
Recently, staffers have noted increasingly ugly conflicts between company "suits", especially between Goldberg and COO Carl Ginsburg. On several occasions, this executive-level row was apparent even during staff meetings. Until now, it wasn't clear who would survive the battle of the egos, but the latter has today emerged victorious.
Within the talk radio industry, we've long felt Goldberg was resented. Nobody likes a record peddler telling experienced insiders how the medium should sound.
What's next? Watch for the company to engage in more spin, as the Radio Equalizer again brings forward Air America's true state of affairs. For this announcement, a particular amount of effort has gone into planning a media strategy.
UPDATE: Goldberg pulls out of Media Matters forum also featuring Al Franken. Welcome Little Green Footballs readers.
UPDATE: Company issues evening press release confirming departure, AP picks up the story, spin looking pretty weak here. Check the main page for updates. Welcome Powerline readers, John Hinderaker has a really interesting take on this. Thanks also to Michelle Malkin.
Please check the main page for new updates.
Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of your final purchases, are vital to supporting this site's efforts. Thanks again!
Graphics: David A Lunde for the Radio Equalizer. Visit his site today!
After Just A Year, Air America CEO Goldberg Out
Exclusive To The Radio Equalizer
By Brian MaloneyAfter just over a year at the helm of financially troubled liberal radio network Air America, CEO Danny Goldberg is on his way out. Still unclear is who, if anyone, will replace him as top dog.
The changes take effect Friday, April 7, according to an internal source.
Goldberg, a former record label executive overseeing rap, hip hop and pop acts, joined the ailing network in early 2005.
He's also a partisan activist and lefty book author, contributing to many ultra-liberal politicians, including embattled Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA).
While exiting day-to-day operations at Air America, Goldberg will continue in a minor, contractually-based role, working one day a week from home. Through the end of 2006, he'll be paid $400,000 on an annualized basis for his temporary role as "Vice-Chair".
In addition, he'll receive $400,000 in deferred compensation covering 2005, $100,000 to cover 2006 travel and entertainment, plus ongoing clerical support. An initial share award representing 2% of the company will now become fully vested.
On a light note, if the company makes a profit in 2006 or 2007, Goldberg will be entitled to a share. And if the Radio Equalizer buys a lottery ticket with the winning numbers, we'll be entitled to a cash jackpot!Until now, Goldberg was working under a contract with a 2010 expiry date, while its replacement runs out December 31.
In his new, hazily defined role as "progressive liason", he'll work out of Los Angeles during the summer. Air America is also expected to cover his costs for this "project".
Given the emerging details of Goldberg's new agreement with Air America, the Radio Equalizer wonders: will Danny merely serve as a paid partisan activist during an election year? This further reinforces Bill O'Reilly's theory that Air America is a political organization thinly disguised as a for-profit corporation.
So what happened? As Air America's financial situation has become increasingly precarious, relying on cash infusions from Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, joined by Democracy Alliance contributors George Soros and Peter Lewis, management tensions have run high.
Recently, staffers have noted increasingly ugly conflicts between company "suits", especially between Goldberg and COO Carl Ginsburg. On several occasions, this executive-level row was apparent even during staff meetings. Until now, it wasn't clear who would survive the battle of the egos, but the latter has today emerged victorious.
Within the talk radio industry, we've long felt Goldberg was resented. Nobody likes a record peddler telling experienced insiders how the medium should sound.What's next? Watch for the company to engage in more spin, as the Radio Equalizer again brings forward Air America's true state of affairs. For this announcement, a particular amount of effort has gone into planning a media strategy.
UPDATE: Goldberg pulls out of Media Matters forum also featuring Al Franken. Welcome Little Green Footballs readers.
UPDATE: Company issues evening press release confirming departure, AP picks up the story, spin looking pretty weak here. Check the main page for updates. Welcome Powerline readers, John Hinderaker has a really interesting take on this. Thanks also to Michelle Malkin.
Please check the main page for new updates.
Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of your final purchases, are vital to supporting this site's efforts. Thanks again!
Graphics: David A Lunde for the Radio Equalizer. Visit his site today!
published by Brian Maloney at
11:59
12 Comments:
so i'm noticing that you don't provide any sources at all for this story. this leads me to believe that you're probably just making it up. you should check out my story "Rush Limbaugh Eats Babies." sure, I don't list any sources, but according to your standards, that makes it true.
By
hardcore conservative genious, at 05 April, 2006 13:14
Forget the TINFOILBOYS, I think your math is wrong... Has "Without the Ramones Know One Cares" actually been at AAr for a year?
I think that time is actually light.
By
Unknown, at 05 April, 2006 15:21
I hope your source doesn't dry up.
400k for not doing anything? I only get paid 100k at work for not doing anything. Not fair.
By
tradersmith, at 05 April, 2006 16:05
Talk about timing! What should AAR's next CEO do next? Answer here.
On the whole, not a positive business development. Now, in addition to the time and expense of having to find and pay a new CEO, AAR's management will have to continue the care and feeding of the old one.
On another note, the latest news is that Goldberg has been promoted! Obviously a long-considered, carefully planned move with a replacement CEO already lined up.
Sarcasm aside, they may finally be getting serious about running the business - they've hired a professional consulting company to oversee the search for a replacement.
It would appear the COO isn't in line for the job....
By
Ironman, at 05 April, 2006 19:43
At least Mr. Goldberg outlasted the run of the Baha Men, who had their only hit on Goldberg's label with "Who Let the Dogs Out?". A significant achievement for someone from the world of pop shlock if I must say.
By
@whut, at 05 April, 2006 23:34
In OT news, some cute "liberal" removed my site (BoreAmerica.com) as well as this site from Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Air_America_Radio#Air_America_critics
By
LonewackoDotCom, at 05 April, 2006 23:41
Alright, which charity treasurey are they going to raid to pay for this ego trip to LA. I think the Boys and Girls club is out of money for this fools.
By
Unknown, at 06 April, 2006 08:39
Now let's see...
If I were to give up my love of evil corporate CEO's and senior managers who make huge bucks at the expense of the workers, and move to the 'progressive' side who support the little guy -
I could pick up a job where I get $400K a year for working 1 day a week, plus $100K a year for travel expenses?
By
Lokki, at 06 April, 2006 11:10
The main problem with AAR isn't ideological. The main problem is that they had an inferior product.
AAR just didn't have the talent they needed to run a national network. They should have hired people who had been successful before. They are out there; Ed Schultz and Alan Colmes might have been good choices.
By
Strabo the Lesser, at 06 April, 2006 15:36
liberal outlaw,
Billboard Radio Monitor was the first to carry AAR's official press release announcing Goldberg's "promotion." It appeared some 7 to 8 hours after Brian broke the story. I know because I linked to it several minutes after it appeared (see the comments above.)
Amazed yet?
By
Ironman, at 06 April, 2006 18:33
A political organization thinly disguised as a for-profit corporation? Why is this a bad thing? Right wingers constantly distort the truth for the purpose of getting ratings and thus making money, as Al Franken has been very skilled at pointing out. Ann Coulter winning a debate? Don't make me laugh.
Cuba and North Korea? Get real. The entire western, industrialized world is made up of socialist democracies EXCEPT for the U.S. Face it, the liberal viewpoint is the majority opinion of the West. IN the US, I might add, there are more registered Democrats than Republicans. Know the facts.
By
Laotzu00, at 10 June, 2006 12:29
A political organization thinly disguised as a for-profit corporation? Why is this a bad thing? Right wingers constantly distort the truth for the purpose of getting ratings and thus making money, as Al Franken has been very skilled at pointing out. Being not for profit would lend itself to credibility in my view. Ann Coulter winning a debate with Al.. or anyone for that matter? Don't make me laugh.
Cuba and North Korea? Get real. The entire western, industrialized world is made up of socialist democracies EXCEPT for the U.S. Face it, the liberal viewpoint is the majority opinion of the West. IN the US, I might add, there are more registered Democrats than Republicans. Know the facts.
By
Laotzu00, at 10 June, 2006 12:31
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