Why does air america radio have public service ads aimed at people who would never listen to the station?

Question

For example, they run a lot of public service ads which try to convince kids to stay in school. How many kids listen to air america? Close to zero I would think. Another one is aimed at people who might commit a crime with a gun. Anti-gun-violence. Once again, not a demographic I would associate with air america.

I think in some markets the station that carries air american is able to sell advertising. Los Angeles I think. So they run ads for local businesses. In other cities, all they run is the public service ads, most of which are really bad.

I listen to air america a lot at work. I like it basically. Al Franken is good. The chick they have at night is good. Can't remember her name. Ring of Fire on the weekends is good. I like Ed Schultz fairly well. Al Franken has a lot of good guests. His show is ending though for some reason. They should recruit Ralph Nader. Maybe Jerry Brown.

Answer 1

I think there are two reasons you might hear such PSAs on Air America: They buy airtime and networks are required to air a certain number of them. More popular radio networks can air PSAs in the wee hours of the morning, but AA needs all the sponsors it can get. The PSA organizations probably don't depend on the demographic of listeners being just right, not as much as for-profit sponsors.

AA rocks, but it's in trouble. A new owner has come in to bail it out, but it will be on tough ground for awhile. Progressive radio has just been silenced in Boston and my mother is outraged! They better put it back on soon or else Jean, Jean the Dancing Machine is going to start crackin' skulls with her cane!