Art Bell Quits Dark Matter

[jazmunda]

Hey Jazmunda,

Every time I've met an Australian person in my life I've done my best to stereo-type them right away, and then insist on keeping them hemmed in my stereo-type for the duration of the conversation. I'll insist they recite lines from Crocodile Dundee, for example, or I'll query them about vegemite, Steve Irwin, Men At Work, the Cure, the penchant dingos have for eating babies, and, of course, koala bears will be involved also. "When are you fellas going to take Mel Gibson back?" I'll say, then pat them on the shoulder in an endearing way. Then I'll insist they drink a Foster's with me and I'll get very agitated if they refuse.

I think my favorite Australian is Richard Dawkins. Him and probably Mr. Bean. I've learned a lot from those two blimey blokes! They shivered me timbers, for sure!

Anyway Jaz, it's nice to have some international presence on this board.


[attachimg=1]

Where to start?

First off The Cure, Mr. Bean, Richard Dawkins and Mel Gibson are not Australian.

The Cure, Mr. Bean and Richard Dawkins are from the UK and Mel Gibson was actually born in the US so you can keep the racist prick.

Crocodile Dundee is generally cringed at by most Aussies for obvious reasons. It is a caricature of what Americans think an Aussie is. Sure there are probably some guys like Mick Dundee in the outback but they are not the norm. Same goes for Steve Irwin. He was closer to Crocodile Dundee than anyone else here.

I've only seen a dingo once and it was in a zoo. They are feral dogs than can't be domesticated so I guess they would eat a baby if they had a chance.

I actually saw my first koala in the wild on the weekend at my in-laws farm. We see many kangaroos there (they are actually pests and the electric fences do a good job of keeping them out). Their farm is about an hour and 20 mins out of Melbourne so we never see those animals in the city and suburban areas.

Vegemite is a staple in every Aussies diet. We have it from the time we can eat solids and it is obviously an acquired taste.

Other than that we are much the same as you guys only tastier.

[DanTSX]

Somehow an email from Sirius sent me to their home page and instead of Dark Matter, I got to see Lady Gaga or as we call her, Lady Goo-Goo.
Bleah.
I got so depressed over all this and frazzled ( not being able to see  well is driving me buggy and I can't think ) that I went to the bank and saw I had $103 in one of my accounts and said " Hmm, I wonder why I have ALL that money. "
So I went to Lucky because they had a spend $25 and buy one turkey and get one free. (Gave one for my gf's girlfriend to cook so they could split it between them. ) Bought stuff for $ 72 and when I went to the kitchen I realized I had no carrots and celery for the turkey and realized WHY I had all that money in that account. I had just given a check for our car insurance and it totally slipped my mind.
So now I have to take money from one account, et all.
Thank Ghu I bought a big holiday bottle of egg nog with booze in it. I think I need a couple of shots.
Please, Art. Come back before they send me to the Bellgab Home for the Incurably Vague and force me to listen to Lady Goo-Goo and Miley Cry-us.
As soon as they figure out why we're all so vague.
AAAAAUUUUGGGHHHH !!! ...

Anywho, before I get plastered here's my first attempt at using the video camera. This model of Sony is NOT supported for the Imac but luckily I have a player that gets around having only Windows support.


The Guy From Pittsburgh ( tm ) Shows The Aftermath of a former bar fire in Martinez, Ca. !!! ...

Girlfriend's girlfriend?

Usually I want full details on such an arraignment, including pics, but it's falkie, so someone else is going to have to step up to do the heavy lifting.

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

Haha, nice! I'll need to go and pull more quotes.

[widespread1]

lol omg

[littlechris]

1. SiriusXM is a subscription-based service, the main selling point being exclusive programming

2. Art Bell is something of a talk radio legend

3. Having exclusivity of a talk radio legend is a great way to drive subscriptions

Stating the obvious (obviously), but come on. There is no logic to any of this. Turning your exclusive satellite radio show into a free broadcast does nothing for SiriusXM, and therefore this is a battle you simply cannot win.

Art, I respect that you're a proud guy who likes to get what he wants, but let this be the one time in your life where you swallow your pride and accept your lot. Go back on the air, rebuild your audience naturally, and get this whole thing over with. The alternative is being off the air for another two years, which wouldn't be good for anybody, least of all the many, many legions of fans who have already waited years to hear from you again.

Please, just do what you signed up for and get this show running again.

Well said. Unfortunately, he doesnt care one bit about his fans.

[Agent : Orange]

That's not what Art is proposing and I stand to be corrected if I am wrong,

It is my understanding that Sirius will broadcast Art as usual like they have been doing for the past 6 weeks. That is, Art will be transmitted to vehicles with Sat radios and to portable Sat radios as well as through the web app and smartphone app. On Demand will be available through these methods too as normal.

In addition Art will be providing a free stream during the LIVE hours of the show. You will not be able to pause or rewind the stream from artbell.com.

All the value added stuff (OnDemand, Live Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward) will be available exclusively to Sirius.

I'm working on the assumption that SXM may not go along with Art, and assuming that the non-compete doesn't prohibit Art from doing his thing. That would kill all of this of course.

Otherwise yes I agree with what you posted, however, this is pretty much what Art proposed in the first place and Sirius turned him down, is it not? He wanted to stream on his own for free, as well as through the app and SXM devices. So what has changed now, other than he will not be paid his 75K/yr? Seems like he asked permission for something, they turned him down so he went off and did exactly what he first proposed, but with the extra caveat that he will not be paid. Seems unlikely to me that much has changed in the proposal.

I guess that's the confusing part about all of this. There has been a lot of talk about doing things right, but when you stop and really consider the stuff we know (which admittedly is not much about this situation) then it seems to make less sense.

[Queen]

Here's some more po-lice fun

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/todays-drug-war-outrage-m_n_4225995.html

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/06/justice/new-mexico-search-lawsuit/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-tasered-refusing-flash-suit-article-1.1506965

Dont you just love the SS oops i mean Po lice

[Noorynoid]

So here's what's going to happen. Art will stream over the net from the AB compound, Sirius/XM gets their Dark Matter at no cost and alt.fan.art-bell returns to IRC (refer to the AFAB FAQ)

http://www.u.arizona.edu/~shunter/afab-faq.html

Before you can say 'gum on my shoe' we will all be transported back to the glory days of Art Bell.Millions of former terrestrial radio listeners now turned computer nerds will flock back re-building the Bell Ark in preparation for real time time travel back to when geezer was still sucking air and spoofing Art on the 'West of the Rockies' line. (Ask Art about Geezer)

[malachi.martini]

His posts are like treasure troves.

[Queen]

It was and it did,  How'd you know?

he secretly works for the NSA shhh

[midnight]

That's not what Art is proposing and I stand to be corrected if I am wrong,

It is my understanding that Sirius will broadcast Art as usual like they have been doing for the past 6 weeks. That is, Art will be transmitted to vehicles with Sat radios and to portable Sat radios as well as through the web app and smartphone app. On Demand will be available through these methods too as normal.

In addition Art will be providing a free stream during the LIVE hours of the show. You will not be able to pause or rewind the stream from artbell.com.

All the value added stuff (OnDemand, Live Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward) will be available exclusively to Sirius.

Well if that's the case, then it would make no sense for Sirius not to take this deal.  I for sure won't cancel my subscription to Sirius if that's how it will be.  I usually start out listening live, but always get interrupted and end up listening 30 minutes to an hour behind.  I'm constantly using the OnDemand, Live Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward.  What would Sirius have to loose with this?

[Bigfoot]

As a former attorney (I worked in entertainment law for several years in the 90s), I am not sure the non compete means much in this case.

Generally, to make a non compete stick, you need EXTRA consideration above and beyond the regular contract.  So, unless they bought Art's contract out in return for the non-compete... I am not sure they can make it stick if Art decided to go on his own.

what about building him a new studio? couldn't that be considered "extra" consideration?

[jazmunda]

I'm working on the assumption that SXM may not go along with Art, and assuming that the non-compete doesn't prohibit Art from doing his thing. That would kill all of this of course.

Otherwise yes I agree with what you posted, however, this is pretty much what Art proposed in the first place and Sirius turned him down, is it not? He wanted to stream on his own for free, as well as through the app and SXM devices. So what has changed now, other than he will not be paid his 75K/yr? Seems like he asked permission for something, they turned him down so he went off and did exactly what he first proposed, but with the extra caveat that he will not be paid. Seems unlikely to me that much has changed in the proposal.

I guess that's the confusing part about all of this. There has been a lot of talk about doing things right, but when you stop and really consider the stuff we know (which admittedly is not much about this situation) then it seems to make less sense.

I agree. On the surface nothing has changed except that he is waiving his salary. It is now in the hands of the suits to see whether the $75,000 savings outweighs the potential free loaders and how much and many their bean counters and prognosticators think will be converted to subscribers by giving the milk away for free.

If Art is somehow able to break free from Sirius and broadcast through artbell.com he will lose the "car" and "portable radio" audience which will significantly cut down potential audience so he will be back where he started won't he?

[Agent : Orange]

That's not what Art is proposing and I stand to be corrected if I am wrong,

It is my understanding that Sirius will broadcast Art as usual like they have been doing for the past 6 weeks. That is, Art will be transmitted to vehicles with Sat radios and to portable Sat radios as well as through the web app and smartphone app. On Demand will be available through these methods too as normal.

In addition Art will be providing a free stream during the LIVE hours of the show. You will not be able to pause or rewind the stream from artbell.com.

All the value added stuff (OnDemand, Live Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward) will be available exclusively to Sirius.

Also, it seems like it all should have been set up this way from day 1...
But then no one would have gone to Sirius anyway; we all would have listened to the stream and downloaded the mp3 the next day to listen again.

[Nighthawk]

How many times do certain posters on here need to be told that when Art went with sirius XM. He signed under the premise that they WOULD provide online streaming of his show. Go back and read what he has said. No point in going on about not worrying about the streaming issue. Art has clearly stated that Sirius XM agreed to him on this.

[tertiaryimam]

Other than that we are much the same as you guys only tastier.

Yeah, Jazmunda. I can relate.

I remember when I first visited Romania. The people there were insane! They'd always try to swipe my cowboy hat off and they got real offended when I started speaking in tongues and handling snakes during services one time at Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral. They didn't understand that when the Holy Ghost moves me, I got to shout! Anyway, it was a nice trip and all. The Romanian guys eyed me real shifty when I'd flirt with some of the Romanian girls there. This was during the Bush Administration so I'd regale them with G Dubya impressions at the little cafes they have all around Romania. I had a portfolio at the ready of Chuck Norris memes, too, translated into Romanian strictly to break the ice or fill up any lulls in our stitlted conversations. Romanian coffee tastes like shit by the way! Cafeaua ta are gust de rahat ce gaozari română!

[widespread1]

[Agent : Orange]

How many times do certain posters on here need to be told that when Art went with sirius XM. He signed under the premise that they WOULD provide online streaming of his show. Go back and read what he has said. No point in going on about not worrying about the streaming issue. Art has clearly stated that Sirius XM agreed to him on this.

They did and do. You can listen through the web app. The complaint is it did not reach a large enough audience. EDIT: And fraught with problems as well.

From my understanding, it was always clearly stated you would need a subscription to get the stream online, correct?

[jazmunda]

Well if that's the case, then it would make no sense for Sirius not to take this deal.  I for sure won't cancel my subscription to Sirius if that's how it will be.  I usually start out listening live, but always get interrupted and end up listening 30 minutes to an hour behind.  I'm constantly using the OnDemand, Live Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward.  What would Sirius have to loose with this?

I certainly won't get rid of my sub either. I love the fact that I can come in late and catch up through the commercials. As I listen at work I occasionally get distracted by actual work and have to pause. You simply can't do that with terrestrial radio or with a stream on a website. Having said that I'm sure that there will be many that can't afford to pay and will just take their chance with catching the stream.

[midnight]

Also, it seems like it all should have been set up this way from day 1...
But then no one would have gone to Sirius anyway; we all would have listened to the stream and downloaded the mp3 the next day to listen again.

That's not true that no one would have gone to Sirius anyway.  I like to listen live, but it is also very important to be able to back it up 5, 10, 15 minutes if I need to.  Sirius is perfect for that. 

[malachi.martini]

[tertiaryimam]

Girlfriend's girlfriend?

Usually I want full details on such an arraignment, including pics, but it's falkie, so someone else is going to have to step up to do the heavy lifting.

I think Falkie should do a podcast and interview people, take calls. The whole deal. He's great.

[Nighthawk]

They did and do. You can listen through the web app. The complaint is it did not reach a large enough audience. EDIT: And fraught with problems as well.

From my understanding, it was always clearly stated you would need a subscription to get the stream online, correct?

Yes but what Art is saying is that it is plagued with problems. So much so that many listeners opted to not renew and not even use the web player due to the constant drop outs, errors etc. The streaming provided was inadequate. This is what he has stated.

[Agent : Orange]

That's not true that no one would have gone to Sirius anyway.  I like to listen live, but it is also very important to be able to back it up 5, 10, 15 minutes if I need to.  Sirius is perfect for that.

Alright let me clarify that then, a very small percentage of the base would have picked up a SXM subscription if the stream was given away for free. Much smaller than the number that joined for DM as we know (knew) it.

[widespread1]

lol. omg
I love how your avatar is looking down on them in horror lol

[Bigfoot]

Here's what I don't understand about the logistics of this whole thing.

If Art gets the stream up and running without the aid of Sirius, then he has limited his audience to those who can stream the show over the net. The audience that migrated to Sirius will be lost as the show will not be streamed to the vehicle audience through mobile radios.

I suppose that folks on the road can listen through a mobile device, but won't that be cost prohibitive? Without the vehicle audience Art is back to the streaming crowd though how many simultaneous listeners could stream is an open question.

Anyway first the argument was too many vehicles with cell phone callers. Now it seems there will be few if any, and an audience that will be limited by the capacity to stream. So wouldn't it have made more sense to stick it out with Sirius who is set to distribute the stream through web app and radio devices? I'm worried that if this does take off it may introduce more difficulties than sticking with Sirius.

I guess my question is, will this option REALLY be better than sticking with Dark Matter on SXM for the next three years and then proposing a move to be an independent broadcaster and exploring the stream then? Seems a bit counter intuitive to me.

yes and yes

[Agent : Orange]

Yes but what Art is saying is that it is plagued with problems. So much so that many listeners opted to not renew and not even use the web player due to the constant drop outs, errors etc. The streaming provided was inadequate. This is what he has stated.

Yeah, that is true, fair enough.

Argh. So frustrating.

[Uncle Duke]

As a former attorney (I worked in entertainment law for several years in the 90s), I am not sure the non compete means much in this case.

Generally, to make a non compete stick, you need EXTRA consideration above and beyond the regular contract.  So, unless they bought Art's contract out in return for the non-compete... I am not sure they can make it stick if Art decided to go on his own.

I'm raising the bullshit flag.  No legitimate atty is going to make a comment without seeing a contract.  No wonder you are a "former attorney".

[Nighthawk]

Yeah, that is true, fair enough.

Argh. So frustrating.

I agree. I just want it to be all ready to go for Monday!

[Bigfoot]

holy fucking lols