Art Bell Quits Dark Matter

[PathoJen]

That lawyer should've been talking to SiriusXM's people before monday!

I'm seriously baffled by how little thought Art put into this move.  This is a multi-million dollar media enterprise he was dealing with - and he approached it like some local AM with an internet website.  Unbelievable.

I think art was only given $75,000 for 3 years. If this is correct, I doubt any of the heavy hitters from SXM were ever dealing with art directly. He was probably dealing with guys very low on the totem pole...or interns. 

[AppealPlay]

You never know, SiriusXM could contact Art on Monday and agree to the deal. Silence isn't necessarily a bad thing here; management seems to respect him greatly as a broadcaster (showing concern over his back issues, for one) and seemed eager to work with him before. Give it some more time.

I don't think that has anything to do with it.  It's just a business deal.  Will the proposed agreement produce reasonable revenues to make it worthwhile when juxtaposed with the opportunity cost spent?

[ItsOver]

It was fun while it lasted, no matter how short.  I'm just very disappointed it all ended as it did.  It just didn't have to end at all is what bothers me the most. 

[Marc.Knight]

We really shouldn't be aware or involved in what I am now going to call Art's:  "Sirius Matter". 

[Usagi]

I just called to cancel my subscription.  I wanted to make clear why I was cancelling (she didn't ask), so I brought it up:

Me:  I am cancelling my subscription due to SiriusXM's unwillingness to continue to work with Art Bell.  I'd love to sign back up once Art is back on the air.

Sandy:  Ah, who?  Art who? *long confused pause*  Oh... isn't that a Dark something?  I just saw something about that, I think.

Me:  Yes.  Art Bell.  Dark Matter. Indie 104. [Brief and slightly annoyed run down of the situation by me.]

Sandy:  Oh, oh, let me see... I just read something about that, something new.  Hold on a second. *very long pause while I get hopeful* [Sandy then proceeds to read the two line canned response we all received.  She was nice enough to make an kindly "oh no" sound, as if I told her my kid lost a soccer match.]

Me: *deflated sigh*

Sandy: What is the show about?  I think the truckers like it, right?  [Oh, the truckers.]

... [Sandy then proceeds to talk about her grandchildren and something called Monster High.  WTF?]

Sandy:  Well, hopefully we'll have you as a customer again sometime.  Good luck with the Dark Ways!  [Yes, Dark Ways.]

-

And so I gave up.

[Snowdoggie]

BTW you guy's and Gal's know me well, I can make life changing decisions on a dime, I have always been that way for better or worse.

You might make decisions on a dime but these corporate guys won't. My take is they are still trying to figure this out. It's not a standard situation. There is a lot of fear in the corporate world about making the 'wrong' decision. Numbers have to be run. Research has to be done. These guys need backup data in case something goes wrong and they are called on the carpet by the Board of Directors and the investors. It's a CYA game.

They also have to think about the fact that if they give Art Bell this deal, will Opie and Anthony or Howard Stern ask for the same deal when they renegotiate. And how will that work out if everybody wants to outsource their streaming? There are lots of moving parts to consider on their end. I'll bet the decision hasn't been made yet.

[midnight]

Art, this is calls for drastic action. I now know what you need to do:
1. Go to Jonathan Reed's house
2. Knock him unconscious (you can improvise)
3. Grab the alien out of his freezer
4. Run
5. Run all the way to D.C.
6. Slam the frozen alien onto the CEO's desk
7. Don't say a single word

I can only see this working out in the best possible way, all things considered.

This could work.

[maren]

All great points. However, I'm still in denial.

I think Art's view that it's totally a "win-win" situation may look good on paper but if Sirius would REALLY benefit, they'd have agreed. 

As Scully (and probably others) pointed out, Sirius is concerned about subscription sales.  If Art's proposal would have generated more subscriptions somehow, maybe. 

I wish he'd have given a month's notice rather than just pulling the plug. 

[aldousburbank]

You might make decisions on a dime but these corporate guys won't. My take is they are still trying to figure this out. It's not a standard situation. There is a lot of fear in the corporate world about making the 'wrong' decision. Numbers have to be run. Research has to be done. These guys need backup data in case something goes wrong and they are called on the carpet by the Board of Directors and the investors. It's a CYA game.

They also have to think about the fact that if they give Art Bell this deal, will Opie and Anthony or Howard Stern ask for the same deal when they renegotiate. And how will that work out if everybody wants to outsource their streaming? There are lots of moving parts to consider on their end. I'll bet the decision hasn't been made yet.

Ding!

[AppealPlay]

This could work.

It only works if he kidnaps the psychologist dude as well.  SOMEONE MUST VOUCH FOR THE JOHNNY'S AUTHENTICITY!

[Marc.Knight]

This could work.

As much as calling Santa for help.

[ItsOver]

...Sandy: What is the show about?  I think the truckers like it, right?  [Oh, the truckers.]...


And so I gave up.

Hahahah....geesh.  The truckers.  Those damn truckers. 

[AppealPlay]

As much as calling Santa for help.

I don't know about Santa, but could we ask Aaron Donahue to put in a good word with his pal, Satan?

[McPhallus]

I think art was only given $75,000 for 3 years. If this is correct, I doubt any of the heavy hitters from SXM were ever dealing with art directly. He was probably dealing with guys very low on the totem pole...or interns. 

I don't know much about the company, but maybe several years ago when it was smaller and Art hadn't been off the air so long, things might have gone more favorably toward him.  But now....

[DesertFox]

Just for the record, no I do not have any regrets. I feel I made the right decision, I did not want to be off
the air then, nor do I now, I only left after we asked for one Year of streaming or until theirs was fixed, they said no.
I just wanted it to have a chance to work properly. BTW you guy's and Gal's know me well, I can make life changing
decisions on a dime, I have always been that way for better or worse.

The one thing I can say is I have been honest with Sirius/XM and all of you through all of this. They have
not said yes or no, simply nothing.

My contract allowed for a 30 day out, they waived that on Monday when Paul and I talked to them. Within
48 hours we came back to them with a viable idea and I said I could be on air the next day. I do have a
two Year NC which I will honor if they hold me to it, should they release me from that I will do a stream
right away as I promised you I would do.

I am starting to wonder if there is some behind the scenes pressure coming from elswhere because otherwise
this was a total win-win situation.

                                                                                                                       Art

Art, i'll give you the benefit of the doubt on all this since you vowed to get back as soon as possible BUT there will be a good amount of peeps who will think you just wanted to quit and all this "effort" now is just fake and spin to put the blame on Sirius.  What percentage would not believe you--don't know BUT in the end if the end game is no show...the disbelievers will grow.  That I have no doubt on.

[jazmunda]

I just called to cancel my subscription.  I wanted to make clear why I was cancelling (she didn't ask), so I brought it up:

Me:  I am cancelling my subscription due to SiriusXM's unwillingness to continue to work with Art Bell.  I'd love to sign back up once Art is back on the air.

Sandy:  Ah, who?  Art who? *long confused pause*  Oh... isn't that a Dark something?  I just saw something about that, I think.

Me:  Yes.  Art Bell.  Dark Matter. Indie 104. [Brief and slightly annoyed run down of the situation by me.]

Sandy:  Oh, oh, let me see... I just read something about that, something new.  Hold on a second. *very long pause while I get hopeful* [Sandy then proceeds to read the two line canned response we all received.  She was kind enough to make an kindly "oh no" sound, like if I told her my kid lost a soccer match.]

Me: *deflated sigh*

Sandy: What is the show about?  I think the truckers like it, right?  [Oh, the truckers.]

... [Sandy then proceeds to talk about her grandchildren and something called Monster High.  WTF?]

Sandy:  Well, hopefully we'll have you as a customer again sometime.  Good luck with the Dark Ways!  [Yes, Dark Ways.]

-

And so I gave up.

Now we can add Sandy to the list.

[tertiaryimam]

... [Sandy then proceeds to talk about her grandchildren and something called Monster High.  WTF?]

I looked up Monster High on Youtube. Not impressed.

[PathoJen]

there response is in the snail mail should be in arts mail box Monday.

Hopefully it isn't given to art in the shape of a summons and served by a process server.

[Bigfoot]

I think Art's view that it's totally a "win-win" situation may look good on paper but if Sirius would REALLY benefit, they'd have agreed. 

As Scully (and probably others) pointed out, Sirius is concerned about subscription sales.  If Art's proposal would have generated more subscriptions somehow, maybe. 

I wish he'd have given a month's notice rather than just pulling the plug.

I can't see that it's a win-win.  Sirius wants subs.  If people are getting the milk for free, they're not going to buy the cow. 

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

I don't think that has anything to do with it.  It's just a business deal.  Will the proposed agreement produce reasonable revenues to make it worthwhile when juxtaposed with the opportunity cost spent?

Of course. I think Art will hear from them once everything on management's end is considered, there has to be quite a bit going on behind the scenes but I wish they would give him a heads up by phone or email to let him know where they're at with the decision or what stage they're currently in. I'm concerned that silence could mean legal action, like some of the posters here.

[JayDee543]

You might make decisions on a dime but these corporate guys won't. My take is they are still trying to figure this out. It's not a standard situation. There is a lot of fear in the corporate world about making the 'wrong' decision. Numbers have to be run. Research has to be done. These guys need backup data in case something goes wrong and they are called on the carpet by the Board of Directors and the investors. It's a CYA game.

They also have to think about the fact that if they give Art Bell this deal, will Opie and Anthony or Howard Stern ask for the same deal when they renegotiate. And how will that work out if everybody wants to outsource their streaming? There are lots of moving parts to consider on their end. I'll bet the decision hasn't been made yet.

Exaaacttllyyyy.  While they are a 'radio' business, they are still a business that care about subscription money!  Sure they want good content, but if they could get $$$ by having fart noises on the air, that's what they'd have.  They have channels named after Celebs purely to get poeple to sign up (ie: Slim Shady's channel where he shows up just once a years to say 2 lines).
It's all about money here and Art just gave them a giant headache in terms of their finances and future financial negotiations.

[aldousburbank]

We really shouldn't be aware or involved in what I am now going to call Art's:  "Sirius Matter".

Dark Shatters

[malachi.martini]

So, I don't regret anything and outside forces are at work?

Really?  lol

He really has a pathological inability to empathize with us.  There's zero self reflection, my way is always right, and if people don't like it, well there's an external boogie man I'd like to direct your attention to.

[tertiaryimam]

Of course. I think Art will hear from them once everything on management's end is considered, there has to be quite a bit going on behind the scenes but I wish they would give him a heads up by phone or email to let him know where they're at with the decision or what stage they're currently in.

It's somewhat clear to me that this situation isn't really over yet. And that sucks because my vacation from life's responsibilities ends as of this Monday. But all we seem to have definitively from Sirius is they're removing his shows and call-center people are giving canned responses. This doesn't bode well but we also know they haven't said anything directly to art. Until that happens --- and it must, eventually, in some form --- I don't think the story is over.

[Usagi]

Now we can add Sandy to the list.

But she was so damn cheerful!

[jazmunda]

I am starting to wonder if there is some behind the scenes pressure coming from elswhere because otherwise
this was a total win-win situation.

                                                                                                                       Art

If true then Premiere, Coast & George may be responsible for the demise of Dark Matter.

We can direct our hate/anger/viciousness back at them.

Full circle.

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

[jazmunda]

Art do you have a Sirius subscription? Are you going to cancel it if things go south?

Let us know who the call centre employee is so we can add them to the list.

[AppealPlay]

Can someone explain to me what that remote control manual thing is about?  I'm lost.

[Snowdoggie]

I can't see that it's a win-win.  Sirius wants subs.  If people are getting the milk for free, they're not going to buy the cow.

You might sell a few subs to people who are streaming and also want it in their car. Maybe somebody who is streaming Art will see another show they want to listen to on morning drive and they buy a sub to listen to that one. You never know. You are bringing people in who haven't considered a Sirius subscription before. They just need to decide if it's worth it or not. Maybe having Art there is better than bringing in some comedian half the country has never heard of and putting that guy in the same slot. Truckers who are on the road can't stream, even if its for free. That is subscription money. Sirius has a lot of factors to consider.