Advertisement
Thursday, November 7, 2024
Jim Cutler Voiceovers

UPCOMING EVENTS

Could Talk Radio Be In Joe Rogan’s Future?

Imagine a scenario where Joe Rogan suddenly becomes a free agent, released from the chains of Spotify and the many controversies that engulf him. 

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is currently fending off cancellation. As a result, all of its 1700-plus episodes are under scrutiny, and the world is watching to see how Spotify will handle the onslaught of pundits who want Rogan silenced.  

- Advertisement -

Rogan’s appeal centers on his attitude about freedom. He engages ordinary people in extraordinary conversations, asking questions that everyday people can relate to. 

His career at Spotify began in September 2020 amid much fanfare; Rogan received an exclusive deal for a reported $100 million. At the time, it seemed like a match made in heaven for the streaming service and UFC color commentator. The sky was the limit, and the future seemed bright. 

Soon after the deal was announced, trouble began. 

A group of Spotify employees became disgruntled about Rogan’s content, demanding to edit his podcasts before they were published. The group also wanted to point out what information was not fact-checked.

- Advertisement -

If Rogan decides to leave or is forced out at Spotify, could news/talk radio be a potential landing spot for him? If so, what type of opportunities would he be given? Would it produce a huge boost for the format?

Talk radio is in a state of transition. Following Rush Limbaugh’s death, hundreds of program directors across the country made some tough choices. Some opted to carry the newly minted Limbaugh replacements in Clay Travis and Buck Sexton. 

Other stations chose to carry newcomer Don Bongino, and others filled the void with local or regional talent. 

Suffice to say, Limbaugh’s popularity paved the way for conservative talk radio to become commonplace on AM radio. The show increased its audience in the 1990s to the extent that even some FM stations picked it up. 

- Advertisement -

The one big problem facing all news/talk stations is the average age of their listeners. 

Hypothetically, if Rogan did become a free agent and accepted a deal with a syndicator like Premiere, Westwood One, or Salem Media, stations would almost certainly reap the benefits of carrying a show with a much younger audience. 

According to Media Monitors, a survey conducted on Rogan’s podcast indicates that the average age of his listeners is 24 years old compared to the median age of a news/talk listener, which is about 52 years old. 

Another reason Rogan could produce a boost for the news/talk format is because his political views aren’t strictly left or right. Rogan has proven to be diverse in terms of his thinking and guest selections. 

The mainstream media will tell you that Rogan is in league with QAnon conspiracy theorists but glancing over some of his past guests like astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson, Tool frontman James Maynard Keenan, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, author Graham Hancock, and professional gamer Jordan Gilbert, casts doubt on that narrative. 

So many syndicated news/talk shows have become echo chambers that lack originality; a guy like Rogan might force a change in a format hemorrhaging younger listeners. 

If Spotify continues to purge Rogan’s podcasts for whatever reason, the company risks alienating its loyal audience. Censoring Rogan has been a subtle thing. We didn’t just arrive here with alleged COVID misinformation and ethnic slurs. Instead, the platform began pulling episodes of his show nearly 12 months ago as internal pressure mounted to quiet some of his guests and antics. 

Joe Rogan is a stand-up comedian, mixed martial artist, actor, podcaster, and UFC commentator. The left owns several of those mediums. Indeed, we’ve seen comedians like Dave Chapelle stand up against censorship. But, Chappelle’s voice only carried him so far. 

His saga hasn’t been covered like Rogan’s, and conservative media figures haven’t embraced him as Rogan has. Rogan could prove instrumental in bridging a gap between Hollywood and conservatives. Politics aside, Rogan could bring showtime to feel back to terrestrial radio that was only captured by Rush Limbaugh’s ascent to stardom in the 1990s. 

Spotify continuing its support of Rogan is in the platform’s best interest. With all the news/talk format talent right now, it still lacks a big draw. Rush Limbaugh was what they call “appointment listening,” meaning wherever you were, whatever you were doing if Rush was on, you made plans to join him for all or part of his show. 

Rogan’s audience is loyal like Rush’s audience was. The big difference is Rogan’s show can be streamed or downloaded at the listener’s convenience. Imagine if Rogan made his way to national radio and was promoted properly with a broadcasting company that wasn’t afraid of what he might say next? Does that still exist? 

Which syndicator would be wise to roll the dice on the “Joe Rogan Experience?” Premiere Networks is full of talent. But, with such a diverse roster, it would be hard to imagine signing a big-money guy like Rogan with so much invested in its current stock of hosts. 

How about Cumulus Media-owned Westwood One? Dan Bongino is that network’s biggest star, and packaging a duo like Rogan and Bongino for mornings and middays, respectively, would undoubtedly give a small to medium size market a ratings boost. 

Stand by; more of Joe Rogan is straight ahead. 

- Advertisement -

Popular Articles