Michael Savage Ratings and Podcast: The Right Information; Syndicated Radio Host/Raconteur Moves The Needle; Streaming King; Heard Here on 560 KSFO

Michael Savage

 WHEN YOU SCREW UP YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD AND IGNORE IT, OR MAKE AMMENDS, acknowledge it and try to be more accurate.


Earlier this month I wrote that Michael Savage's ratings had flatlined and his much-hyped podcast wasn't moving the needle.


I was dead wrong.


I relied on information provided to me by a normally reliable contact who frankly was fed wrong information. It wasn't the person's fault --the info and data was simply not sourced and I didn't bother to check it out myself; my bad and inexcusable. I do my best to give you the right info and I errored.


Stupid me.


In Fact, Savage's ratings are off the chart. He is one of Cumulus's top syndicated radio forces (heard on KSFO here from Noon-2 PM) and offers one of the few conservative voices that is devoid of several of the usual GOP talking points that are repeated daily by the ultra-right-wing-radio echo machine. I've said repeatedly that Savage is not your normal politics-only radio broadcaster, he's much more than that. He is an audio tour-de-force entertaining personality who can mix and match wits on virtually any subject matter, including pop culture, daily news topics, Indian food and Chinese food deli. It's an always entertaining three hours and most amazingly, Savage can handle a quick detour and provide some of the most fascinating, exuberant content be it himself, or engaged with a caller. Either way, it's solid and refreshing, especially in this day and age of boiler-room radio piled high with stale steaks. Savage is prime rib, center-cut, with fresh baked potato on the side.


His podcast is excellent and just measured a record-high 4 Million downloads making him the King of Streaming audio and Cumulus' #-1-rated podcast with a different take, opinion, rehash daily on his website. It helps that Savage is allowed to create fresh content and often times, has luxurious freedom and independent thought on all things important and pertinent to daily life.


Oh, and he's pretty tight with this guy too and isn't afraid to criticize and engage when the situation merits. If you don't believe me, take some time out and give a listen. You might just have a whale of a time.


I do.

Michael Savage's Poignant, Brilliant, 'Teddy and Me'; 'Confessions of a Service Human' Bereft of Politics; Classic Summer Read; KSFO Syndicated Host Details Bond With Special Toy Poodle

 I just finished reading Michael Savage's new book and if you need any further proof that this talk-radio host can pivot from the most unpredictable area, then "Teddy and Me" is a must for your Summer reading.

It's a poignant, unusual and dramatic turn away from the usual subject matter that permeates the entire syndicated radio talk show on America's airwaves.

Savage's latest book has shocked the literary world veering far away from politics. The Bay Area's most famous and prolific author has released his most touching book yet. It's him and his 12 pound toy poodle, TEDDY, who nips at the engineer's feet as they adjust his studio equipment. 

 

"Confessions of a Service Human" describes the symbiosis but the most touching revelation in the book for the millions of devoted fans, is Savage's story of how he learned to 'Speak to Animals and Audiences.' 

 

Through his "Silent Brother" (the story of his  'disabled brother Jerome and Michael's sad mother) he learns to entertain her and to "make the tears go away." It's a touching, rare look and insight into one of the most thought-provoking radio hosts and greatest story tellers of all time.

Savage is heard locally Monday thru Friday from Noon-3 PM on KSFO.

 

To order the book and I say this is a MUST READ! go to http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/2016/04/pre-order-michael-savages-teddy-and-me/

 

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Michael Savage Goes Off On The American Killer Of Cecil The Lion; Takes Segment To Villify Animal Murder; KSFO/Syndicated Talker Offers Compelling Account

 Cecil the lion--one of the most famous big cats in Zimbabwe's national parks--was murdered by an American hunter. The details are gruesome enough and we normally wouldn't pour over this as a media story only its been reported all over the globe, even in Bay Area circles.


We bring up Cecil because our local angle involves America's second-most-listened to, syndicated-radio talk host, Michael Savage.


It was Savage, who on his show (heard here on KSFO) Monday, devoted a segment on the incredibly brutal assault on Cecil; to a point where it was gut-wrenching and emotionally painful to listen but listenable nonetheless and necessary --I'm glad someone here spoke out.


Savage, you may not know, is an extreme animal lover. I say extreme because he treats his 11 year-old poodle, Teddy, as a member of the family. Teddy sits in on most shows and Savage feeds his canine hero with gourmet chicken --to hell with kibbles and bits. Savage loves dogs and often links stories about them on his website.


So it is no surprise that Savage, the often flamboyant host would take the time and highlight the ghoulish fate of Cecil.


It was not unexpected and made for some compelling radio. Bravo Michael Savage.


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A Donald Trump--Michael Savage 2016 Ticket? Don't Laugh

 By now you already know that Donald Trump has announced his plan to run for the Presidency --but what you don't know is that if Trump is in it for the long run he'll need a running mate and that person could very well be none other than mega-radio talk-show host, Michael Savage. Don't laugh.


Savage on Tuesday endorsed Trump.

"He would win by a landslide --he would. He'd beat 'Hillary handily --I hope he runs."

He's running.


Savage has had Trump on his radio show and will have him on again pretty soon. "He'll be on again too--he has to do TV and he'll eventually do my show," said Savage.


Would Savage accept Trump's offer to be on the ticket? Jut wait for the answer--it's coming soon.


"Go Donald Go!" uttered Savage Tuesday.


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Savage Did More Than To Become The King of SF Radio, Was The Only Bay Area Talk-Show Host That Made It Nationally Too; KSFO 'Savage Nation' Compelling Part Of Syndicated Radio; 'Beat All Odds'

 Who'd have believed that a quirky, educated, unconventional guy from the Bronx would end up in San Francisco as one of the most popular voices on American syndicated radio?

The King of Interesting, provocative, entertaining, talk radio with an eye for unpredictability did one better.

Michael Savage --heard live on KSFO here from 12-3 PM, has become the only talk-radio voice in the Bay Area to make it big in the syndicated radio fortress--against all odds and out of the blue. Savage began at KGO in 1994 and quickly established himself as a force in the business --how ironic that it was Savage that would emerge from the 415 area code into the heart of America and beyond --out from the same station where Ronn Owens, a once-dominant talker couldn't cut it in LA.

I bring this up not to embarrass Owens and others who, behind the scenes, are said to bemoan Savage's popularity and are still aghast at his ability to connect to a national audience--I'm merely pointing out that Savage's success both locally and nationally didn't figure in the equation early on.

He's still regarded as something of a professional outcast because he doesn't play the game practiced by others. To Savage's credit, he's built a professional pedigree that doesn't kowtow to the establishment; that doesn't cozy up to the nebeshes that act one way on the air and are precisely the opposite off. Savage had the other essentials: he earned his PhD from Cal after two Masters degrees -- he's one of the most educated talkers in the US which may explain his ability to walk with kings but never lose the common trust.

Savage's critics, (and I'm one occasionally even if many of you don't know or care) point out his drifts into extremism rants and borderline insanity--and that's what makes him so weirdly compelling, so thought-provoking genius --his own worst element is his best attribute. "Savage Nation" is more than borders, language and culture--which is important and unique discourse; don't get me wrong.


Savage Nation and its leading conductor, Savage himself, has built up this successful broadcast reservoir due to a basic human element--it's, as I've always said, different, funny, brilliant and yes, unconventional --bring on the Chinese food buffet and meatball recipes.


Get a table for one for Teddy. And THIS JUST IN.


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Savage Complains That Fox News Won't Have Him On Cable Channel in Spite Of Hot-Selling Book

 Michael Savage has a best-selling book out and has been doing a lot of promotion on both his KSFO radio show and others.

He also complained Wednesday that Fox News has blackballed him from their cable channel and wondered aloud why they haven't had him on their shows. After all, Savage is known as a leading conservative radio host and his book centers on, what Savage predicts is the coming political civil war.

I have a theory about Savage's blackball treatment at Fox News. I think, and this doesn't require brain surgery, that Sean Hannity, a Fox News host, doesn't really like the SF-based syndicated talker and that is why he doesn't appear on Roger Ailes' network.


This might explain why. And this guy is a good friend of Hannity which doesn't help.


And this doozy on Bill O'Reilly doesn't help either. Of course O'Reilly and Savage have a history of this and it all should be perfectly clear to Savage that his frequent bashing of his contemporary critics might preclude him from plugging books even if the book is on its way to the NY Times best-seller list.


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Michael Savage Was Really Brilliant On The Topic Of Religion Wednesday

 MICHAEL SAVAGE, as many of you know, is a favorite of mine--today, (Wednesday), Savage offered a thoughtful, intriguing, brilliant actually, fifteen-minute opening monologue on religion as it's positioned toward politics.

Tonight at sundown Jews around the world celebrate the New Year. It's Rosh Hashanah.

Savage's wording intertwined with an audio clip of the blowing of the shofar created the type of interesting segment that is not the norm for conventional radio broadcasting and I appreciated it. He also talked about how faith and religion can often collide with one's political leanings but need not have to--if this sounds somewhat complicated it is and the fact that it came from someone who is as polarizing as Savage is is frankly pretty remarkable.

I've often lectured Michael that political radio, in my opinion, has become lazy radio. Nobody really gives a damn anymore. People are for the most part fed up with all the pols, be they left, right, Democrat, Republican, et al --even the partisans have seen their ratings tumble. People want to be entertained and informed and they've mostly tuned out political radio. They want something different, something provocative, something unpredictable. A story teller--Michael Savage comes to mind.

Wednesday's Michael Savage monologue is worth listening to--here's the podcast.

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Savage Tackles Chilling Ebola Virus On Syndicated Radio/KSFO Show; Ridicules CDC; 'They're Not Doctors--They're Politicians'; Says American Doctors Should Have Been Treated in Africa

 It is, either directly or indirectly, on the minds of millions of Americans and foreigners alike.  It's not a warm and fuzzy story either; doesn't involve a sexy movie, a celebrity mishap nor a trendy Facebook feature.


It is the Ebola virus, the deadly virus in the news. And spreading too.


Two American doctors who have the illness were brought home to the US in Atlanta and that story alone has heightened the early hysteria making its rounds through traditional and social media alike. Fortunately, reasonable officials are fairly confident we here don't have too much to worry about. Nevertheless,


Michael Savage, the syndicated, SF-based national talker, had an enlightened, if occasionally chilling but informative discussion of the Ebola Virus subject matter. It helps, too, that Savage has a Phd in epidemiology from Berkeley.


Savage began the program Monday reading from his own article asking why the American doctors were returned to the US. It wasn't reactionary nor heated, very much level-headed and legitimate about an item gripping the nation. "These patients should have been treated in Africa--there was no reason to bring them back to America."


Savage skewered CDC, (Centers for Disease Control), officials: "They're not doctors--they're politicians."


It was enlightening to hear a local program tackling an issue that, frankly, most of us don't know a whole lot about. Even as one of the doctors in Atlanta stricken seems to be getting better, another patient is being tested in New York for the virus. Chilling. Precisely all the reason Savage's program on Monday was both warranted and appreciated at least from this neck of the woods.


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Michael Savage Destroys The Competition on Talk Stream Live; Crushes Rush and Ingraham; Nationally-Syndicated SF Talker Dominates Tech Device Template

  SAVAGE DOMINATES ON TECH TEMPLATES


The TSL Top 25 Streaming Talk Shows
July 11, 2014 by talkstreamlive

Second Quarter 2014

Show/ Rank / Share
1 Michael Savage 20.1
2 Rush Limbaugh 12.0
3 Laura Ingraham 6.4
4 Mark Levin 5.7
5 Glenn Beck 5.1
6 Tammy Bruce 3.9
7 Sean Hannity 3.8
8 George Noory 2.0
9 Alex Jones 1.8
10 Dennis Miller 1.8
11 John Batchelor 1.5
12 Bill Bennett 1.5
13 Michael Medved 1.1
14 Clyde Lewis 1.0
15 Jeff Kuhner 1.0
16 The Dana Show 0.9
17 Dennis Prager 0.9
18 Red Eye Radio 0.8
19 Hugh Hewitt 0.8
20 Herman Cain 0.7
21  The Power Hour 0.7
22 Monica Crowley 0.7
23 IMUS 0.7
24 Jerry Doyle 0.6
25 Larry Kudlow 0.5

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The Land of 'Tolerance' is Mostly Intolerant And a Few More Things About Michael Savage

 SAVAGE and The Bastion of Tolerance is the capitol of Intolerance

How is that San Francisco and the Bay Area--the liberal/progressive palace of tolerance is so intolerant?

Kind of ironic.

Worse yet, the posers in this town are third-rank amateurs. Hiding behind their masks and shields. Cowards and phonies.

I hate to start the day off so negatively but you make it impossible. I didn't hear the Savage show on Wednesday but heard my name and 415 Media was mentioned and prominently so. Let me start out by saying I'm a fan of the Savage Nation. He's interesting. He entertains me. He's not the gospel by any sort of means but he's quite spot on in many illustrations but not for everyone's taste. And he's the greatest story-teller on radio hands down. So there. Put away your blinders for a moment and listen to the man. Screw the politics and just LISTEN. You might even laugh a little yourself. It may help later on with the boss, your wife, girlfriend, your husband, mistress, whomever...

See, I've said this a million times: Savage is brilliant. I don't think I 'd want to work for him because there could be tension. All I want is entertainment. I don't need lectures from morons who think he's evil and dire straits. He's on the damn radio, for god's sake, get a life. And he's a master at the almost impossible: he can work the room. Name me someone who can hold an audience for ten minutes in today's insane environment? You can't. Posers. Cowards.

And let's address another thing while we're at it. I haven't received a penny from Savage. I should be so lucky. Besides I'd rather have a corned-beef sandwich at Tommy's Joynt. Savage is a fan of my site. Maybe he likes me because I listen ardently to the show. On the other hand when I'm critical of his occasionally loony-tune rants he doesn't berate me. I have a pretty good track record. There's days when he overloads on the Obama hysteria and I turn the dial. Political radio is lazy radio. That's why Levin and Rush and Hannity are beginning to sound tired because their shows are repeats of yesterday. Only yesterday is today. Same-old tired material. Sounds like the test pattern on TV, the national anthem at midnight on the tele that signified the end.

Bay Area, get a grip. Don't be a bunch of pussies. Wake up and smell the roses. Get out of the house and run, exercise a little, (I've been doing it a lot lately--great for the endorphins) and get your head out of your ass. Savage is the most honest man on radio. He's not curing cancer or reinventing the wheel but a lot of what he says makes sense, a foreign concept for some of you still migrating in People's Park and saving the whale. I got news for you, Berkeley has been lost for years now and Telegraph avenue has a Bank of America perched on it. Mario Savio is gone. Wavy Gravy is a ghost and Café Med is tattered. Even Spengers has been destroyed and Brennans was cleaned up and the food sucks now.

Back to point Savage is a decent bargain in a world that a little too busy these days. We're on the brink of World War 3 in Ukraine with a ticking time bomb that could go off any moment. We become infatuated with a missing plane that seems to have more of a story yet will probably have little impact on our increasingly marginalized life. We worry a lot about the small stuff. We should pay attention more to the little things like people living on the brink who live paycheck to paycheck and quit kvetching about a guy on the radio offering meatball recipes.

Bay Area, land of tolerance...really now? Baloney.

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Michael Savage is Killing Sean Hannity in Big Markets; National Radio Talker Destroys in SF Too on KSFO; Big Hit With Younger Demo

 I must confess.

I underestimated Michael Savage as he navigated to a prime-time slot in the midday, (12-3 PM, KSFO and 3-6 PM drive in the East Coast), but after a month, the rambunctious, unpredictable, and occasionally extremely entertaining Savage is beating the bejesus out of his nearest rival, the boring and repetitious Sean Hannity.

As Politico points out, Savage destroys Hannity in big markets like New York, Dallas, Detroit and here in San Francisco.

Moreover, he's beating Hannity with key younger demos. Savage e-mailed this report to me.

Frankly, I was not impressed with the early tone of Savage's program. It consisted of repeated monologues debasing the Obama administration on frequent easy right-wing talking points like Obama Care, the NSA and IRS scandals. Granted, all legitimate subjects, but in the radio talk-show genre, hardly the epicenter of broadcast nirvana. In fact, as I have pointed out, the Groundhog Day gyration that doesn't move the needle, that grates the nerves of those ardent listeners-- Democrat, Republican, who are looking for something far more palpable on the audio domain.


It is that element of Savage's repertoire that captivates me. I could do without politics. Matter of fact, and Savage feels the same, political radio with the standard screamers and routine bits, is frankly, lazy radio. It gets to the point where you know automatically how the host formats their show and what nasty, repetitive thing is coming next. It's not just an Obama deal--it migrates to the left too even though there's considerably less left-wing talk shows on the dial mostly because left-leaning shows don't extract any entertaining radio these days. Stephanie Miller is a bore. Mike Malloy is an annoying twit and we all know how that Air America experiment turned out. Norman Goldman is an interesting listen but he too trolls down the political route much too often and often repeats the same talking points. Repetition radio is bi-partisan.


Savage is best when describing the Indian buffet that gave him indigestion. His Chinese food histrionics at Hunan is, in fact, brilliant radio, worth a thousand laughs. Meat ball recipes trump the pratfalls of Joe Biden. "Teddy", Savage's loyal poodle and his status, is an A ticket to Disneyland. Hillary Clinton and Climate Change are the 4700th ride on the Matterhorn. You get my drift.


There exists a radical lack of creativity on the trappings of AM terrestrial radio in the Bay Area and beyond. Savage at least provides a dramatic detour from the pronounced dreck that is the constant. And while his primetime palate is resonating with listeners nationwide thus far, I say, can the politics and stick to meat and potatoes. Teddy would approve too, Maestro Savage.


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Michael Savage Offers Bombastic Prediction: 'I'm Going To Replace Sean Hannity On Prime Time Radio'

SAVAGE: "I'll Be replacing 'Hannity on Cumulus Drive-Time Stations. --He's Finished."

Michael Savage, the bombastic, syndicated radio-host who has catapulted to the #2 most-listened-to radio personality boasted on his show Thursday night that he will be replacing Sean Hannity, (on radio), the radio/TV host on both Cumulus and Fox News Channel.

Savage, who's based in SF, (heard on KSFO, 6-9 PM), began his show with the theme song from "2001--A Space Odyssey." He offered a terse prediction. "Hannity is done. It's not that I don't like him but his ratings are down and there's a reason, (Roger Ailes), is replacing him with 'Meghan Kelly." Indeed it is widely rumored that Kelley will soon replace Hannity in FNC's prime-time 6 PM, (9 ET) program.

Hannity's radio program on Cumulus, (heard also on KSFO from Noon -3 PM), has also taken a ratings beating, probably due in large part to his regular daily anti-Obama diatribes. It's fairly predictable radio and not the least entertaining at that. Savage wasn't specific about a time when he'd inherit Hannity's time slot but I've heard sooner rather than later. Don't be surprised if a move were made by the fall.

 I asked a longtime SF broadcast exec about Savage's prediction: "Look, Savage wouldn't hurt; Hannity is a one-trick pony. I don't know what Cumulus is waiting for, frankly."

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