This is a pullback-the-curtain post and a thank you. This story hit the wires yesterday, and I wanted to call your attention to it, particularly this:
The nationally syndicated Erick Erickson Show, which 95.5 WSB serves as the home station of, took home the top spot in the market with an 11.5 share in the Persons 35-64 category. That was the highest rated weekday program on the station in the 35-64 demo. Erickson has finished first every month since September 2023 with Persons 35-64.
Atlanta is the seventh-largest radio market in the nation. Being number one and growing the listenership from noon to three has been a real blessing that has greatly depended on my listeners. So thank you.
To put this in further perspective, to the knowledge of those I’ve talked to in the radio industry, I am the only conservative radio host in America who refused to support Trump in 2016 who still has a job on radio. Not only do I still have a job, but my ratings have increased, and my audience has expanded nationwide.
Many people have told me that I would not survive unless I toed the line on Trump, focused just on attacking Democrats, shut up about my own side, or defied my audience’s pre-existing beliefs on topics. As any of you long-time readers know, that’s not my style. I’m not a chum-in-the-water guy who is going to just tell you what you want to hear.
I’m willing to march to the beat of my own drummer and tell people what I think, even if they disagree. I’m willing to criticize my own side, the other side, and every side. I’m not willing to entertain the conspiracy theories of the day, and I’m unwilling to evolve my conservatism to fit a national mood that is unmoored to either traditional conservative convictions or God. Above all else, I’m willing to throw in some Jesus along with the rest of the stuff.
A funny thing has happened along the way. I now have to tell many people, “I’m sorry, but no.” And I hate telling people no. After much study of my audience, it turns out my audience really hates it when I have guests. They would rather listen to me explain things. So, a big and present newsmaker might get on, but otherwise, it is the audience and me in conversation.
The research with the audience shows that they really think I am having a conversation with them, and they get mad when they’re suddenly an eavesdropper in my conversation with someone else. So, except for the occasional audience caller or a big and relevant newsmaker, it is just me talking for three hours every weekday.
Thank you all for the success. We just added Sacramento, California, and Austin, Texas, to the list of stations.
Everything post-Rush Limbaugh has seemingly been turned upside down. I do a radio show that a lot of “experts” in radio say formulaically should not work. The ratings speak for themselves.
And that is because of listeners and readers like you. Those of you who are paid subscribers truly allow me to do this show and talk about my faith in a way no other talk radio show functions. Your subscription makes it hard for others to cancel me, and I cannot thank you enough.
Perhaps the biggest complaint/compliment I get is from listeners who take issue with something I’ve done and email, “Rush would never…”. I am not Rush Limbaugh. I am me. It is my show, not his show. Rush Limbaugh was not just a friend but a mentor who got me into radio and later got me my agent as I started building a syndicated show. Years ago, I told Rush I never wanted to be in national radio because I didn’t have a shot at being number one so long as he was around. He laughed and said, “Even if I’m dead you’ll never be as good as me. So just be you.” Thanks, friend. I’m still taking your advice, and, as always, it works.
