THANK YOU
Severin set to break out of Boston
By Geoff Edgers, Globe Staff | September 16, 2005
He's called Bill Clinton ''a traitor" and Al Gore ''Al Whore," but until now, Jay Severin's radio audience has been largely limited to Boston. That will change in January. Today Infinity Broadcasting will announce that it has signed the sharp-tongued former political consultant to do a radio show in a series of syndicated markets beginning next year.
The deal does not include the Boston market, where Severin has a deal with Greater Media Inc. But Severin's contract there expires at the end of the year. Severin can either re-up with the company, which currently has him doing the popular 3 to 7 p.m. ''drive time" show on WTKK-FM (96.9), or he can sign somewhere else. Infinity owns five Boston radio stations, including WBZ-AM (1030) and WBCN-FM (104.1).
Infinity CEO Joel Hollander wouldn't comment on Severin's current contract with Greater Media. ''I will say I think that Jay is one of the smartest, funniest, cutting edge, and talented guys out there, and he's had great success in Boston," Hollander said in a phone interview. ''We believe he can play in a lot of markets."
Severin's agent George Tobia, who heads up the entertainment and media law group at Burns & Levinson, said he doesn't know which cities Severin will be broadcast in next year. But he's been assured they will include several top 10 markets.
Severin, in an interview from his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., said he hopes to stay on in Boston. He's leaving the negotiations up to Tobia. Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth said he wants to keep Severin, and that his company and Infinity should be able to work together. ''Greater Media and Infinity have a good relationship," Smyth said. ''It is our intention to continue to have Jay do his show [with us]."
''My excitement is uncomplicated," said Severin. ''It's an opportunity to speak to a national audience. Will my act play in Peoria? When I ask myself that question I say, 'I don't know.' My greatest confidence derives in the fact that Joel Hollander has confidence in me. Would Joel Hollander pick you if he thought you were a dog?"
Before taking to the airwaves, Severin worked for more than 20 years as a conservative political operative. He describes himself as a libertarian.
''And the people I criticize and, indeed, often ridicule tend to be Democrats," he said. ''That's because the Democrats right now are bigger threats to personal freedoms than Republicans."
Severin began broadcasting in New York during the mid-'90s before, in 1999, getting hired by radio station WTKK. Severin has been a frequent guest on the Don Imus syndicated radio show, and for a time earlier this year he was a regular member of MSNBC's ''The Situation With Tucker Carlson."
For Infinity, the signing comes at a time of dramatic change. In January, Howard Stern, the company's high-profile star, leaves for the Sirius satellite radio service. Hollander said he's not ready to announce his plan to replace Stern, or whether it involves Severin.
''There is no such thing as a next Rush [Limbaugh] or a next Stern, and bear in mind, the talk show syndication business is a very crowded field," said Kevin Casey, managing editor of Talkers magazine, a trade publication for the radio industry. ''That said, Jay certainly has what it takes to be an extremely successful, national syndicated talk show host."
As for ratings, Severin's show has, at its best, come in second to sports talk station WEEI-AM (850) over the past year among 25- to-54-year-old listeners. In three of the last four quarters, Severin topped fellow right-leaning talkmeister Howie Carr, of WRKO-AM (680) .
Severin won't give out any information on his personal life, including his age. He does say he'll continue to broadcast from his home in Sag Harbor.
''Why would I leave?" he says. ''I'm in a 200-year-old house surrounded by water and I'm in a barn that's been converted into a broadcast studio. I roll out of bed every morning and I'm able to surf and kayak. I've worked hard. I'm the beneficiary of technology I don't understand."
Severin said he doesn't envision changing his approach to his show, which allows him to talk as openly about his sexual desires as his distaste for certain politicians.
''For good or ill, I have only one act: Mine," he said. ''Talk radio is the guardian at the frontier and center stage of free speech. That's why this excites me. That's where the town meeting is right now."
By Geoff Edgers, Globe Staff | September 16, 2005
He's called Bill Clinton ''a traitor" and Al Gore ''Al Whore," but until now, Jay Severin's radio audience has been largely limited to Boston. That will change in January. Today Infinity Broadcasting will announce that it has signed the sharp-tongued former political consultant to do a radio show in a series of syndicated markets beginning next year.
The deal does not include the Boston market, where Severin has a deal with Greater Media Inc. But Severin's contract there expires at the end of the year. Severin can either re-up with the company, which currently has him doing the popular 3 to 7 p.m. ''drive time" show on WTKK-FM (96.9), or he can sign somewhere else. Infinity owns five Boston radio stations, including WBZ-AM (1030) and WBCN-FM (104.1).
Infinity CEO Joel Hollander wouldn't comment on Severin's current contract with Greater Media. ''I will say I think that Jay is one of the smartest, funniest, cutting edge, and talented guys out there, and he's had great success in Boston," Hollander said in a phone interview. ''We believe he can play in a lot of markets."
Severin's agent George Tobia, who heads up the entertainment and media law group at Burns & Levinson, said he doesn't know which cities Severin will be broadcast in next year. But he's been assured they will include several top 10 markets.
Severin, in an interview from his home in Sag Harbor, N.Y., said he hopes to stay on in Boston. He's leaving the negotiations up to Tobia. Greater Media CEO Peter Smyth said he wants to keep Severin, and that his company and Infinity should be able to work together. ''Greater Media and Infinity have a good relationship," Smyth said. ''It is our intention to continue to have Jay do his show [with us]."
''My excitement is uncomplicated," said Severin. ''It's an opportunity to speak to a national audience. Will my act play in Peoria? When I ask myself that question I say, 'I don't know.' My greatest confidence derives in the fact that Joel Hollander has confidence in me. Would Joel Hollander pick you if he thought you were a dog?"
Before taking to the airwaves, Severin worked for more than 20 years as a conservative political operative. He describes himself as a libertarian.
''And the people I criticize and, indeed, often ridicule tend to be Democrats," he said. ''That's because the Democrats right now are bigger threats to personal freedoms than Republicans."
Severin began broadcasting in New York during the mid-'90s before, in 1999, getting hired by radio station WTKK. Severin has been a frequent guest on the Don Imus syndicated radio show, and for a time earlier this year he was a regular member of MSNBC's ''The Situation With Tucker Carlson."
For Infinity, the signing comes at a time of dramatic change. In January, Howard Stern, the company's high-profile star, leaves for the Sirius satellite radio service. Hollander said he's not ready to announce his plan to replace Stern, or whether it involves Severin.
''There is no such thing as a next Rush [Limbaugh] or a next Stern, and bear in mind, the talk show syndication business is a very crowded field," said Kevin Casey, managing editor of Talkers magazine, a trade publication for the radio industry. ''That said, Jay certainly has what it takes to be an extremely successful, national syndicated talk show host."
As for ratings, Severin's show has, at its best, come in second to sports talk station WEEI-AM (850) over the past year among 25- to-54-year-old listeners. In three of the last four quarters, Severin topped fellow right-leaning talkmeister Howie Carr, of WRKO-AM (680) .
Severin won't give out any information on his personal life, including his age. He does say he'll continue to broadcast from his home in Sag Harbor.
''Why would I leave?" he says. ''I'm in a 200-year-old house surrounded by water and I'm in a barn that's been converted into a broadcast studio. I roll out of bed every morning and I'm able to surf and kayak. I've worked hard. I'm the beneficiary of technology I don't understand."
Severin said he doesn't envision changing his approach to his show, which allows him to talk as openly about his sexual desires as his distaste for certain politicians.
''For good or ill, I have only one act: Mine," he said. ''Talk radio is the guardian at the frontier and center stage of free speech. That's why this excites me. That's where the town meeting is right now."