Music Executive to Run Air America

The nation’s most prominent liberal talk radio network has tapped one of the music business’ most prominent liberal activists to be its new boss.

Air America Radio, seeking solid footing after a rocky start last year, on Thursday named veteran music executive Danny Goldberg chief executive of the network. Goldberg joins such on-air figures as Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo as newcomers to the medium in Air America’s campaign to make inroads in a realm largely seen as a stronghold of conservative voices.

“This is really a new genre, kind of like being involved with rock ‘n’ roll in San Francisco in 1965 -- a real learning curve that everybody’s on,” said Goldberg, who is taking over from acting CEO Doug Kreeger, who will remain a member of the company’s board.

Goldberg, 54, this month left his post as chief executive of Artemis Records. The independent company, which he founded, has released Grammy Award-winning albums by Steve Earle and the late Warren Zevon. His past positions include CEO stints at Mercury Records, Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records, and he was founder and president of Gold Mountain Entertainment, where he managed the careers of such artists as Bonnie Raitt and Nirvana.

He co-produced and co-directed the 1980 “No Nukes” concert documentary, served in leadership positions with the American Civil Liberties Union and authored the 2003 book “Dispatches From the Culture Wars,” which examined the challenges of progressive causes.

Rob Glaser, the chairman and CEO of RealNetworks Inc. who is also chairman of Air America, said he had no qualms about Goldberg’s lack of radio experience.

“With all things equal, we would have picked someone with a radio background,” Glaser said, noting that there were several quality candidates for the job who did come from radio. “But all things were not equal. We wanted someone who was passionate about the mission and opportunities, someone who was a proven executive in the media business and someone with an entrepreneurial record, and with Danny we get all three.”

The optimism comes after a shaky first year for Air America, which, after its March 31 launch, suffered such setbacks as the loss of its Los Angeles station and the perceived lack of influence on the November elections as well as funding uncertainties and management turmoil. But the network’s condition seems to have strengthened of late, with solid ratings in such key markets as San Diego, Portland, Ore., Denver and Miami and a recent relaunch in L.A., where it is now heard on KTLK-AM (1150) in a new alliance with Clear Channel, the nation’s largest radio ownership group.

Air America has stations in 15 of the top 20 U.S. markets and a total of 48 stations, with signals reaching about 50% of the population.