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Rush Limbaugh’s new radio deal to earn him $38 million a year
By David Bauder
Associated Press
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NEW YORK -- Approaching his 20th anniversary as talk radio’s most dominant force, Rush Limbaugh has signed a lucrative new deal with Premiere Radio Networks that will keep him on the air until 2016.

Premiere wouldn’t disclose details on Wednesday, but Limbaugh told The New York Times in an article to be published Sunday that he would be getting a nine-figure signing bonus and would make about $38 million a year.

Limbaugh’s three-hour show, broadcast from his office in Florida, is heard on some 600 radio stations across the country. More than 14 million people listen to him at least once a week, according to Talkers magazine. Sean Hannity is second with more than 13 million listeners.

“This is exactly where I want to be, doing what I was born to do, with an amazing audience and phenomenal support from affiliate stations and sponsors,” Limbaugh said in a statement. “I’m having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have.”

He declined an interview request from The Associated Press.

Limbaugh’s “Operation Chaos” this year showed his continuing influence in political discourse. He urged his listeners to vote for Hillary Clinton to keep the Democratic nomination fight going in the hopes of hurting Barack Obama.

Limbaugh, however, is no big fan of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, even though he prefers him to Obama. Limbaugh, 57, said in January that if McCain were nominated “it’s going to destroy the Republican Party.”

Keeping Limbaugh in the fold is crucial if radio is going to be competitive with the Internet and satellite radio, said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers.

“It shows that there’s a strong commitment on the part of one of the leading companies in our industry to remain viable for the next decade,” he said. “If radio is going to continue and to survive it’s got to do what it takes to keep its biggest players happy and exclusive to radio.”

Premiere Radio Networks, which is owned by Clear Channel Radio, is also partners with Limbaugh in “The Limbaugh Letter,” a monthly newsletter, and the Web site RushLimbaugh.com. The company also syndicates “The Rush Limbaugh Morning Update,” a 90-second commentary that airs Monday through Friday.

Charlie Rahilly, Premiere president, said advertiser and affiliate demand for Limbaugh’s show is at an all-time high.

Despite the reported big price tag, Rahilly said: “It’s a really rational decision ... It’s great for Premiere and Clear Channel.”

He said there are new media opportunities that can make the deal more lucrative in the coming years. For example, the possibility of streaming Limbaugh material on demand on the computer, or making commentaries available on wireless devices, are potential future ways to raise revenue.
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Rush Limbaugh told The New York Times in an article to be published Sunday that he would be getting a nine-figure signing bonus and would make about $38 million a year. (AP Photo/Gary He, file)
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Reader comments on this story - 27 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Wooden Spoon wrote on Jul 7, 2008 3:04 PM:

" Dear Rush: Hook a brother up!!

Signed: Ed McMahon "

normals wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:38 PM:

" Rush is nothing more than a panacea for the disenfranchised middle class of America, most of whom are under the illusion that Rush's political philosophy applies to them. His stronghold is not the 1% or so of stinky rich Americans that he really adores, but the several millions who mistakenly believe their traditional Aryian-esque upbringings entitle them to imagine they are upper middle class. Rush is the voice of capitalism and baseness. His two-dimensional us vs. them mentality is something most of us grow out of in adolescence. He thrives on divisiveness. Rush is the penultimate example of how fat, sloppy and stupid America has become. He is a corpulent tic on the underbelly of an American eagle. "

ONLY IN AMERICA wrote on Jul 5, 2008 3:57 AM:

" TO:catlbyer16- That's what I like about liberals.. if you don't agree with what they have to say you have a closed mind or they call you names like " bimbo ".

LIBERALS= THE DUMBING OF AMERICA !!! Eat your hearts out Rush Rules... "

Marian wrote on Jul 4, 2008 1:44 PM:

" As long as our tax money is not involved, why care how much or how little Limbaugh earns? "

Citizen#9 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 12:40 PM:

" At his best Limbaugh is an informed, articulate spokesman for his particular philosophy. At his worst he's a windbag. Of course, I'd say the same thing about Ted Kennedy. "

Tom Terrific wrote on Jul 4, 2008 11:41 AM:

" Congratulations Rush. "

catlbyer16 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 9:59 AM:

" this bimbo and s. hannity have gotten more democrates elected together than the dnc. if all you listen to is these two,your mind is like a closed, locked door! "

gad wrote on Jul 4, 2008 7:18 AM:

" i hate people that hate rush!!!
not really, but i do pity them, the uninformed kool-aid drinkers.
hey those comments about drug use and gluttony are really classy, bet you wouldn't put down your welfare buddies for the same problems. "

Citizen#9 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 7:16 AM:

" Most academics are bitter about something, usually because there are lesser mortals who have the effrontery to be non-liberals. Don't like Limbaugh (I'm not crazy about him myself), you don't have to tune in. "

jim4 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 4:52 AM:

" the commonman - Do you really believe that Rush has creatred around 60,000 jobs? You have been watching his show toooo long. Six jobs would be a lot closer. "

Bitter Academic wrote on Jul 4, 2008 12:44 AM:

" commonman: I didn't say "more popular," I said "more intelligent." Savage is a good example of the latter. "

BigBrother wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:58 PM:

" Right on Rush!!! "

thecommonman wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:32 PM:

" Randall Flagg: It is obvious that you don't or maybe have never listened to Rush. He spoke a lot about his addiction. And since his admission and rehabilitation he has hardly if even ever talked down about drug abuse and addiction. If you listened to him at all you would know that. You are just repeating the "hate Rush" crowd who don't listen to him. And the gluttony crack, you have no idea how much weight the man has lost in the past several years do you? You are so shallow that you were probably cheering when he announced he was deaf. And tell me, Randy, what is wrong with making as much money as the market will bear? And I'm sure you also have no idea how much he donates to charities every year either. How much is 10% of $38 mil? Do you donate even 5%, Randy? "

m wrote on Jul 3, 2008 4:04 PM:

" Yeah...the journalists out there do such a great job of providing objective, unbiased reporting...yeah right. "

Proud Conservative wrote on Jul 3, 2008 3:59 PM:

" Guess what, folks. Rush created the most-listened-to radio talk show in history. When you do that, you pretty much get to name your price. It's what being an entrepreneur in a free market is all about.

You can get rich, too. But it's just easier to live off the government - which means living off the tax dollars that others rightfully earn and dutifully hand over to the feds - who know better than we do how to spend our money. Rush and others refuse to live that way - and I say good for them. "

Randall Flagg wrote on Jul 3, 2008 2:34 PM:

" Drug-using hypocrite!! He is exactly the same as most of the priests and preachers......do as I (or God) says, not as I do. Or in Rush's case: Street drugs are bad and bad people (ie. minorities) use them...prescriptions are good and ok to be used by the good (white) republican's of the world. Just like I'm sure he's not too hard on those that practice gluttony or greed because he's the king of those, so they can't be bad. "

BNHuman wrote on Jul 3, 2008 2:23 PM:

" Why do you hate him Keithstone? Have you ever really listened? "

Sam Wainwright wrote on Jul 3, 2008 2:23 PM:

" I used to listen to him, but to me his schtick is getting pretty old. I think the pendulum is getting ready to swing on all the 'talk radio' blah blah blah. I get tired of some radio guy always trying to rile me up. "

Wat Tyler wrote on Jul 3, 2008 2:16 PM:

" It just goes to show you haow illiterate this country is becoming. Rush gets $38 million a year (for 8 years) and a nine figure signing bonus. Obama only got a $2.4 million dollar advance on a book deal from Random House when he was elected Senator. I guess it is safe to say that blabbing on the Radio pays more than writing books! "

tripper wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:33 PM:

" Remember...Rush is an ENTERTAINER, not a Journalist. I do not take his comments seriously because he is entertaining. "

thecommonman wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:21 PM:

" thuthiness and CharlieHustle: Low blow. Would you say that to your drug addicted son? Bitter Academic: Name one who is listened to by more people. "

truthiness wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:20 PM:

" Think of how much Oxy you could buy with 38M. wow! "

thecommonman wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:16 PM:

" It's fine to hate Rush if you don't agree with his ideas and opinions. But I really hope you don't hate him over how much money he makes. You have no idea how many jobs he has created by being the most popular and listened to radio personality in America. It is estimated that since he went national his popularity has created at many different levels around 60,000 jobs. Don't go slamming the rich, they are the ones who employ us. "

CharlieHustle wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:15 PM:

" That sure will buy a lot of Oxycontin. "

Bitter Academic wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:09 PM:

" Limbaugh is an overpriced, overrated panderer. There are much more intelligent conservative hosts out there. "

Ozymandias wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:44 AM:

" Good for Rush..

Absolutely lousy for WJBC

Congrats to the success of Cities 92.9. Keep it up. "

keithstone wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:34 AM:

" I really hate him "
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