MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT SET; ROWLAND AND BELL CONFIRM SUMMER RETURN

Art Bell and Keith Rowland have made it official: There will be July fireworks in 2015 .. the talk show legend is going to go his own way.. A podcasting style as opposed to the terrestrial or even satellite radio he did previously. This time he is greeting the 21st century with open arms, working out private deals to play music, hoping that fans sign up in big numbers to help his return, and beaming himself to every smart phone that wants him.

The show will be called MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT.

Bell posted two messages on Facebook tonight:

Midnight in the Desert is on the way! It is official now, Starting in late July we will begin streaming a full show from Mon-Fri 9PM- 12AM P.T. It will come to you Worldwide on the Internet in 64Kbps Stereo on Tune In which has a free app available for download right now.
Keith and myself have come to a agreement and the main Studio gear has been ordered. There is a great deal of work ahead and all of you who are friends and fans will have to help out when the time comes by spreading the word far and wide.
Wanna Take a Ride?
Art Bell

And the next:

From Keith: The Final Results, Art Bell IS Coming Back!
POSTED ON APRIL 14, 2015 IN BUMPER MUSIC, RADIO SHOW | 1 VIEW | LEAVE A RESPONSE
After extensive analysis and elongated negotiations with several suiters, we have decided that we can go ahead on the planned launch of “Midnight in the Desert” in late July, using a business model that will allow us to manage the entire operation on our own.
As was hinted by Art via his Facebook feed, we thought about it, compared the numbers and decided we could pay for bandwidth, pay the commercial licensing fees, pay our own overhead and still be financially viable, assuming the following conditions:

1. We have a considerable number of fans subscribe to a membership service that allows you to access the archived shows anytime via the website for a reasonable $5 / month.
2. We can sell advertising to be played during the breaks during the show. Not a lot, but enough to help pay for the music licensing during the LIVE FREE stream.
3. We can successfully curb pirated posts of our content to the Internet.
We’ll be operating under a certain specific licensing model that will allow us to ramp up from a “small webcaster” status into a large broadcaster in the future. It is imperitive that we earn enough through subscribers and ads sales to pay the bandwidth costs and music licensing fees. We believe that we can ramp up successfully using the current models in place at this time.
However, this happens to be the year (2015) that music industry participants are negotiating the next 5 years (2016-2020) rates for music licensing on the Internet. It is a wide open arena, and some license models may not survive. But we believe that we can operate under the current 2015 model for 6 months, and eventually fit into a 2016 model that is still cost effective.
We hope to recoup all of our investments within the first 6 months, so we can better endure the cost increases that will inevitably happen in 2016. If the fans support us with memberships and the advertisers are satisfied, we should be good for a long while.
Keep watching here for the launch date announcement and further updates as we can pass along. We’ll let you know when it’s time to promote the show.
— Keith and Art

 

A copy of the text was also placed on ARTBELL.COM to inform readers there of the return..
I do have a few critical thoughts regarding this. While on one hand I am celebrating the return, there’s a little part of the 20th century boy in me that will miss the radio aspect. There are only about 2 shows I still actually listen to on radio. I have accepted the podcast world. I love it, as a matter of fact.. I think Art will be best, only though, on live radio. I am happy he is giving a free live stream with downloadable content afterwards…
As for the pirates? I don’t know if there will be an efficient way to stop them. Recently Art Bell has posted on BELLGAB asking for users there to become his deputies around the NET this summer, scouring the sites of the hinterlands of HTML for any and all pirate streams. And then threatening legal action. But that is plugging a leaky hole in a flooding dam.. it’s not just that easy.
As for the six month window, that is going to be a risky gamble.
And there are some, even on the ART BELL website, who are shaky on the return. After the quick SIRIUS XM quit–when fans were left trying to return hundreds of dollars in merchandise to the satellite company after DARK MATTER suddenly ended after Halloween–some fans have expressed hesitation to sign up for a monthly fee in return to hear Bell.  The other side of that coin, however, presents a much different picture of the situation at Sirius. Coast to Coast AM quickly showed up on the INDIE station after Bell left. Along with that, there seemingly were other things happening behind the scenes that perhaps even Bell will address this summer on MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT..
I think I’ll make a prediction: Those fans that are hesitant today will be signing up tomorrow. The talent that Bell has will be hard to pass up, especially when compared to the monotone moronfest that Coast to Coast AM has turned into over the past several years since Bell’s 2010 final departure from the ‘hot air’ of that show.
Summer is set.
Barbecues.
Fourth of July fireworks.
As the long and hot summer nights fill the air with heat and murky humidity, Art Bell will once again be broadcasting from the high desert for the world to hear. This time in a new century style..

25 thoughts on “MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT SET; ROWLAND AND BELL CONFIRM SUMMER RETURN”

  4. I cannot wait! Every post I make sure I repost because I want Art to beat out George. What he's done to the show is a travesty!

  6. I cannot wait! Every post I make sure I repost because I want Art to beat out George. What he’s done to the show is a travesty!

  7. THESE PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON THIS STORY WERE DELETED AFTER AN INSTALLATION OF THE DISQUS COMMENTS SYSTEM.Kendall [email protected] on 2015/04/16 at 1:05 amI cannot wait! Every post I make sure I repost because I want Art to beat out George. What he’s done to the show is a travesty!MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT SET; ROWLAND AND BELL CONFIRM SUMMER RETURN3View PostSelect commentMickey [email protected] on 2015/04/15 at 11:13 pmI hope Bell doesn’t change his mind after a month or two of episodes.MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT SET; ROWLAND AND BELL CONFIRM SUMMER RETURN3View PostSelect commentShawn [email protected] on 2015/04/15 at 8:03 pmCan’t wait!So tired of Noory.

  8. THESE PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON THIS STORY WERE DELETED AFTER AN INSTALLATION OF THE DISQUS COMMENTS SYSTEM.

    Kendall Clement
    [email protected]
    104.173.87.72Submitted on 2015/04/16 at 1:05 am

    I cannot wait! Every post I make sure I repost because I want Art to beat out George. What he’s done to the show is a travesty!

    MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT SET; ROWLAND AND BELL CONFIRM SUMMER RETURN
    3View PostSelect commentMickey Mouse
    [email protected]
    172.56.29.13Submitted on 2015/04/15 at 11:13 pm

    I hope Bell doesn’t change his mind after a month or two of episodes.

    MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT SET; ROWLAND AND BELL CONFIRM SUMMER RETURN
    3View PostSelect commentShawn Brooks
    [email protected]
    96.39.213.91Submitted on 2015/04/15 at 8:03 pm

    Can’t wait!So tired of Noory.

  9. The world we all grew up in has changed as you all know… Democracy has slowly been replaced by run away Capitalism!!! With the help of the Supreme Courts Citizens United allowing unknown sources of Billions of Dollars in contributions for Campaign Money into the pockets of Special Interests…Actual people cannot be heard these days!!! We only hear messages that come from huge Business Entities or from those who hold controlling interests in some Fictitious Entity… (Corporations are not People, just Fictitious Entities) Monopolies' need broken up not put into power!!! Capitalism is such a poor replacement for a Democracy!!! 😉

  10. What has happened to Coast 2 Coast is called FOX NEWS and Greed… Unless you want to wait around for 2 hours of Business Oriented content promoting the affairs of George Noory and the GOP's Republican Party Candidates most of the old Coast 2 Coast Format is heard via Paid Membership as a “Insider”….George has become a Fox News “Shill” that FEW IF ANY Guests in those last two hours long awaited content actually like nor have any common interests with Noory… Noory actually has a company in business that has sold training materials to many of the corrupt Police Agencies and has even been heard Defending Police accused of Brutality on his Broadcasts of Coast 2 Coast… (Ferguson PD Brutality)

  11. The world we all grew up in has changed as you all know… Democracy has slowly been replaced by run away Capitalism!!! With the help of the Supreme Courts Citizens United allowing unknown sources of Billions of Dollars in contributions for Campaign Money into the pockets of Special Interests…

    Actual people cannot be heard these days!!! We only hear messages that come from huge Business Entities or from those who hold controlling interests in some Fictitious Entity… (Corporations are not People, just Fictitious Entities) Monopolies’ need broken up not put into power!!! Capitalism is such a poor replacement for a Democracy!!! 😉

  12. What has happened to Coast 2 Coast is called FOX NEWS and Greed… Unless you want to wait around for 2 hours of Business Oriented content promoting the affairs of George Noory and the GOP’s Republican Party Candidates most of the old Coast 2 Coast Format is heard via Paid Membership as a “Insider”….

    George has become a Fox News “Shill” that FEW IF ANY Guests in those last two hours long awaited content actually like nor have any common interests with Noory… Noory actually has a company in business that has sold training materials to many of the corrupt Police Agencies and has even been heard Defending Police accused of Brutality on his Broadcasts of Coast 2 Coast… (Ferguson PD Brutality)

    • The show has gotten much more political.. I think that has created a new audience but also gotten rid of the magical audience that was generated by the 1990s and early 2000s with Art Bell.
      I wonder this, though: How many of the true fans are going to switch to Bell online? I will.. but how many others..?

  13. The show has gotten much more political.. I think that has created a new audience but also gotten rid of the magical audience that was generated by the 1990s and early 2000s with Art Bell.I wonder this, though: How many of the true fans are going to switch to Bell online? I will.. but how many others..?

  14. Hey horror report – you guys need to move the page border down because it's hiding the comment controls when the text window gets to full size. Thanks

  15. I can't listen to radio anymore. The psycho/hateful Faux News creeps have taken over nearly every radio station in the country, and every commercial break spews their bile into my ears. Between the soulless Murdoch/Koch people buying all of the media outlets, and the rise of right-wing radicalism in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court, I genuinely fear for my country. This kind of thing has happened before, and it doesn't end well.But I love the online broadcasting model of Art's new show – it's cost free and free of creepy corporate influence. I understand that the commercials will be far fewer as well…sweet. And with the creative autonomy to shape the program however he sees fit, I can see the new program enduring for many wonderful years. Art's a *brilliant* interviewer, and a real pleasure to listen to overall. And since nearly everyone has a computer now, and most people in the developed nations have smartphones, the audience pool is truly vast – probably even better than broadcast radio, which has been shrinking on the vine for years.I will say this though: Art's audience has evolved in his absence, and it may be a challenge torespond to the higher level of sophistication of our ears. These are no longer the free-wheeling days of the 20th century when every new story captured our imaginations. We don't want to hear the all of the old stuff: the demonstrably fraudulent “Dr.” Jonathan Reed (the wake of destruction he's left in his personal life by pathologically lying to everyone is chilling to read about), vapid New Agers, or Hoagland's truly and totally insane material. In Art's absence, we've been left to our own devices, and we've learned how to sniff out the really ridiculous rubbish – the really woo stuff isn't gong to go over anymore. But Art has the clout to bring in more heavy-hitters than anyone: research scientists and academic thinkers, top ufologists like Stanton Freidman and Richard Dolan, brilliant authors, maybe even some Nobel laureates. Let George keep the Ancient Aliens people – we're over that stuff.But the good news is that we don't need it to fill up airtime anymore, with science verging on magic now; invisibility cloaks, sonofusion research, and deeply expanded and bizarre advancements in astronomy, quantum physics, and metamaterials and such, the legit world has become every bit as fascinating as the paranormal.With the right guidance…the kind that -only- Art Bell is capable of providing, the legacy of his new show could clearly surpass even his earlier treasure trove of great programs. Good luck Art and Keith!

  16. Hey horror report – you guys need to move the page border down because it’s hiding the comment controls when the text window gets to full size. Thanks

  17. I can’t listen to radio anymore. The psycho/hateful Faux News creeps have taken over nearly every radio station in the country, and every commercial break spews their bile into my ears. Between the soulless Murdoch/Koch people buying all of the media outlets, and the rise of right-wing radicalism in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court, I genuinely fear for my country. This kind of thing has happened before, and it doesn’t end well.

    But I love the online broadcasting model of Art’s new show – it’s cost free and free of creepy corporate influence. I understand that the commercials will be far fewer as well…sweet. And with the creative autonomy to shape the program however he sees fit, I can see the new program enduring for many wonderful years. Art’s a *brilliant* interviewer, and a real pleasure to listen to overall. And since nearly everyone has a computer now, and most people in the developed nations have smartphones, the audience pool is truly vast – probably even better than broadcast radio, which has been shrinking on the vine for years.

    I will say this though: Art’s audience has evolved in his absence, and it may be a challenge to
    respond to the higher level of sophistication of our ears. These are no longer the free-wheeling days of the 20th century when every new story captured our imaginations. We don’t want to hear the all of the old stuff: the demonstrably fraudulent “Dr.” Jonathan Reed (the wake of destruction he’s left in his personal life by pathologically lying to everyone is chilling to read about), vapid New Agers, or Hoagland’s truly and totally insane material. In Art’s absence, we’ve been left to our own devices, and we’ve learned how to sniff out the really ridiculous rubbish – the really woo stuff isn’t gong to go over anymore. But Art has the clout to bring in more heavy-hitters than anyone: research scientists and academic thinkers, top ufologists like Stanton Freidman and Richard Dolan, brilliant authors, maybe even some Nobel laureates. Let George keep the Ancient Aliens people – we’re over that stuff.

    But the good news is that we don’t need it to fill up airtime anymore, with science verging on magic now; invisibility cloaks, sonofusion research, and deeply expanded and bizarre advancements in astronomy, quantum physics, and metamaterials and such, the legit world has become every bit as fascinating as the paranormal.

    With the right guidance…the kind that -only- Art Bell is capable of providing, the legacy of his new show could clearly surpass even his earlier treasure trove of great programs. Good luck Art and Keith!

    • The best part of your comment, as quoted in full: “Art’s audience has evolved in his absence, and it may be a challenge torespond to the higher level of sophistication of our ears. These are no longer the free-wheeling days of the 20th century when every new story captured our imaginations. We don’t want to hear the all of the old stuff: the demonstrably fraudulent “Dr.” Jonathan Reed (the wake of destruction he’s left in his personal life by pathologically lying to everyone is chilling to read about), vapid New Agers, or Hoagland’s truly and totally insane material.”

      I agree with that. The users are younger. The listeners to Art’s old stuff are older. But lots of younger NET users filled their minds with Art’s stuff.. so he needs to move on..

      I have long believed a show based off of weird and true science and paranormal topics will work.

      Also as Art gets older he seems philosophical a bit.. I wonder if a show about faith and life after death will become more powerful and meaningful..

      But yes..
      The old quacks and frauds need to be resigned to the past.
      Good comment.

  19. The best part of your comment, as quoted in full: “Art's audience has evolved in his absence, and it may be a challenge torespond to the higher level of sophistication of our ears. These are no longer the free-wheeling days of the 20th century when every new story captured our imaginations. We don't want to hear the all of the old stuff: the demonstrably fraudulent “Dr.” Jonathan Reed (the wake of destruction he's left in his personal life by pathologically lying to everyone is chilling to read about), vapid New Agers, or Hoagland's truly and totally insane material.” I agree with that. The users are younger. The listeners to Art's old stuff are older. But lots of younger NET users filled their minds with Art's stuff.. so he needs to move on..I have long believed a show based off of weird and true science and paranormal topics will work.Also as Art gets older he seems philosophical a bit.. I wonder if a show about faith and life after death will become more powerful and meaningful..But yes.. The old quacks and frauds need to be resigned to the past. Good comment.

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