While some would perceive anarchy behind the scenes at the Dark Matter Radio Network in light of Art Bell’s sudden and unexpected departure Friday, Keith Rowland is putting a professional voice to the chaos. The brains behind the paranormal radio network that has grown in popularity online–with help from MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT and Richard C. Hoagland alike–put out an official statement on ArtBell.com to explain the future plans. At least the immediate future.
Rowland explains,
I will run Midnight in the Desert w/Heather Wade on the Dark Matter Digital Network for the next 30 days minimum. She will start in Art’s same time slot for Monday and Tuesday…
However, seeing as I’m obligated to continue feeding the terrestrial affiliate stations for the next 30 days, I’ll need to feed either Heather’s live show or replays of Art Bell’s archives, (which ever they determine the best for them yet to be decided). If I need to feed the Art Bell replays to them at 9-12, Art’s time slot, I will have Heather do MITD from 6-9 pm PT LIVE to insure she gets to do shows for you also. If the radio stations are fine with Heather filling in for Art, we’ll keep her at 9-12 PT.
And this,
Her shows will be added to the same Time Travelers archive as Art’s shows, so your current subscription will have Art’s old shows and these new ones. It’s up to you to continue to support the show with Heather by keeping your existing subscription or signing up again for the Time Travelers subscription, now at $4.99. After 30 days, we all will evaluate the financial situation of whether we can continue. I hope the subscriber base will maintain the show. We will do our part in reducing the costs.
Heather Wade, Art Bell’s producer as of Friday morning and full time MIDNIGHT host as of the night, is expected to return Monday with a program in the wake of his quitting.
The HORROR REPORT has been covering the situation as it developed. Those new to it may find helpful information in the annals of archives on this website.
There has been rampant speculation on whether the OTHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT host Hoagland would continue. On that note, Rowland writes,
As for Richard C Hoagland’s OSOM program, again, it’s all about finances. RCH and I need to re-evaluate our financial model and hope to come to some resolution to continue running his show on DMDN. Stay tuned for updates on this matter. He could be back on Monday night! You can still show your support by Joining Club 19.5.
Rowland went on to give a very personal note to fans and listeners, saying “As hard as I tried, with over two years in building the network, none of the other programs I carried were able to earn any advertising dollars to support the cost of playing the shows, let alone justify my time in producing the shows live. I had to be present in the studio during all live shows in order to connect and bring them on, monitor the sound, play the breaks, record the show and edit the replay audio files. This time took away from my day and had no financial benefit. But I did it because Art’s show was subsidizing the cost. With the leaving of Art Bell, it doesn’t seem financially viable to continue spending hours a day doing this. So I regret to not being able to produce LIVE versions of these programs after this week.” Rowland says, “I need to have those 4 hours of day back.”
Rowland spoke briefly at the end of his post regarding Art Bell’s vanishing act, writing,
It is sad that incidents have taken our Art Bell away from us again…. The challenge of bringing Art back was intense and satisfying. But the Dark Matter Digital Network was created and maintained for his return. Now that he is gone… the situation will be fluid and could quickly change. But I’m willing to get this a shot, if you are. I will update this post as I have more information.
Whether fans are willing to give Wade a shot is something only time travelers–the real ones–will know now.
As the HORROR REPORT has previously reported, major stations have either dropped or are considering dropping the MIDNIGHT IN THE DESERT program from their programming schedules. Only a week ago, a giant powerful Texas station picked up Bell. Three days later he stopped doing shows and two after that he quit. Even if the slightest chance exists that a change of mind will occur, it would appear fans have already made their minds up that this is the final time. A much smaller squadron of people are calling for Bell to change his mind. The larger majority this go around appear to either be thanking him for one last round of shows, or criticizing him for his reaction to the alleged shooting occurrences on or near his property since November.
The entire backbone of the entire operation has been Keith Rowland. Those who have heavily followed the past few years’ worth of goodbyes and comebacks know of previous tension between Art Bell and Rowland over Jimmy Church and other internal matters at the Dark Matter Radio Network. However as time went on, the strength of programming and the signal increased in popularity and ratings.
Rowland is potentially one of the hardest workers to the cause of good programming. It was evident in what he built, despite a number of armchair critics who could not do the same themselves.
Even more, Rowland has been put into a difficult spot: Allegiance for years to a host who has not quit again vs a future of his radio network he took years to build.
Wade enters.
30 days later?
Time will tell who exits.
Dear ‘Midnight In The Desert’,
Mr. Bell is no stranger to dilemma’s, ethical or otherwise. I’m sure Mr. Rowland could recall one or two in the past twenty years. While I’m not about to write a ‘ripper’ piece on the entire sordid affair, if this is the bag that Keith Rowland is going be left holding (along with Art’s family and the rest of us) perhaps one last re-think might be in order.
I had begun listening to occasionally lost and found shows in the mid 90’s and was completely hooked by 97. I said then (about Art) “I could listen to him read the Madison Wisconsin Yellow Pages.” and I still stand by that statement. Broadcasting was one of the few things I excelled in at High School but knew I couldn’t make a living at it so I’d just listen like everybody else.
In no time listeners were greeted to his ‘side show’, retirement. I have no doubt that a few of those were well thought out, and angst ridden decisions that came about after long and late discussions with at least Keith Rowland, right? I’m pretty sure Keith will remember those in vivid detail.
However by the fourth or fifth one (retirement that is) Art’s son from his first marriage had become the victim of a kidnap/molestation by his High School gym teacher and this ‘retirement’ had all/most of the ‘earmarks’ as his others. Things weren’t going necessarily smooth with the then new owners of the program and were implementing changes that not many liked, and besides the fact that Art had left that family when the kids were about three years old, he had to quit the show to do what again? Never did find out what Art assisted with, allegedly of course.
Weather or not Art intervened in that episode (his son Vince never mentioned anything about the case in a printed interview other than to say he didn’t really know Art). Every one of these ‘Retirements’ is the same/similar. Some type of ‘Family Crisis’ arises with very little in the way of a motive, Art suggests a lengthy or even Terminable ‘Retirement’, the Audience becomes positively apoplectic, Keith all but threatens to pull the plug and some fresh-voiced talent is found (against their better judgement) and after a good while passes by . . . Ta Da, Art returns.
It’s been written that an example of not following a moral imperative is making a promise that you do not intend to keep in order to get something. Well luckily for Art I don’t recall him making a promise to me or any of his other listeners regardless of when they started listening, but maybe Keith remembers something different. Or Heather, or Vincent?
Now that were on his seventh or eighth ‘Retirement’ perhaps he should stay away and get all of his health concerns addressed, both physical and/or mental, emotional. I, for one, couldn’t take yet again, another ‘retirement’ within a few month’s to a year from now (as the pattern appears to be cycling more rapidly now) without a strong logical reason for such behavior. I’d also imagine the same could be said from Keith and/or any potential commercial clients that have been caught up in this (unless the clients have been made well aware of these ‘retirements’ and count on them from doing business like this in the past.
This is a mystery for the ages, did we ask for this or more than a lot? He really gave us very little and now that’s all we got. I hope the Bells are all very safe and will remain so. I also hope Art goes and does something he actually wants and loves to do, but not at the expense of his health, allegedly of course allegedly. Sincerely SkiBo.
I could not agree more with all of the above. There are just so many family crises he can use as an excuse before people begin to get jaded and walk away. That’s how I am now. If he comes back, good, if he doesn’t, fine. There are other more accessible and very good paranormal shows out there. I don’t think Art realizes how tight the competition is. He doesn’t owe me anything in terms of a show, but I equally don’t owe him financial support for a show he’s not doing. I feel badly for Keith, who’s left holding the bag again, but he must be used to it by now. It may well be time for Art to take his final bow.