Tom Athans
Encyclopedia
Tom Athans is a media entrepreneur and a notable member of the Democratic Party from the state of Michigan
. He is widely considered the originator of the progressive talk radio
format in the United States. Athans was co-founder and former CEO of Democracy Radio
, an organization that created and produced progressive talk radio shows that included The Ed Schultz Show
and The Stephanie Miller Show
. After his tenure at Democracy Radio, he joined Air America
as Executive Vice President for Programming. Athans was formerly married to Senator Debbie Stabenow
, a Democrat of Michigan. The couple divorced in May 2010.
. He was a Congressional Aide in the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Previous to his tenure as a staffer in Congress, he was elected to local office and served two terms as a Councilman and President of the Village Council in Oxford, Michigan. Athans is also a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Michigan Air National Guard.
, an organization dedicated to creating political balance on America's commercial radio airwaves. Their concept was to develop, fund and incubate progressive oriented talk programming and enlist radio networks to market the programs to stations around the country. Democracy Radio developed and produced talk shows that launched the national careers of Ed Schultz
and Stephanie Miller
, among others. On June 8, 2005, Democracy Radio sold its stake in The Ed Schultz Show to a new company headed by veteran radio executive Randy Michaels
, the former CEO of Clear Channel Radio. In November 2005, Democracy Radio's partner in The Stephanie Miller Show, WYD Media headed by radio industry veteran Ron Hartenbaum, purchased Democracy Radio's shares and assumed sole ownership of the venture. On November 4, 2005, Athans stepped down as CEO of Democracy Radio.
After stepping down from Democracy Radio, Athans became the Executive Vice-President of Air America
, a Progressive talk radio
network. Athans was in charge of developing new programming to expand Air America's lineup. He also headed Air America’s Washington, D.C. corporate office.
After Air America underwent bankruptcy procedures in late 2006, Athans co-founded TalkUSA Radio, a radio production company. Talk USA launched The Leslie Marshall Show and Washington Monthly on the Radio into national syndication.
Athans currently resides in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan and is Vice President of Communications at Helicon Holdings, LLC. in Detroit, Michigan.
as part of a prostitution sting and admitted to paying for a sex act. At the time, he was married to Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. Athans was not charged but was ticketed for driving with a suspended license. In April, Athans made a public statement, "No words can fully express how sorry I am. At the time this incident occurred, I took responsibility for my actions and fully cooperated with law enforcement. My family and I are dealing with this matter in a personal and private way."
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He is widely considered the originator of the progressive talk radio
Progressive talk radio
Progressive talk radio is a talk radio format devoted to expressing liberal or progressive viewpoints of issues, as opposed to conservative talk radio...
format in the United States. Athans was co-founder and former CEO of Democracy Radio
Democracy Radio
Democracy Radio was an organization founded in 2002 by Tom Athans and Paul Fiddick dedicated to creating political balance on America's commercial radio airwaves. The concept was to develop and incubate progressive oriented talk programming and enlist radio networks to market the programs to...
, an organization that created and produced progressive talk radio shows that included The Ed Schultz Show
The Ed Schultz Show
The Ed Schultz Show is a radio program hosted by Ed Schultz. It was formerly broadcast from KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota. It is heard on a network of over 100 stations , including seven of the 10 largest radio markets...
and The Stephanie Miller Show
The Stephanie Miller Show
The Stephanie Miller Show is a syndicated progressive talk radio program that discusses politics, current events, and pop culture using a fast-paced, impromptu style. The three-hour show is hosted by comedienne Stephanie Miller along with voice artist Jim Ward and the show's engineer and executive...
. After his tenure at Democracy Radio, he joined Air America
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
as Executive Vice President for Programming. Athans was formerly married to Senator Debbie Stabenow
Debbie Stabenow
Deborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
, a Democrat of Michigan. The couple divorced in May 2010.
Early life and career
Athans, of Greek descent, was born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He was a Congressional Aide in the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Previous to his tenure as a staffer in Congress, he was elected to local office and served two terms as a Councilman and President of the Village Council in Oxford, Michigan. Athans is also a veteran of the United States Air Force and the Michigan Air National Guard.
Professional history
In 2002, Tom Athans and radio industry veteran Paul Fiddick founded Democracy RadioDemocracy Radio
Democracy Radio was an organization founded in 2002 by Tom Athans and Paul Fiddick dedicated to creating political balance on America's commercial radio airwaves. The concept was to develop and incubate progressive oriented talk programming and enlist radio networks to market the programs to...
, an organization dedicated to creating political balance on America's commercial radio airwaves. Their concept was to develop, fund and incubate progressive oriented talk programming and enlist radio networks to market the programs to stations around the country. Democracy Radio developed and produced talk shows that launched the national careers of Ed Schultz
Ed Schultz
Edward Andrew "Ed" Schultz Is an American television and radio host and a liberal political commentator . He is the host of The Ed Show, a daily news talk program on MSNBC, and The Ed Schultz Show, a talk radio show, nationally syndicated by Dial Global, promising "straight talk."-Early...
and Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Miller
Stephanie Catherine Miller is an American comedienne and host of The Stephanie Miller Show, a progressive talk radio program produced in Los Angeles and syndicated nationally by Dial Global. Talkers magazine ranked her as the 24th most important radio talk show host in America for 2010.-Early...
, among others. On June 8, 2005, Democracy Radio sold its stake in The Ed Schultz Show to a new company headed by veteran radio executive Randy Michaels
Randy Michaels
Randy Michaels is an American broadcasting executive and a member of the National Association of Broadcasters TV Board.Randy Michaels has been involved in large market radio broadcasting since the early 1970s, first in front of the mike as evening personality at adult contemporary WGR in Buffalo...
, the former CEO of Clear Channel Radio. In November 2005, Democracy Radio's partner in The Stephanie Miller Show, WYD Media headed by radio industry veteran Ron Hartenbaum, purchased Democracy Radio's shares and assumed sole ownership of the venture. On November 4, 2005, Athans stepped down as CEO of Democracy Radio.
After stepping down from Democracy Radio, Athans became the Executive Vice-President of Air America
Air America
Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1950 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division from 1950 to 1976...
, a Progressive talk radio
Progressive talk radio
Progressive talk radio is a talk radio format devoted to expressing liberal or progressive viewpoints of issues, as opposed to conservative talk radio...
network. Athans was in charge of developing new programming to expand Air America's lineup. He also headed Air America’s Washington, D.C. corporate office.
After Air America underwent bankruptcy procedures in late 2006, Athans co-founded TalkUSA Radio, a radio production company. Talk USA launched The Leslie Marshall Show and Washington Monthly on the Radio into national syndication.
Athans currently resides in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan and is Vice President of Communications at Helicon Holdings, LLC. in Detroit, Michigan.
Legal issues
In February 2008, Athans was detained in Troy, MichiganTroy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
as part of a prostitution sting and admitted to paying for a sex act. At the time, he was married to Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. Athans was not charged but was ticketed for driving with a suspended license. In April, Athans made a public statement, "No words can fully express how sorry I am. At the time this incident occurred, I took responsibility for my actions and fully cooperated with law enforcement. My family and I are dealing with this matter in a personal and private way."