Air America Radio, founded in 2004 by Sheldon Drobny, as a far-left radio network was and commercial failure within two years of it inception, representing a substantial loss to its investors. Air-America began bouncing payroll checks of its employees shortly after taking to the airwaves. The Bankruptcy was necessary due to the inability to attract advertisers, insufficient ratings below what was expected, declining interest in program content, and poor management. The misuse of investor funds, and the ill-treatment of workers remains controversial.
Air America continues to operate at a loss, smearing President George W. Bush and conservatives in general.
Some of the more familiar hosts include has-beens Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and rapper Chuck D.
Since its 2004 founding, it has been a commercial failure, losing money from its inception and failing to attract listener numbers comparable to popular conservative talk show hosts.