WASHINGTON -- The 11th annual R&R Talk Radio Seminar featured some of radio's newest talents -- and one of its biggest stars: Premiere Radio Networks-syndicated talk host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh delivered a stirring keynote address on March 2, kicking off three days' worth of lively, informative and fun events for the show's biennial trip to the nation's capital.

Citing how he's often labeled as the leading purveyor of conservative viewpoints in the media, Limbaugh said that it's his relationship with his listeners, not his show's subject matter, that has carried him to success and notoriety.

"By the time I go on the air each day, someone, somewhere has probably made every point I am going to make," he said. "It's not about having an idea. I know my audience, and I know what they want. What they want is something real, straightforward and fun. They are where it begins and ends for me."

Limbaugh also insisted that he takes his responsibility to his listeners seriously. "Trust is required if they are going to believe you," he said. "That is a bond of loyalty that you cannot flout and cannot flaunt."

In fact, he told the standing-room-only crowd in the Renaissance Washington Hotel that while he can handle the barbs often thrown his way, he takes umbrage at attacks on Talk radio. "You can call me a racist, a homophobe or whatever you want, but I have a desire for this business to be respected," he said, adding that the loyalty Talk radio has shown to him during his recent legal troubles in Florida have further emboldened him to stand by the industry.

"We all make mistakes, and some of us in this business do it in public," he said. "But I've always had utter confidence in your support. I am overwhelmed and grateful, and I thank you for that."

And it's that loyalty that will keep him on terrestrial radio and off of satellite radio. "Why would I cannibalize the people who made me who I am today?" he said.

Plus, Limbaugh said he prefers terrestrial radio's broad reach. "When I turn on that microphone," he said, "I have the nation."

'Talent Trumps Ideology'
Pointing specifically to Limbaugh, Benchmark Co. CEO Dr. Rob Balon said it was the host's talent, not his politics, that made him successful.

"Rush could have been a liberal," said Balon. "What makes him go is show prep and the talent he brings. If other hosts had a fraction of his preparedness, they'd be better."

However, Balon also pointed to study results that show a decline in listenership to Limbaugh's brand of conservative Talk, and he suggested that the number of similar hosts may be hitting a "saturation point."

In the latest study, the number of respondents who labeled themselves as conservatives fell 4% compared to the 2003 edition of the survey, to 39%, while the number of moderates rose 5%, to 34%.

"If you look at the decline in conservative listeners, the perception that all Talk radio listeners are conservative isn't true," said Balon. "You'd better reach the others too and make sure they're listening and engaged."

Radio Welcomes Thompson
In a March 3 interview with ABC News White House Correspondent Ann Compton, actor, lawyer, former U.S. senator and new ABC News Radio personality Fred Thompson spoke about his upcoming radio debut, including his status as a fill-in host for legendary commentator Paul Harvey.

"He's awe-inspiring," Thompson said of Harvey. "He has a style and personality all his own and is someone the American people rely on. To say there are big shoes to fill is a gross understatement."

In fact, Thompson, who will serve as a Special Program Host and Sr. Analyst for the network, isn't going to try to emulate Harvey but will instead bring something of his own to the table. "You can't fool yourself into believing you'll be like that," he said of Harvey's style.

As for coming to the medium of radio, Thompson said radio's unique ability to connect with listeners was a draw. "What radio does best is communicate," he said.

"Everything I have done, from trying cases to working in the Senate to acting, has been about communication. In radio, it's evaluation of the word and how it's spoken. Radio gives us an opportunity to turn people's attention to the things we think are important."

Gibson's Radio Return
Although he's been on television for over 30 years, Fox News' John Gibson said he's thrilled to return to the industry where he got his start.

"I just started the second part of my radio career," the cable host said on March 3, recalling the series of radio jobs that preceded his first television gig back in 1975. His radio show debuted earlier this year.

However, Gibson said the urge to return to radio always lingered, especially after he witnessed Limbaugh's national success. "I thought, 'Hmmm, that looks like fun,'" said Gibson, noting that the shift toward hosts sharing their opinions initially amazed him.

"In the old days, if you heard someone hint at an opinion, it was almost scandalous," he said. "People didn't know how to take it at first, especially if you worked in a newsroom. According to my upbringing, if you had an opinion, don't let it show. But I was bursting with my opinions."

Now he relishes the freedom his radio show provides. "I do a one-hour TV show, but I only get to talk for maybe 12 minutes," he said. "I'm very excited about doing this radio program."

Biden Praises Radio
In a lively Saturday interview with Air America Radio's Rachel Maddow, Sen. Joe Biden praised the Talk radio community for raising the public's awareness of important issues facing the United States. "You're the only people bringing these stories to average people, getting them focused," he said. "You impact public attitudes."

Discussed in political circles as a possible candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, Biden also believes it's good to hear passionate debate from both the liberals and conservatives on the airwaves. "There should be people on both the left and right building genuine argumentation and bringing more balance to the nation's discourse," he said. "I think both should exist."

In fact, Biden said it's a country's ideas and ideals, not its military might, that lead to strength and prosperity. "The public knows none of this is easy," he said, "but they need to know the truth."

What Women Want
During the packed "What Women Want" panel on March 3, Sheri Lynch, half of the nationally syndicated Bob & Sheri Show, said that despite having never hosted a radio show, she knew how to reach her target female audience from the beginning.

"Women's lives are fragmented and complicated," she said. "They're struggling with unrealistic standards of beauty and perfection in the workplace and at home, and what's missing is friendship. They needed a place to go to hang out with their friends. I am the surrogate best friend for 1 million women every week."

Referring frequently to the "steaming piles" of money her show generates, Lynch also expressed disbelief that no strong challengers have emerged in the 14 years her show has been on the air. "When is someone going to throw some competition our way?" she said. "I figured my clones would be there by now. But I'm still waiting. Come on in -- the water's fine."

Responding to an audience member's question, Lynch also insisted that while her show draws a majority of female listeners, it's there to serve both genders. "Why do you want to limit your success?" she said. "I want as many people with money listening as I can get. Talk radio connects us back to the human family."

Discussing whether Talk on the FM dial is finally hitting its stride, CBS Radio VP/Original Programming Chris Oliviero stressed that FM Talk can work, but only if stations focus less on the concept and more on the content.

"FM Talk is a bad name," he said during a March 3 session, insisting that the different types of Talk shows now heard on FM stations prohibit the use of such a broad term.

Former WNEW/New York PD and current Sirius VP/Talk Programming Jeremy Coleman agreed. "People aren't latching on to a concept; they latch on to human beings," he said. "Get the talent, and they get the listeners for the station."

Satellite 'Poisoned The Well'
HD Digital Radio Alliance CEO Peter Ferrara said on March 3 that the lucrative deals both XM and Sirius struck with automakers to get their receivers installed in new vehicles are hurting the ability of broadcasters to convince automakers to start installing HD Radio receivers in their line of models.

"Detroit is a problem," Ferrara said during the session, which focused on new technologies. "We've got a long way to go, but now we have their attention. And they recognize that broadcasters are behind it. The alliance has helped. Discussions with Detroit are moving forward, but satellite radio poisoned the well."

iBiquity CFO Pat Walsh said that as consumers become more aware of HD Radio, a technology his company developed, prices for the receivers will come down. "We have watched this happen before," Walsh said, noting that early Sirius and XM receivers were pricey but eventually came down to more affordable levels. "The magic of consumer demand drives down the price, and we are just at the beginning of the curve. Consumers will learn it and get it over time."

Walsh also urged broadcasters to seize the opportunity to jump onto the digital bandwagon, saying, "There is a huge opportunity here to take your content into the digital world. HD Radio gives you a platform to compete with these other technologies."

Meanwhile, Arbitron VP/PPM Services Bob Michaels told a Saturday morning crowd that data from the ratings company's ongoing Houston trial of the Portable People Meter indicates that morning television is muscling in on morning radio's territory.

"People are watching more morning TV than they ever have before," he said, noting a rise in locally produced TV morning shows. Michaels also said that big news stories are drawing people to their TV sets before they head out for the morning commute.

"Morning show television now has more exclusive content, so we just have to learn it, love it, live it and compete with it," he said. "But it's not doom and gloom."