Was no one in mgmt listening and maybe picked up the phone and told the producer to cut to a commercial? Or did mgmt think it was fine until there was a complaint? Maybe they just don't listen - or maybe I'm just stuck in the past picturing "Pig Vomit" at WNBC calling the producer to cutoff Stern and put on a record during a questionable bit. I was under the impression most stations were running on a delay to cut off any thing objectionable now a days.
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97 Rock REALLY steps in it
- Thread starter ckg279
- Start date
Was no one in mgmt listening and maybe picked up the phone and told the producer to cut to a commercial? Or did mgmt think it was fine until there was a complaint? Maybe they just don't listen - or maybe I'm just stuck in the past picturing "Pig Vomit" at WNBC calling the producer to cutoff Stern and put on a record during a questionable bit. I was under the impression most stations were running on a delay to cut off any thing objectionable now a days.
If that's true, why do so many stations get fined for indecent language?
My question was whatever happened to morning show meetings? Most morning shows I've been associated with have meetings after the show every day to set up the next day's show. They go over the next day's topics, and any possible guests. Sometimes a PD might be present, but its not required. It sounds to me like this was not planned. The other people in the room didn't sound very enthusiastic about the bit.
But once again, we often have discussions about stations hiring local talent. Here's a case where there was absolutely nothing local about this bit. No reason to do it. Not funny. They might as well run a nationally syndicated show. This is why radio companies prefer syndication. Less of a chance for a mistake like this to happen.
Bottom line -- The guy had been in Radio long enough to know better. Only he knows why he decided to ramble on with this horrible "Comedy Bit". Do they really need a Morning Show meeting to say "Remember, Nobody use the word Mulatto today"?
Radio stations prefer Syndication because it's cheaper. Local doesn't necessarily mean better content anyway. They just follow the Corporate Programming mandates. You're right that a National show can be edited for blunders if it's not live...
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What you - and Pergament - are missing is that this has blown up far beyond the pay grade of local management. It hit the national news and Halle freakin' Berry has Tweeted about it. The names of people with very deep pockets and an army of lawyers available were mentioned on a story that went national. I expect that direction is coming from corporate and their platoon of lawyers about what to do and what to say.
Rob is history. The rest of the morning show is part of the "investigation." They're suspended for now. Where 97-Rock goes from here is certainly undecided. It is a fact that they're one of the most successful Classic Rock stations in the country and the morning show has been an integral part of that. That may weigh in favor of maintaining a local show instead of going the "Cheap Beer and Fake Wings" route. Don't expect a resolution or anything but "radio silence" until corporate determines where the story goes from here. Any response beyond what was offered is likely to just prolong the agony and throw gas on the fire.
Those of you who think Lederman engineered this obviously haven't paid attention to his words and actions since the event. It was stupid, he knows it was stupid, and he's intent on making something good come out of it. This isn't the type of response we got from Imus, or Bubba the Love Sponge, or most other "talent" who have stepped in it during daily blather.
PS - The 97-Rock Morning Show kicked Stern's ass when somebody tried bring him to town. Shredd and Ragan kicked Opie and Anthony's ass when Farid and Citadel brought them to town. Nobody from outside the market has unseated these local shows. Syndication would be a very large indicator that Cumulus is giving up on local broadcasting and adopting the iHeartless/Audiacy playbook.
Rob is history. The rest of the morning show is part of the "investigation." They're suspended for now. Where 97-Rock goes from here is certainly undecided. It is a fact that they're one of the most successful Classic Rock stations in the country and the morning show has been an integral part of that. That may weigh in favor of maintaining a local show instead of going the "Cheap Beer and Fake Wings" route. Don't expect a resolution or anything but "radio silence" until corporate determines where the story goes from here. Any response beyond what was offered is likely to just prolong the agony and throw gas on the fire.
Those of you who think Lederman engineered this obviously haven't paid attention to his words and actions since the event. It was stupid, he knows it was stupid, and he's intent on making something good come out of it. This isn't the type of response we got from Imus, or Bubba the Love Sponge, or most other "talent" who have stepped in it during daily blather.
PS - The 97-Rock Morning Show kicked Stern's ass when somebody tried bring him to town. Shredd and Ragan kicked Opie and Anthony's ass when Farid and Citadel brought them to town. Nobody from outside the market has unseated these local shows. Syndication would be a very large indicator that Cumulus is giving up on local broadcasting and adopting the iHeartless/Audiacy playbook.
7 or 8 second delays, which is standard, will not be good enough to cut off a bad concept, only a quick curseword.
Stern was on KB. If you think Stern couldn't have destroyed Norton on 97 Rock on a level field, you are mistaken. Stern was faster and funnier. His mega-success was not an accident.
I Wiki'd "James Casey" and came up with
James Casey (American football)
James Casey (variety artist)
James Casey (Australian politician)
and
James Casey (poet-priest)
Mr. Bridges, could you please explain the "James Casey ladder"? Thank you.
ixnay
The station is located at "50 James E. Casey Dr."
The Buffalo News account by Pergament (may be behind paywall) raises some legitimate questions. Warning: There are some disturbing comments in the comments section following The News article. There's no surprise that this ordeal has gone beyond the local operation of the station. Imagine the number of Zoom or Citrix meetings between the managers at 50 James E. Casey and Corporate.
As to Stern, 97 beat him when he was on WWKB, but he later was on WBUF from 2002 when it was doing Classic Rock, and through the transition to Jack FM during the CBS/Infinity era. Stern left OTA radio and WBUF in December 2005. IIRC, 97 Rock overall was very competitive and held its own against WBUF, although Stern won the morning battle.
As to Stern, 97 beat him when he was on WWKB, but he later was on WBUF from 2002 when it was doing Classic Rock, and through the transition to Jack FM during the CBS/Infinity era. Stern left OTA radio and WBUF in December 2005. IIRC, 97 Rock overall was very competitive and held its own against WBUF, although Stern won the morning battle.
Buffalo Association of Black Journalists Meets With 97 Rock after racial comments
The association called for that meeting after an incident last week, when Morning Bull host Rob Lederman compared how he likes his toast, to the color of women’s skin.
www.wivb.com
"The (Buffalo Association of Black Journalists) says next steps were discussed for the radio station, which included listening sessions with the community, partnerships with minority media organizations, and efforts to increase diversity among the 97 Rock staff."
What does "increase the diversity among 97 Rock Staff" mean? Is Cumulus Buffalo an Equal Opportunity Employer? Do they currently employ any Non-Whites? Is Jimi Hendrix the only Black artist on the playlist?Buffalo Association of Black Journalists Meets With 97 Rock after racial comments
The association called for that meeting after an incident last week, when Morning Bull host Rob Lederman compared how he likes his toast, to the color of women’s skin.
"The (Buffalo Association of Black Journalists) says next steps were discussed for the radio station, which included listening sessions with the community, partnerships with minority media organizations, and efforts to increase diversity among the 97 Rock staff."
The host who lit the fuse on this has been terminated. The other two are still in Limbo I guess. Suspended? Terminated? Will the station lose its license if they don't take "The Next Steps"? Interesting stuff...
It's a bit of a stretch, but if a community group wanted to make a big stink, they could challenge the station's license at the next renewal. It's rare when it happens, but the threat is there. It's always good for a station to stay in touch with the community. But its also indicative of the kinds of steps Lederman should be taking if he wants to come back in some way.
A typical classic rock station plays Hendrix and Prince, maybe Lenny Kravitz if the playlist includes '90s titles. Maybe adding some of the rock/rap hybrids would work, but going too far in that direction might drive off the listeners who were huge fans of album rock during the de facto segregation eras of Lee Abrams "Superstars" and early MTV.
Prince? On a rock station? I know he had some awesome guitar chops, but the thought of that made me cringe. Maybe 97 Rock should just rename one of their jocks Venus Flytrap and call it a day.
Prince's music incorporated Funk, Rock,
R & B, and other genres. There's no good reason that a Rock station can't play some of his songs. Classic Hits formats play his music.
The average Troglodyte 97 Rock listener just wants more "Linnard Skinnard"(sic) and tasteless jokes about burnt toast...
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At least three. That's a fair analogy. As to "balanced diary sample," December could have been a particularly difficult month for diary sample for Men, and a particularly good month for diary sample among Women. Jan-Feb-Mar will reveal more. It would be no surprise if stations that appeal to Men get a bounce.DavidEduardo said:
Cutting to the reality, the actual station owners/managers station are in serious jeopardy of loosing programming control over their asset (if they haven't already). In essence, it appears they are being - or, at least, there is a material attempt to be - managed/guided by an unrelated third party. I wonder how that feels(?).Buffalo Association of Black Journalists Meets With 97 Rock after racial comments
The association called for that meeting after an incident last week, when Morning Bull host Rob Lederman compared how he likes his toast, to the color of women’s skin.
"The (Buffalo Association of Black Journalists) says next steps were discussed for the radio station, which included listening sessions with the community, partnerships with minority media organizations, and efforts to increase diversity among the 97 Rock staff."
OTOH, what choice does Cumulus local or national have? They're between a rock (pun intended) and a hard place. They're not ceding control, they're doing what they have to do to maintain control. At this point, they're doing the right thing: Listening, nodding their heads and taking notes. They're playing the long game. By June or July, this fiasco could be behind them and most importantly, the license(s) will be preserved. As suggested earlier in this thread, in the name of diversity, a person of color, perhaps DJ Anthony, might even be added the morning show. Anthony, despite years as the night guy at CHR Kiss, is known to have a broad music background. And although it seems a stretch at this juncture, Lederman may not be the crispy toast some media observers think he is. He could be the Prodigal Son of shtickmeisters. Reconciliation and redemption aren't out of the question.
Seems to that they are likely agreeing to do what this BABJ guides them to do. Was all of the station and ownership that ignorant before? Does the station and ownership have no confidence in the steps they had taken previous to "the incident"? I'll bet that the station and ownership doesn't dare say anything other than 'yes, ma'am/sir' to any member of this BABJ.
Other choices? For one, the station and ownership could state that they have confidence in their policies & practices; this was an isolated incident; they are disappointed it happened; it is a personnel matter, and there will be no further comment.
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