• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Buffalo So long, Slick

S

SirRoxalot

Although it hasn't hit the larger media yet, the fact is that Slick Tom Tiberi is gone from 97-Rock. He posted a meme on Facebook showing Trump and Putin in coffins with Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing over them. His page closely identified him with 97-Rock, and when the Trump assassination attempt happened hours later, complaints rolled in. Cumulus corporate reacted quickly and one of the few live 7-Midnight voices in WNY was removed from the airwaves.

Here's Tom's take from his Facebook page.

Slick Tom Tiberi​

July 18 at 4:28 AM ·

Last Thursday I shared a dark humored FB meme about former President Trump, on my personal FB page.
Was it in poor taste? Yes, it was. However, the point I need to stress is that this meme was put up BEFORE the assassination attempt on Saturday, I then took it down immediately! However, by then a small but well-organized group of far-right extremist on FB had taken a screen shot of my meme and posted it all over public FB and to their private far right FB groups. This included posting phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Cumulus local and corporate Cumulus management. The screen shot they shared made it look like I had posted the meme AFTER the assassination attempt rather than on Thursday. This small group of individuals have succeeded in getting me fired from 97 Rock, as Cumulus local management crumbled under the pressure from this small group of lunatics. Make no mistake, this was a well-organized hit job! Funny, these are the very same people who whine about cancel culture and freedom of speech. For now, I would like to express my deep affection and thanks to all my loyal listeners that have welcomed me into their homes and supported me over the last 25 years. You are more than listeners to me; you are and will always be my true friends. Let us just say so long for now, as I'll be back!!

The danger of going political on a music station should be obvious. If not, check your Employee Handbook for company policy.
 
If he'd posted a similar cartoon, only with just one coffin -- Putin's -- instead of two, would the far right still have launched its smear campaign? And would Cumulus still have fired Mr. Tiberi? Or is political commentary on other nations OK, no matter how tasteless? Even if, say, King Charles were in a coffin?
 
CTListener said:
If he'd posted a similar cartoon, only with just one coffin -- Putin's -- instead of two, would the far right still have launched its smear campaign? And would Cumulus still have fired Mr. Tiberi? Or is political commentary on other nations OK, no matter how tasteless? Even if, say, King Charles were in a coffin?
Click to expand...
Cumulus will probably not offer any explanation. They could simply say cost cutting(It's surprising that the evening shift even had a host). This is the same station that fired its morning show a couple years ago over a crude tasteless joke. We live in random chaos. I guess violating "Moral Turpitude" only applies to some occupations (certainly not running for President).

The odd thing is that the people who listen to this garbage format were upset when the morning show was fired. Those same people likely support this guys termination. It's not hard to guess what the connection is...
 
Why would anyone at a music station post such a thing to Facebook or anywhere? You have to know it's not politics that brings listeners to the music your station plays and you have to know your listeners are on both democrats and republicans (and others). Anyone in radio should know to stay away from politics unless you're doing a political talk show. To post such a thing was the utmost in stupidity on his end. And yes, it was posted prior to the attempt on Trump's life, but that's not the point. The post was divisive.

The 'far right's' actions, should his response be accurate, depict the political cancer that is eating us all. The left will call the far right deplorable on their actions but both sides are really into 'cancel culture'. It's no more deplorable than the left has done and no worse than the right has done in the past.

Once upon a time Americans agreed to disagree and got along so we could come together for bettering our quality of life. Being a glass half full guy, I believe most of us agree to disagree and work together.
 
The concept is simple. If you're working at a music station, and your social media accounts have links to the station all over them, posting inflammatory political content is very likely a violation of the employee handbook. If you want to do political postings, go to work for a talk radio station or disassociate your social media accounts from the station or company you work for. This isn't a radio only concept. Very few organizations of any kind want to be associated with political opinion in the highly charged and divisive political environment we have today. In general, listeners to music stations don't give a rat's butt about your personal political opinions anyway, especially now.

If corporate told you to post an inflammatory political meme that you disagreed with on your personal social media page, would you do it? You'd have to seriously consider if you wanted to work for a company like that. The reverse is also true.
 
Let's see now ... how to make this post non-political and non-offensive when the topic involves something offensive that relates to politics and a politician who raises the ire of a significant portion of readers and is literally worshiped by admirers. Hmmmm.

The image of "Trump and Putin in two separate coffins" with the tag "Two For One Sale" is bound to piss off a number of listeners or potential listeners. Wait ... did I, simply by describing the gif, png, or jpg that Tiberi posted, just put that image in your head. Oh dear.

Posting images and words of this nature will definitely motivate those who don't listen and don't like a person's politics to cache the page and use it to exact retribution. It appears this is what happened to Tiberi most recently, and to the Morning Show a while ago. It takes only one person to spread the word.

Once "enter" or "send" is keyed, the words or pictures are, for the most part, irrevocable. At least in this forum, posts can be edited within a certain time frame, but anybody with a rudimentary skill can cache a page. To his credit, Slick took down the post in question almost immediately after word of the assassination attempt. There's something to be said for that. But the damage had been done.

Now then ... just a tad of hypocrisy on Cumulus' part, given that the company operates a number of AM radio stations which feature a Cumulus-brewed talk line-up with hosts that regularly skewer and sometimes pose a threat to Democrats and non-MAGA Republicans, and defends MAGA principals and principles that threaten judges, jurors, witnesses and their families. Yes, yes ... that's talk radio, and Slick Tom worked in music radio. Two different things? No. The basic principle of decency applies.

If Beth Coughlin, the Cumulus market manager (who also manages Cumulus' Syracuse and Erie clusters) wanted to reduce payroll, Slick Tom stepped into the bear trap. Will he re-surface? Time will tell. But members of the former 97 Rock morning show are still on the beach, doing real estate or selling cars. Honorable employment for sure, and probably less stressful and more gainful.
 
My listeners can probably guess my politicial leanings to some extent based on where i work.. many of them listen, but they are the opposite.... and this is a very small area. People take things more personally here and will attach it to my job quicker than they did with Slick... i wouldnt dare post anything wiuth dark humor with regards to politics... i almost never ever ever even post anything about politics. Just not a good idea.
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
My listeners can probably guess my politicial leanings to some extent based on where i work..
Click to expand...
I can't. You're in a red state, but work at a noncommercial radio station. "Where I work" could mean either your state or your station so, not knowing you personally, I have no idea what your politics are.
 
CTListener said:
I can't. You're in a red state, but work at a noncommercial radio station. "Where I work" could mean either your state or your station so, not knowing you personally, I have no idea what your politics are.
Click to expand...

As I try to keep it for most except those i know and trust so the service i provide on the radio cant be tarnished by what people assume my beliefs to be. because there are people who wont listen to a dj or host over such silly stuff for silly reasons
 
Rusty Bridges said:
Now then ... just a tad of hypocrisy on Cumulus' part, given that the company operates a number of AM radio stations which feature a Cumulus-brewed talk line-up with hosts that regularly skewer and sometimes pose a threat to Democrats and non-MAGA Republicans, and defends MAGA principals and principles that threaten judges, jurors, witnesses and their families. Yes, yes ... that's talk radio, and Slick Tom worked in music radio. Two different things? No. The basic principle of decency applies.
Click to expand...
People who tune into talk stations have a pretty good idea of what they're political viewpoint they're going to get, and they thrive on opinion, no matter what the station POV. People who tune into music stations aren't there for political opinion. In many cases, they're there to escape political opinion. Social media sites these days are an extension of the radio station when a personality uses their site to promote their shows. The rules are different for music stations than they are for talk stations.
 
SirRoxalot said:
Very few organizations of any kind want to be associated with political opinion
Click to expand...

Especially advertisers.
Rusty Bridges said:
Two different things? No. The basic principle of decency applies.
Click to expand...

Cumulus is the company that fired several staffers for refusing to get vaccinated. At least two of them sued. That's always an option. If you feel you were fired improperly, sue.

www.insideradio.com

As One Vaccine Lawsuit Against Cumulus Is Dismissed, Another Moves Forward.

A federal court has dismissed a suit brought by a former morning man against Cumulus Media over its controversial 2021 mandate that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine. A judge
www.insideradio.com www.insideradio.com
 
SirRoxalot said:
The rules are different for music stations than they are for talk stations.
Click to expand...
Maybe so, but it's not necessarily right. Many songs have lyrics that are politically charged. That's the right of the artist to express themselves. There was a famous episode of WKRP IN CINCINNATI that dealt with a group pressuring the station to stop playing certain songs. Even John Lennon's IMAGINE was deemed offensive.

The station certainly had the right to terminate this host. Most employment is "At Will" even with a contract. A station like WBEN can spew vitriol daily with no consequences. This guy posted a cartoon on Facebook.

Commercial Talk Radio shares blame for the current political climate. They made hate mainstream for decades...
 
tbolt909 said:
The odd thing is that the people who listen to this [...] format were upset when the morning show was fired. Those same people likely support this guys termination. It's not hard to guess what the connection is...
Click to expand...
tbolt909 said:
Commercial Talk Radio shares blame for the current political climate. They made hate mainstream for decades...
Click to expand...
These are most interesting observations having a measure of truth. They present a reality that's often overlooked when the discussion of radio, media, what's on the air and what we as citizens (and some posters on this board, sometimes) trade in. We have reached a point where the discussion seems less about governance and substance and more about political theater. This does not benefit us as a country or a society.
 
tbolt909 said:
Maybe so, but it's not necessarily right. Many songs have lyrics that are politically charged. That's the right of the artist to express themselves. There was a famous episode of WKRP IN CINCINNATI that dealt with a group pressuring the station to stop playing certain songs. Even John Lennon's IMAGINE was deemed offensive.

The station certainly had the right to terminate this host. Most employment is "At Will" even with a contract. A station like WBEN can spew vitriol daily with no consequences. This guy posted a cartoon on Facebook.

Commercial Talk Radio shares blame for the current political climate. They made hate mainstream for decades...
Click to expand...
The same can be said for the yellow journalism of entire groups of newspapers and the rise of social media. Extremists deal in hate, no matter what the media. The real question is whether society reflects the media, or the media reflects society. The answer is as complex as the nation we live in. Face it, California ain't Kentucky, or vice-versa. My sense is that most of us don't live in either locale, literally or figuratively.
 
Sucks to see the Slickster get booted, and to have it done by the people who decry cancel culture(except when THEY do it, then it's awesome.).

He may well follow the road that Iron Mike Bensson did when he left 103.3 when it was AOR The Fox. He segued to St. Catharines' CHTZ(97.7 HTZ FM)and stayed there for years(and was JUST as popular there)before passing away from cancer. CIXL(91.7 Giant FM)in Welland does classic rock, and he could very well do the show from the States with the wonders of technology. (I'm just thinking out loud....don't mind me. :) )
 
Last edited:
CTListener said:
If he'd posted a similar cartoon, only with just one coffin -- Putin's -- instead of two, would the far right still have launched its smear campaign? And would Cumulus still have fired Mr. Tiberi? Or is political commentary on other nations OK, no matter how tasteless? Even if, say, King Charles were in a coffin?
Click to expand...
I think you already know the answer. He made a foolish decision to post the cartoon a couple days before the shooting incident happened. Bad timing and bad judgement. It's also possible that the folks who made the decision to terminate did so based on their political allegiance and not a few complaints from aggrieved Trump Luddites...
 
tbolt909, that is not likely in the least. You don't threaten your ratings/revenue with your personal opinion. And talk about the pot calling the kettle black (to quote grandma), both sides of the aisle spread on the hate pretty thick and are eager to make disparaging remarks like your 'luddites'. Leave the politics on the bottom of your shoes and just talk radio.
 
b-turner said:
You don't threaten your ratings/revenue with your personal opinion. And talk about the pot calling the kettle black (to quote grandma), both sides of the aisle spread on the hate pretty thick and are eager to make disparaging remarks like your 'luddites'. Leave the politics on the bottom of your shoes and just talk radio.
Click to expand...
Rush Limbaugh was great for ratings and revenue in spite of his vitriol and outright lies. Broadcasters looked the other way because the money flowed in. They cowardly called it "Entertainment". Hypocrisy= Much.

I seriously doubt that any advertiser threatened to boycott Cumulus because some Buffalo night disc jockey posted a dumb cartoon on Facebook...
 
Last edited:
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom