Not quite a half an hour ago, long-time co-host of the Cash & Carey Morning Show posted this on her Facebook page:
Wonder what happened?
Wonder what happened?
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1/2 of K95.5FM (KWEN, Tulsa) Morning Show Resigns
- Thread starter GeneSavage
- Start date
Another update from Kelley Cash:
She's done county for quite a while, but she has a history in top 40 (KELI) & oldies (Kool 106) too... someone this versatile ought to be snapped up in a hurry!
(Then again, I thought the same thing about Carly Rush, Mel Myers, Bob Cooper, etc., etc...)
Hopefully someone will hire me! I got out of my contract so I am free as a bird Program Directors
She's done county for quite a while, but she has a history in top 40 (KELI) & oldies (Kool 106) too... someone this versatile ought to be snapped up in a hurry!
(Then again, I thought the same thing about Carly Rush, Mel Myers, Bob Cooper, etc., etc...)
Welcome to radio 2010 where talent is traded like day stock trades. Has it ever occured to the bright boys that run these companies that maybe, just maybe, their lack of respect for what goes over the two speakers is directly coupled with their ability to generate long-term revenue? Nope... I didn't think so, sadly.
OKCRadioGuy, the bean counters in charge don't care.
W
wynneradio
Guest
Cox radio sucks not just in Tulsa but company wide. I did mornings for them in another market. Brain dead from the local market up. The day I left for another job was one of the happiest in my life. Their so called brand managers are nothing more than lap dogs for Bob Neil. I do a show now for a station that actually respects it's air-staff as people and is interested in their ideas.
Cash will be just fine. Trust me she is much better off.
Cash will be just fine. Trust me she is much better off.
Cox axed a bunch of folks in Louisville KY.
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=179975.0
Starting the New Year out with a smaller payroll.
http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php?topic=179975.0
Starting the New Year out with a smaller payroll.
wynneradio said:
I've never worked for Cox, but everything I've heard from current and former staff at Cox Tulsa has been positive. I'm sure it has it's problems, but the overall experience seems to be good.
wynneradio said:
I disagree. I love the people I work with and the company is the most stable of all the others I've worked for. I have health, dental, a 401k and even a pension plan. There's no other place in town I'd want to go to over Cox. I started part time and have worked my way up to APD proving that they promote within. I'm given the tools and training I need to do my job. Everything is researched and while you'll probably disagree, there's a reason and a plan for everything we do. It is a place where talent is respected. I'm surrounded by pros like Wavy, Chuck, Steve, Andy and tons more who bring years of experience to the table and who are in the meetings to give their advice and input. I see it everyday.
Matt Bradley said:
Matt,
I believe what you are saying. But then I think of Cox letting go of incredibly talented individuals with TONS of experience such as Mel Myers. And letting people like Kelley Cash leave (and she apparently feels that she's hasn't been treated well, based on her Facebook post). Certainly your time at Cox has been great, and you've achieved alot there. But something is slightly amiss when great talent is leaving (either by their own choice or by the choice of others) and now we're hearing from people who have some not-so-glowing things to say about the company.
I'd agree with ionosphere's assessment, and perhaps say it like this:
Cox Radio Tulsa is full of wonderful people. Cox Radio corporate doesn't necessarily utilize its wonderful people to their maximum potential.
For proof of that, I'd look at the revolving door that is KRMG. Yes, there are a handful of "regulars" who have been there for decades... but how many talented people, well-known names in Tulsa radio, have come through there and later disappeared, never to be heard from again?
Why have talent like Steve Hunter & Dave Michaels if you're not going to let them use their programming skills? Why have talent like Chuck Stevens & Charlene Lewis if you're not going to let them use their communication skills?
Cox has survived because they're safe, and nobody else is willing to take any risks, either. However, I think many of Tulsa's greatest broadcasters stay there because they are surrounded by more of Tulsa's greatest broadcasters... not because they are allowed to truly practice their craft.
To my mind, it's a great work environment because of the people, NOT because of the company.
Cox Radio Tulsa is full of wonderful people. Cox Radio corporate doesn't necessarily utilize its wonderful people to their maximum potential.
For proof of that, I'd look at the revolving door that is KRMG. Yes, there are a handful of "regulars" who have been there for decades... but how many talented people, well-known names in Tulsa radio, have come through there and later disappeared, never to be heard from again?
Why have talent like Steve Hunter & Dave Michaels if you're not going to let them use their programming skills? Why have talent like Chuck Stevens & Charlene Lewis if you're not going to let them use their communication skills?
Cox has survived because they're safe, and nobody else is willing to take any risks, either. However, I think many of Tulsa's greatest broadcasters stay there because they are surrounded by more of Tulsa's greatest broadcasters... not because they are allowed to truly practice their craft.
To my mind, it's a great work environment because of the people, NOT because of the company.
Drew Anderssen and Steve Hunter have been kind enough to let me work for them while I search for my next opportunity. Lindsey Bauer is here with me as well. In fact, I refer to Drew, Lindsey, Charlene, Mike Downing, Andy Barber, and myself as "Renda refugees." Cox has a great work environment, and some of the nicest people I've worked with in radio. I will always be grateful to them for helping me out during the tough times.
Tod Tucker
Tod Tucker
Tod Tucker said:
Glad to hear more good radio people are still doing the radio thing.
And I forgot that Drew and Andy were at K-Hits...seems like a lifetime ago.
No company is perfect, indeed. With that being said, Cox seems like, even though it's flawed, it's at least a better option than many other big corporate (and some smaller corporate, as in across the street, if you know what I mean LOL!) corporate places to work. Again, it seems nationwide any huge group will be less than ideal, but at least Cox seems to have the majority of the best talent working for them in Tulsa. That says volumes for them as an employer. When and if smaller players that really care about their stations get to someday buy stations because signals become more affordable, then there will be places to really practice our craft. Until then there's places like Cox where at least a paycheck is steady and some radio can be practiced, even if it isn't perfect.
Wynneradio gets the award for being the most correct poster on this thread.
And, sorry, you guys who have found your last refuge at Cox are too full of their kool-aid to be taken seriously about how great it is there. If you can't think of one single station where you felt more fulfilled as a broadcaster, you've had a sad radio career.
Had past and present pros like Wavy Davy, Mel Myers, Andy Barber and the rest only ever worked for Cox, they would have never accomplished anything memorable. They did not build their reputation on reading mediocre liner cards while an alleged "mastermind" pulled the strings from miles away.
And, sorry, you guys who have found your last refuge at Cox are too full of their kool-aid to be taken seriously about how great it is there. If you can't think of one single station where you felt more fulfilled as a broadcaster, you've had a sad radio career.
Had past and present pros like Wavy Davy, Mel Myers, Andy Barber and the rest only ever worked for Cox, they would have never accomplished anything memorable. They did not build their reputation on reading mediocre liner cards while an alleged "mastermind" pulled the strings from miles away.
I understand people who have been doing something their whole lives (radio) and then have the rug pulled out from under them. It's tough, and folks feel bad for them. It's been happening all over this country going on about 2.5 years and even before then. I know how you feel and it sucks.
As far as Cox Radio goes, I couldn't agree with nobull any more. Boring, stale, dry, spoon fed, blah. Nothing creative, nothing exciting, formula driven predictable radio.
KITT from Knight Rider could be a DJ on a Cox station or a morning show host. Cox Radio is about as edgy as the Andy Griffith Show, as cutting edge as a Ford Crown Victoria.
The only people listening to your stations are aging white people who don't use IPODs, SiriusXM, or their CD player.
Yeah, you're pulling decent numbers, yeah your sales staff is making enough to go lease a BMW or Acura, but come on. Lets get serious. The same playlist, mixed up, day in and day out.
"That was Paul McCartney and Wings, before that the Eagles, I'm ______, your 103 minute commercial-free ride home starts next."
How many times have I heard that?
"Loverboy, Everybody's Working for the Weekend, before that we heard the Black Eyed Peas. I'm _____, your 96 minute drive home starts next."
Over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
For God's sake, do something. Anything. Get people to listen. If the humans that work at your station are going to read the same crap, get rid of them. Just play music. If you're going to have a DJ, have them do something. Take phone calls. Tell a story. Or here's one, allow them to play something not on the same damn set of songs.
Some of the bands/acts you play had multiple hits. Why do I only hear 1 or 2?
I'm not trying to pick on Cox, b/c it's not just Cox that's guilty of this.
Sorry for my rant. Happy New Year!
As far as Cox Radio goes, I couldn't agree with nobull any more. Boring, stale, dry, spoon fed, blah. Nothing creative, nothing exciting, formula driven predictable radio.
KITT from Knight Rider could be a DJ on a Cox station or a morning show host. Cox Radio is about as edgy as the Andy Griffith Show, as cutting edge as a Ford Crown Victoria.
The only people listening to your stations are aging white people who don't use IPODs, SiriusXM, or their CD player.
Yeah, you're pulling decent numbers, yeah your sales staff is making enough to go lease a BMW or Acura, but come on. Lets get serious. The same playlist, mixed up, day in and day out.
"That was Paul McCartney and Wings, before that the Eagles, I'm ______, your 103 minute commercial-free ride home starts next."
How many times have I heard that?
"Loverboy, Everybody's Working for the Weekend, before that we heard the Black Eyed Peas. I'm _____, your 96 minute drive home starts next."
Over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
For God's sake, do something. Anything. Get people to listen. If the humans that work at your station are going to read the same crap, get rid of them. Just play music. If you're going to have a DJ, have them do something. Take phone calls. Tell a story. Or here's one, allow them to play something not on the same damn set of songs.
Some of the bands/acts you play had multiple hits. Why do I only hear 1 or 2?
I'm not trying to pick on Cox, b/c it's not just Cox that's guilty of this.
Sorry for my rant. Happy New Year!
I do agree they are very sanitized radio. In some ways they are even more so than CC is. With that being said, they do seem to be a bit nicer to the help in general.
Cox is a very fair employer. Their benefit package is one of if not the best in the business. Here in Atlanta only the Weather Channel or CNN have better bennies. They almost always inform new hires what their job will be and you do what they tell you, and you are “safe” unless your station gets flipped. Station flipping almost always means axing the staff, no matter who owns the station. Cox is a great place for a “non on air” career. If Bob Neil likes your work, it is a great place for a “on air” career too.
Glenn Quagmire said:
Well, we ARE picking on Cox, but they deserve it. They've been offering watered-down radio for years and it seems to be getting worse. How a jock at Star can read a liner proclaiming to be Tulsa's Only Classic Rock Station into a Huey Lewis song and not feel a twinge in their gut, I have no idea. In my opinion, no self-respecting Classic Rock station would play the kind of bubblegum pop Lewis offers.
Up the dial, Mix claims to play the Best Mix of the 80's, 90's and Today. Well, it isn't a very thorough mix.
It's been documented and backed up that Cox is a good employer. That's great. But no benefit package in the world changes the fact that Cox puts out bad radio. The Cox people may argue that people are listening, but there aren't many alternatives. Let's face it, Tulsa radio in general has become very stale.
While I can't argue with the description of Cox's programing as "bland," I will say that "classic rock" is certainly beginning to include Huey Lewis.
At the time he was hot, he was basically a bar rock band, I think. They were considered a "rock" band. Not hard rock, but then again: could you REALLY call Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young a "rock" band? How about America? Jackson Browne? Or Jimmy Buffett? The Eagles? ELO? Maybe Hall & Oates? Billy Joel? Most of Elton John's stuff? Little River Band? A lot of Paul McCartney's singles? Poco? Pure Prairie League? Simon & Garfunkel? Steely Dan? Yet many classic rock stations have played many of these artists' songs nearly since they were new.
The "Rock 'n roll" of the 80s now sounds very similar to some of the country of today... so when Star 103 & K95 sound very similar... they likely have the mix for their demo about right!
If we're going to question Star saying "Tulsa's only classic rock station" (which makes me laugh because 94.1 sound more like classic rock to me!), then we should also take to task Mix for still calling themselves "new." Even KRMG's "Tulsa's home for Fox News" is a bit suspect... Tulsa's REAL home for Fox News is channel 52! (I suspect they meant to say "Tulsa's RADIO home for Fox News," but they couldn't fit any more words into the station ID card.)
KRMG's winter storm coverage last year was a joke, too. They'd go into storm center if COLD TEMPS were in the forecast, and stay in storm center for DAYS. Word on the street is that they were doing it to fleece the advertisers who signed up to sponsor Storm Center... and I suspect the old "fool you once, shame on you..." cliche will come into play THIS winter.
Shall we also go after the (highly successful) promotion by K95 which has listeners spelling with NUMBERS?!? "In case you didn't sound like a hick to your friends before, we're going to have you spell 'country' wrong AND we're going to have you say a couple of numbers are letters... 'K?"
(Don't get me wrong: I think it's been a great help in getting people to remember the station ID. I just don't think it's the brightest thing I've ever heard a listener say on the air.)
Cox Tulsa has a lot of silly things on the air... but Star calling Huey Lewis & The News "classic rock," to me, isn't one of them. ("Walking On A Thin Line" I think could easily qualify as a rocker, if none of their other songs.)
At the time he was hot, he was basically a bar rock band, I think. They were considered a "rock" band. Not hard rock, but then again: could you REALLY call Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young a "rock" band? How about America? Jackson Browne? Or Jimmy Buffett? The Eagles? ELO? Maybe Hall & Oates? Billy Joel? Most of Elton John's stuff? Little River Band? A lot of Paul McCartney's singles? Poco? Pure Prairie League? Simon & Garfunkel? Steely Dan? Yet many classic rock stations have played many of these artists' songs nearly since they were new.
The "Rock 'n roll" of the 80s now sounds very similar to some of the country of today... so when Star 103 & K95 sound very similar... they likely have the mix for their demo about right!
If we're going to question Star saying "Tulsa's only classic rock station" (which makes me laugh because 94.1 sound more like classic rock to me!), then we should also take to task Mix for still calling themselves "new." Even KRMG's "Tulsa's home for Fox News" is a bit suspect... Tulsa's REAL home for Fox News is channel 52! (I suspect they meant to say "Tulsa's RADIO home for Fox News," but they couldn't fit any more words into the station ID card.)
KRMG's winter storm coverage last year was a joke, too. They'd go into storm center if COLD TEMPS were in the forecast, and stay in storm center for DAYS. Word on the street is that they were doing it to fleece the advertisers who signed up to sponsor Storm Center... and I suspect the old "fool you once, shame on you..." cliche will come into play THIS winter.
Shall we also go after the (highly successful) promotion by K95 which has listeners spelling with NUMBERS?!? "In case you didn't sound like a hick to your friends before, we're going to have you spell 'country' wrong AND we're going to have you say a couple of numbers are letters... 'K?"
(Don't get me wrong: I think it's been a great help in getting people to remember the station ID. I just don't think it's the brightest thing I've ever heard a listener say on the air.)
Cox Tulsa has a lot of silly things on the air... but Star calling Huey Lewis & The News "classic rock," to me, isn't one of them. ("Walking On A Thin Line" I think could easily qualify as a rocker, if none of their other songs.)
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