1060 WIXC - Changes

[onetake]

I appreciate the response of Mark, Warrior and Paperbill. I expected to be slammed for being so direct. I think Bruce mirrors a lot of where radio management is today in that radio expects too much too soon. Unfortunately people are not as emotionally attached to radio these days and one can't just put a format on and know in 6 months if it has legs. It takes time to build a relationship with listeners and I understand why many listeners are cynical. Think of all the formats and call letter changes that occur in every market annually. At one time i believe Bruce was a promotion man for Columbia Records so without analyzing him I can only point out hits were confirmed in weeks and maybe at times we all now run a little too fast for where the audience is. We become a favorite station slowly but we're trying to expect them to respond to every line up adjustment or format change or know our new name as quickly as us.
I do respect some observations and yes from WFLA in tampa to WDBO in Orlando they've remained strong and solid. They've also been established for years with a dependable and consistant product and their success is as much a testimony that loyal audiences remain loyal til we confuse them and run them off.

I'm not an owner. But in today's world of an individual who not only has seen the value of the property go down but the pricing competition and marketing strength of group power (Cox, CC, etc) today's radio world is like your dad's little hardware store trying to compete against Home Depot.

At times you want to say "hang on it's going to be ok" but from property value declining to below budget sales many of us might try and make a quick fix that also under delivers. I don't know what he paid and wonder even now why he holds all AM stations and no FMs. But I would like to believe he like many are (1 just trying to survive (2 is probably the first to know mistakes were made (3 probably wishes he'd sold everything 5 years ago for a profit and (4 had no intention of having a performance record that causes so many people to openly criticize and magnify mistakes or shortcomings. Nobody wants to fail, and honestly we need radio to look healthy as too many ad agencies are already trying to write us off. A station that fails just lets the nay sayers yell "see, I told you so, radio sucks."

 

[quadman102]

WIXC

Onetake, no offense, but you don't know what you are talking about. WIXC could have been a success, they managed to take some of the best talk shows away from WMEL when they went news talk.. but, Bruce never spent the money to have a competitive morning show. He started signing the station off at
11pm, losing the Morning drive, by forcing listeners somewhere else during the night. He cut power to way, way below 50 thousand watts to save money,
but his signal in many areas of south Brevard was awful. To add to the fun, Bruce decided to sell infomercials in the time period people expected to hear
Laura Ingram ... again, driving any audience away.
WWBA in Tampa has never had good numbers, even when Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage were "hot" and on WWBA. If I recall, they may have
had up to a 3.0 give or take abit, while WFLA was creaming them, in recent years a 1.0 is huge for WWBA even with it's new frequency.
As far as WIXC being in Mims, that was only the transmitter location, studio's, offices etc where in Suntree ...and the station was active in Melbourne area
events.
I know for a fact, Bruce had a serious, solid offer, from broadcasting people, with a very solid money man behind the offer, and Bruce turned it down, so I
really don't think he wants to sell. In my opinion, he wants to LMA the station, let somebody build it up, miss a payment, and Bruce takes it over,keeping
cash flowing.
Bruce has no major successes, no real winners, and has had a lot of good to great people go in and out his doors.

 

[Paperbill]

Bruce tried to hire me some time ago, I referenced his reputation to him and he claimed he "hear's that" but doesn't understand why. He did say that he is meeting with a life coach in Orlando...so I thought maybe he was trying to change....but.......

I kept my coments to my self until he kept an ex employee from working by enforcing her non-compete. She sent him a very nice message and promised to stay away from Genesis accounts, and BAM actually referenced ME in his response to her. (To keep from buring a bridge at the time I declined his employment offer with the excuse of MY non-compete)

So he forced a very good Sales Manager out buy truning down orders, Micro Managing...from Tampa, etc. And then tries to keep her from working in an area that she brought far more to the table then he or Genesis....A simple act of grace and not only would I have stayed silent, genesis would be far off my radar screen....

So it may sound like sour grapes, but it is not. My feeings and thoughts have been there from the beginning, I wanted to give the guy a chance... and he proved to be far worse that first thougt. My only advice to him is to step out of the business, he clearly doens not know how to operate in todays business world.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Bruce tried to hire me some time ago, I referenced his reputation to him and he claimed he "hear's that" but doesn't understand why. He did say that he is meeting with a life coach in Orlando...so I thought maybe he was trying to change....but.......

I kept my coments to my self until he kept an ex employee from working by enforcing her non-compete. She sent him a very nice message and promised to stay away from Genesis accounts, and BAM actually referenced ME in his response to her. (To keep from buring a bridge at the time I declined his employment offer with the excuse of MY non-compete)

So he forced a very good Sales Manager out buy truning down orders, Micro Managing...from Tampa, etc. And then tries to keep her from working in an area that she brought far more to the table then he or Genesis....A simple act of grace and not only would I have stayed silent, genesis would be far off my radar screen....

So it may sound like sour grapes, but it is not. My feeings and thoughts have been there from the beginning, I wanted to give the guy a chance... and he proved to be far worse that first thougt. My only advice to him is to step out of the business, he clearly doens not know how to operate in todays business world.

Can't fault him for enforcing non-competes.

 

[Paperbill]

You can't? I would disagree with you strongly on that one.

 

[jmtillery]

Bruce tried to hire me some time ago, I referenced his reputation to him and he claimed he "hear's that" but doesn't understand why. He did say that he is meeting with a life coach in Orlando...so I thought maybe he was trying to change....but.......

I kept my coments to my self until he kept an ex employee from working by enforcing her non-compete. She sent him a very nice message and promised to stay away from Genesis accounts, and BAM actually referenced ME in his response to her. (To keep from buring a bridge at the time I declined his employment offer with the excuse of MY non-compete)

So he forced a very good Sales Manager out buy truning down orders, Micro Managing...from Tampa, etc. And then tries to keep her from working in an area that she brought far more to the table then he or Genesis....A simple act of grace and not only would I have stayed silent, genesis would be far off my radar screen....

So it may sound like sour grapes, but it is not. My feeings and thoughts have been there from the beginning, I wanted to give the guy a chance... and he proved to be far worse that first thougt. My only advice to him is to step out of the business, he clearly doens not know how to operate in todays business world.

If the sales manager you are refering was terminated, I don't believe the non compete is enforceable. If this person has not already done so, I would recommend this person consult with an attorney. I had a similar situation in Jacksonville over 23-years ago. My non compete was ruled unenforceable, and, as a result of that escapade, I have never signed another non compete since that time.

 

[jmtillery]

Re: WIXC

Onetake, no offense, but you don't know what you are talking about. WIXC could have been a success, they managed to take some of the best talk shows away from WMEL when they went news talk.. but, Bruce never spent the money to have a competitive morning show. He started signing the station off at
11pm, losing the Morning drive, by forcing listeners somewhere else during the night. He cut power to way, way below 50 thousand watts to save money,
but his signal in many areas of south Brevard was awful. To add to the fun, Bruce decided to sell infomercials in the time period people expected to hear
Laura Ingram ... again, driving any audience away.
WWBA in Tampa has never had good numbers, even when Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage were "hot" and on WWBA. If I recall, they may have
had up to a 3.0 give or take abit, while WFLA was creaming them, in recent years a 1.0 is huge for WWBA even with it's new frequency.
As far as WIXC being in Mims, that was only the transmitter location, studio's, offices etc where in Suntree ...and the station was active in Melbourne area
events.
I know for a fact, Bruce had a serious, solid offer, from broadcasting people, with a very solid money man behind the offer, and Bruce turned it down, so I
really don't think he wants to sell. In my opinion, he wants to LMA the station, let somebody build it up, miss a payment, and Bruce takes it over,keeping
cash flowing.
Bruce has no major successes, no real winners, and has had a lot of good to great people go in and out his doors.

I understand where you are coming from, and although the things you have stated here, on the surface, is not the way I would manage and operate a radio station, the one main factor that most on this thread seem to be forgetting is WIXC belongs to Bruce Maduri and his stockholders. It's his station and its his money. Agree or disagree, Bruce Maduri can do whatever he wants with the station. If he makes too many wrong decisions, then he will realize that when he looks at his ending balance on his bank statement and corporate Balance Sheet. If the maketplace no longer wants to do business with him as a result of past decisions, he'll get the message soon enough. I'm not defending anyone nor am I pointing the finger of blame at onyone. I am merely stating a fact that all final decisions, agree or disagree, regarding WIXC and all Genesis stations rest solely with Mr. Maduri. It's his station and it's his company!

 

[jmtillery]

I appreciate the response of Mark, Warrior and Paperbill. I expected to be slammed for being so direct. I think Bruce mirrors a lot of where radio management is today in that radio expects too much too soon. Unfortunately people are not as emotionally attached to radio these days and one can't just put a format on and know in 6 months if it has legs. It takes time to build a relationship with listeners and I understand why many listeners are cynical. Think of all the formats and call letter changes that occur in every market annually. At one time i believe Bruce was a promotion man for Columbia Records so without analyzing him I can only point out hits were confirmed in weeks and maybe at times we all now run a little too fast for where the audience is. We become a favorite station slowly but we're trying to expect them to respond to every line up adjustment or format change or know our new name as quickly as us.
I do respect some observations and yes from WFLA in tampa to WDBO in Orlando they've remained strong and solid. They've also been established for years with a dependable and consistant product and their success is as much a testimony that loyal audiences remain loyal til we confuse them and run them off.

I'm not an owner. But in today's world of an individual who not only has seen the value of the property go down but the pricing competition and marketing strength of group power (Cox, CC, etc) today's radio world is like your dad's little hardware store trying to compete against Home Depot.

At times you want to say "hang on it's going to be ok" but from property value declining to below budget sales many of us might try and make a quick fix that also under delivers. I don't know what he paid and wonder even now why he holds all AM stations and no FMs. But I would like to believe he like many are (1 just trying to survive (2 is probably the first to know mistakes were made (3 probably wishes he'd sold everything 5 years ago for a profit and (4 had no intention of having a performance record that causes so many people to openly criticize and magnify mistakes or shortcomings. Nobody wants to fail, and honestly we need radio to look healthy as too many ad agencies are already trying to write us off. A station that fails just lets the nay sayers yell "see, I told you so, radio sucks."

I had to take a second look at your post, and it appears from the first line that you have the impression that I was "slamming" you when in fact I was not. I apologize if you took my comments in any way other than constructive. I was actually agreeing with most of what you had to say.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

You can't? I would disagree with you strongly on that one.

This is a business. Why in the hell would you let someone out of a non-compete who is going to turn around and sell against you?

Genesis sounds like an absolute trainwreck, but if you don't enforce non-competes you are a moron.

If he fired the employee all she needs to do is get a lawyer and the non-compete will be thrown out. If she quit, tough she signed the agreement.

This is a business.

 

[jmtillery]

You can't? I would disagree with you strongly on that one.

If he fired the employee all she needs to do is get a lawyer and the non-compete will be thrown out. If she quit, tough she signed the agreement.

This is a business.

BINGO!

 

[Paperbill]

The Non-compete has only been a small fly in the ointment. It was a BIG mistake for BAM to try and hold her to it. I am sure he thinks it is funny and is laughing about it, trust me, I will have the last laugh

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Paperbill,

Anwer this question... did she quit or was she fired?

 

[Paperbill]

He tried to to get her to quit, refused orders, etc. He then let her go. So "Fired" it is

 

[Paperbill]

Although, the last month I kept her from quitting....it became a battle of wills. The first move was BAM reducing her salery 60% to next to nothing.

 

[The Ultimate Warrior]

Now it sounds like you were interfering and trying to be the white knight. If I am Maduri I point that out if she tries to go to court and get out of it.

 

[Paperbill]

Well, I am completly honest and don't plan on going to court. I am no white knight...BM tried to get her to quit, he was very transparent in his actions.

Sinec you kept pushing for an answer you got it....she has 5 months left on the non compete and is only limited to certain counties, we operate in Indian River and the treasure Coast....so the NC is easy to get around if we choose to do it.

I am going to refrain from any more coments abouts plans and actions since i'm sure BM either reads these or has othrs informing him.

He claims to e a Christain, but his actons don't show it...like i said he is but a minor fly inthe ointment.

 

[Nostalgia]

Paperbill, I am fascinated by your posts in defense of this person. I am also intrigued by your switching from first person:"I will have the last laugh" "I...dont plan on going to court", ect, to the third person referring to "her" frequently. You say you are no white knight but you clearly have some personal interest here. Spouse, lover perhaps or maybe the aggrieved person herself! I am sure some persons in the WIXC listening area, or of course within Genesis corporate know the identities of the players here although most of us dont, we are just following the drama.

And NO, I am NOT BAM

 

[Paperbill]

LOL its great intrigue! Pm me and I will tell you

 

[onetake]

Wow the history of all this continues to be fasinating and frustrating. Every day I see people who are disappointed at the way radio has gone or they have been treated, and Mark is right in suggesting it's Bruce's station. With all this passion about WIXC even with a great signal, it's seen as a local station on the coast. Sales offices for this station are not outside the immediate area.
When the power increased it seemed like there was a duplication of programming so that a person could go from WIXC, to Genesis Orlando and then Genesis Tampa and hear the "chain" all across the state. I had the impression Genesis was going to tie them all together and sell them as a network of sorts. I could be wrong but in reading about all the great things WIXC was supposed to do, and all the things it never did, I go away thinking "so what?" It's still licensed to Mims or Titusville but doesn't have a sales team to maximize revenue flow. Or put another way, if all these horrible format and people changes had not taken place I'm still not sure there is true revenue potential that meets some of your expectations.

I mean come on, this isn't Orlando. And with Orlando's huge "service" economy with lower incomes than many city's this size, and with Tampa having a large unemployment factor now, I'm betting a lot of stations have a disappointing story to rehash. WIXC just happens to have so many people mad that this station gets pay pages of commentary under the "orlando" market, of which it is not really serving anyway.
I never heard stories of a "life coach" Maduri was seeing in Orlando. I find that rather hard to believe since he's always in Tampa, and harder to believe he'd admit it if he were. But I've just joined the ranks of hyper speculation which is one consistant thing going here. Merry Christmas.

 

[Paperbill]

You are free to believe what you want.

http://www.dwightbain.com/