4 Local Clear Channel employees to be let go!

[Jpdjsc]

25 years ago lets see, 1988, wow a lot of stuff has floated down the river, sometimes you have to give up the Ghost, with XM, and all the music channels on your TV provider, radio is kinda like a dying breed, any way if any of you want to find out what to do about upstate call 1-800-BOOT-SCOOT

he like a good neighbor, your in good hands, MY_FRESH_Scoot,,

 

[TheBigA]

The Golden Age was so called because of the freedom and creativity used in a new fledgling medium.
It was NOT because of the lazy business model where quality was sacrificed to save a buck.

There was only "freedom and creativity" if you created content for a network, and if that content was sponsored.

Otherwise, you had the freedom and creativity to work in some other business. And since it was the depression, good luck.

My point is that radio is returning to the network system. The only difference is that the network owns the stations.

 

[DudeFan]

And, I will add, IF you were lucky enough to be in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and to a much lesser extent Boston, Washington, DC, Phildelphia or LA. New York, Chicago and SF were the major content centers. Arthur Godfrey was based in D.C. and was an exception.

The bigger chains are moving to what is happening in the ILR service in the U.K. However, in the U.K. they retain local breakfast and drive shifts and go to London for the rest the dayparts. OFCOM requires each local station have a news department, which we abandoned long, long ago.

 

[Preacherdude]

Simply put, this is radio in 2013. It does resemble the Golden Age of Radio network-programmed system, just with automation and few board-ops . The challenge of Pandora and other internet radio offerings along with satellite radio has essentially buried locally-based radio. Sorry Scooter but it's true. Wish it wasn't, but it is. Who knows? Maybe something will happen and turn it around one day, but cheap technology seems to trump nostalga every time. Not to mention most every station with a decent market-covering signal is owned by the big corps. Still hoping Earth FM makes it, but the cards are stacked against it happening.

 

[GordonSims]

The issue is quality. There's not one person on this board that can tell me Geraldo Rivera is better than any local news/talk host.
Especially THIS board. What could Geraldo possibly bring to South Carolina radio?

But the fact that he is now an employee of Cumulus means Cumulus is gonna squeeze what they can out of him.
And Cumulus has shown that they are more than willing to dump a local favorite in favor of a less expensive alternative.
This is done NOT with the listener in mind, NOT with revenue in mind...this is done simply for expense.
Now multiply this concept by x amount of times over x amount of formats in x amount of markets, and you get the sad state of radio we have today.
Im all for putting the most qualified talent on the air. EVERY time.
But that is NOT what is happening.

This thread started because Clear Channel decided to dump 4 programming employees from each market.
Why? Because theyre no good? Because there are better qualified people waiting to fill their positions?
NO
Cost!
Plain and simple. CC wants 4 dumped - ANY 4 - and we'll figure out a cheaper replacement plan later.
Cut cost. Period.
Don't replace them. Don't upgrade. Don't care who. Dont care why. Just cut!

THAT mentality is why radio is where it is.
It may be here to stay - it may not.
But I cant help but think that, if Clear Channel knew what they were doing 2 years ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago - then why are they STILL cutting positions and still trimming staff to save money??


Wow.
Look at me getting all chatty.

 

[TheBigA]

This thread started because Clear Channel decided to dump 4 programming employees from each market.

Let's be factual about this. This thread was started because a blogger with a personal ax to grind about CC quoted an "unnamed source" as saying CC was going to dump 4 staffers per cluster. They would not all come from programming.

Then everyone believed this blogger and created a bunch of fiction. That's where we are today. No one has been fired yet. And as I've pointed out, the company has job openings for over 600 people. But fiction is always so much better than fact.

 

[freqdev]

This thread started because Clear Channel decided to dump 4 programming employees from each market.

Let's be factual about this. This thread was started because a blogger with a personal ax to grind about CC quoted an "unnamed source" as saying CC was going to dump 4 staffers per cluster. They would not all come from programming.

Then everyone believed this blogger and created a bunch of fiction. That's where we are today. No one has been fired yet. And as I've pointed out, the company has job openings for over 600 people. But fiction is always so much better than fact.

the blogger is banking on the alleged track record of his sources. even a blind squirrel finds a nut. pushed back 30 days? not as confident as page one. now it's don't shoot the messenger what happens in radio happens. don't need a cpa to tell me that

 

[Ssummers]

The BigA is correct. In the "Golden Age" of radio, radio stations were run like TV stations are run today. It was mostly all network programming with some local cutaways...Either you accept the fact that radio has changed and is always changing and evolve and change with it or be the radio equivalent of The Simpsons "The Alien."

No one is more aware of how radio has changed than I am, Steve. I know you know that. But, regardless of how right Big A is, I find many of Gordon Sims comments funny in the extreme...mainly due to their dryness. That was my only commentary. I like a good laugh...I wish more people did.

I've never worked for CC or Cumulus...and, even though I am aware of the reality of the state of radio, I am saddened by it. That's not a finger pointing statement. That's just how I feel. I'm on record as saying that radio sounded best when one foot was firmly and equally planted in the artistic side of the business and the other foot was firmly and equally planted in the scientific side of it. I still believe that. However, I am also on record as saying that it's radio and it's a business...that's why they call it the radio business. I understand. I get it. And I also understand that to go back to that(in my opinion) ideal state of radio, I need to find the money to buy my own stations. That isn't going to happen. Still, it doesn't mean a passionate few can't be a part of the Resistance. lol

 

[DudeFan]

You are one of the good guys, Scott.

My point is that radio is constantly changing. It is like CHR music. As a business it ebbs and flows but is constantly changing. What is cool now is not cool 20 minutes from now.

It's fun to be nostalgic, but it sure is not a business plan or a plan for success. The business has to evolve in what it does. Have some of the structural changes been good for the business. A lot of folks would argue that the answer is no. But the fact is that no one is going to change the clock back or unring the bell. It is what it is. To be successful, you have to accept what is and what is now and move forward.

My philosophy is that Gordon McClendon and Todd Storz discovered the rules for success in music format radio and they are immutable. The successful folks just contemporize the execution of the rules.

 

[Ssummers]

You are very charitable, Steve. Thank you. And I cannot parse with any of your words except for this...what some consider nostalgia, I consider reinvention...which, in this day and age of nothing being new, is what radio is all about. It, like much in life, is cyclic. Just gotta be ready for it when it comes back around.

 

[freqdev]

radio will never be like "we knew it."

 

[DudeFan]

It never was, really.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

I wouldn't go quite that far, radio had it's golden days. The sad part is that it doesn't to be this way and what would really happen if there was a really big disaster that kills your cell phone coverage and your satellite or internet, so gee what would be left still working? I'll give you one guess.

 

[TheBigA]

The sad part is that it doesn't to be this way and what would really happen if there was a really big disaster that kills your cell phone coverage and your satellite or internet, so gee what would be left still working?

That's the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security. That's why they were created. They would oversee any disaster coverage. Not radio companies.

 

[Powell]

Yeah...... R I G H T .................................. ???

 

[Ssummers]

Thinking the same thing, Powell.
...because Homeland Security has such a stellar record of communicating with the masses during natural/national disasters.

What are they going to use? 600 millions tin cans and a couple of billion miles of string?


I've gotta think Big A has his tongue firmly planted in cheek...

 

[TheBigA]

I've gotta think Big A has his tongue firmly planted in cheek...

Actually no. That's why CC wasn't responsible in Minot. DHS has total responsibility, and broadcasting is an afterthought. The rules for broadcasting in disasters changed over ten years ago. As those who still work in the industry know. Ask your GM.

 

[Ssummers]

I don't need to ask my GM anything...ask yours. I've seen the effect of local radio during hurricanes and tornados where our stations were the only connection listeners had to the outside world when cell towers were knocked down and rendered inoperable and the only thing people had were battery operated radios. We saved lives and that is fact. But then, we didn't have to wait on the regional program director 500 miles away to tell us what to do. We knew. Homeland Security didn't show up for days after Hurricane Isabel and Irene in the Outer Banks.

 

[TheBigA]

All of that is fine, but none of it is required by the FCC any more, and in fact local emergency officials have the power to force radio staffers to sign off and evacuate. For better or worse, they're the ones who are responsible.

The question was: What happens in an emergency, and the answer is: Whatever the local emergency officials say.

My expectation is we'll see more AM stations being bought by local governments, and they'll require commercial stations simply re-air their stations during a disaster.

 

[Ssummers]

Actually, the question was, "....what would really happen if there was a really big disaster that kills your cell phone coverage and your satellite or internet, so gee what would be left still working?"

Your answer was that it's Homeland Security's responsibility. I'm glad you added "for better or worse", because, by and large, the DHS's performance leaves a lot to be desired.

While that is an answer, it isn't the answer. While the power to order a facility to shut down and evacuate might lie entirely within the realm of the local emergency officals' domain, depending on the area, local emergency officials will work with the local broadcasters and can suggest that they shut down and evacuate but leave the actual decision to the manager of the facility. They have this relationship because of their ability to broadcast. So, a more complete answer to the question is that radio could/would be still working...whether or not the DHS chose to use them..afterthought or otherwise. Of course, whenever they decided to show up, if they didn't use radio, I suppose we're back to the 600 cans and a long piece of string scenario.

And regardless of where the "responsibility" for anything resides, "initiative" and "drive" and "motivation to succeed/excel/survive" have been qualities that promote forward movement/progress/survival. Blindly relying on someone or some entity to merely fulfill their responsibility in times of crisis, blissfully ignorant of the consequences if they don't fulfill them, courts stagnation at best, a far deeper crisis at worst.

I respect a lot of your views, Big A, but I get the feeling that you are more comfortable coloring within the lines while some of us occasionally color outside of them. It works for me. I cannot speak for others.