Our Saturday affiliate, Clear Channel's WSPD-AM in Toledo, has dumped Levin and replaced him with Free Talk Live's weeknight show. Why? Levin's contract expired and when the Levin affiliate relations guy came around looking for a renewal, Brian explained to him why he was getting rid of the show. While Brian's email included several compliments to Levin, ultimately he was disappointed by Levin's libeling of people on-air with whom Brian is close. Brian's email (which was orginally only sent to the affiliate relations guy) was forwarded to Levin by his AR guy. Levin then proceeded to hammer out an angry email to Brian, which was full of misinformation, and concluded telling him, "Perhaps you should consider leaving your job as PD and host in Toledo...rather than abusing your positions as you are."
Brian shared the series of emails with me, including his excoriating reply to Levin, and gave me permission to share them publicly. (I'll include them in full below.) Looks like Levin is as much of a hothead off-the-air as he is on. As I inhabit the unusual position of being a host and affiliate relations department all rolled into one, customer service is very important to me, as it should be for any talk host, whether or not they are calling on stations. I didn't get to over 100 affiliates by treating people with disrespect, but maybe when a show host like Levin gets to where he is primarily because of corporate cramdowns and not actual, earned value on-air, perhaps that contributes to the host acting like a spoiled child. Let's take a look at how Mark Levin blew it:
-Never burn a bridge. Sure, it's no fun to get news that a station has pulled your show. It's happened to me plenty of times over the years. Usually the PD's reason is something like, "It wasn't right for our older audience.", or, "We wanted to change direction." Occasionally it will be something more specific like some listeners not liking something we said on-air and the station being uncomfortable with controversial viewpoints. Whatever the reason, the response from me is always that I express disappointment that it didn't work out, thank them for the opportunity to entertain their listeners, and encourage them to get in touch if FTL can be of assistance in the future. Leave the door open - one thing you can count on in this business is change.
-Never write and certainly don't hit send on an email when you are upset. It may be hard to resist, but you might say something you regret and then find your email posted online for all the world to see. Oops!
-Don't let a hotheaded, shouting, angry host anywhere near the job of affiliate relations. The AR guy made a mistake by sending Brian's cancellation message to Levin in the first place. Nothing good could have come from it.
-Don't let your personal politics affect your professionalism. I don't care whether my affiliate PDs agree with my viewpoints. What matters is whether or not we on FTL can bring a unique, dedicated audience to their station at the times which they air the show. I'm always happy to chat with a PD or local host on or off-air regarding issues, but only if they initiate it, and I'd certainly never let a political viewpoint interfere in a professional relationship.
As you might imagine, WSPD's Brian Wilson isn't the only PD who has been rubbed the wrong way by Levin. I heard from a Saga Communications PD that Levin has been removed from the air across all the company's talk stations. So, whether he's personally offended you or you're just tired of the hatemongering, do consider Free Talk Live as the antidote to Mark Levin. We're here for you live, all seven nights.
Brian shared the series of emails with me, including his excoriating reply to Levin, and gave me permission to share them publicly. (I'll include them in full below.) Looks like Levin is as much of a hothead off-the-air as he is on. As I inhabit the unusual position of being a host and affiliate relations department all rolled into one, customer service is very important to me, as it should be for any talk host, whether or not they are calling on stations. I didn't get to over 100 affiliates by treating people with disrespect, but maybe when a show host like Levin gets to where he is primarily because of corporate cramdowns and not actual, earned value on-air, perhaps that contributes to the host acting like a spoiled child. Let's take a look at how Mark Levin blew it:
-Never burn a bridge. Sure, it's no fun to get news that a station has pulled your show. It's happened to me plenty of times over the years. Usually the PD's reason is something like, "It wasn't right for our older audience.", or, "We wanted to change direction." Occasionally it will be something more specific like some listeners not liking something we said on-air and the station being uncomfortable with controversial viewpoints. Whatever the reason, the response from me is always that I express disappointment that it didn't work out, thank them for the opportunity to entertain their listeners, and encourage them to get in touch if FTL can be of assistance in the future. Leave the door open - one thing you can count on in this business is change.
-Never write and certainly don't hit send on an email when you are upset. It may be hard to resist, but you might say something you regret and then find your email posted online for all the world to see. Oops!
-Don't let a hotheaded, shouting, angry host anywhere near the job of affiliate relations. The AR guy made a mistake by sending Brian's cancellation message to Levin in the first place. Nothing good could have come from it.
-Don't let your personal politics affect your professionalism. I don't care whether my affiliate PDs agree with my viewpoints. What matters is whether or not we on FTL can bring a unique, dedicated audience to their station at the times which they air the show. I'm always happy to chat with a PD or local host on or off-air regarding issues, but only if they initiate it, and I'd certainly never let a political viewpoint interfere in a professional relationship.
As you might imagine, WSPD's Brian Wilson isn't the only PD who has been rubbed the wrong way by Levin. I heard from a Saga Communications PD that Levin has been removed from the air across all the company's talk stations. So, whether he's personally offended you or you're just tired of the hatemongering, do consider Free Talk Live as the antidote to Mark Levin. We're here for you live, all seven nights.
