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All Access reports: Another Round Of Layoffs At Clear Channel

Not like it's unexpected. It's been an annual holiday tradition for many years.

What's surprising is how this time a lot of PDs are included. Not just air talent.

Those of us who watch the sales figures will tell you that revenues have been down. Regardless of what the accountants say, and how they rework the numbers to show growth, the revenues are down. Even in 4th quarter, I'm not seeing a lot of department store ads that I used to see. You can't pay staff when you don't have money. I don't think it's just CC either. Just that they like to do things like this on the same day, and it creates a bigger impact.
 
As someone in retail and radio, I can tell you sales are down. Our retail store is in a tourist town located in a high traffic center. All the stores are down, and a restaurant closed this week. Newspapers, radio, and other media outlets have visited us, and are offering very affordable ad packages.
 
As I scan the list, it's mainly major markets. No medium or smalls, at least AFAIK. On the other side, apparently no cuts in NY. Only one in LA. So it's curious. Apparently will be linked to a wider use of "premium choice."
 
More shifts voicetracked from out of town. Syndicated programming will fill other spots. You will see more of this in Medium/Small markets in the future.

No need for any programming people, when you send generic VT's and the music log is the same.

Hence, the cuts.
 
musiconradio.com said:
You will see more of this in Medium/Small markets in the future.
Click to expand...

It's already been a reality in medium and small markets for a few years. These cuts were in larger and major markets. So that's where you'll now see more Premium Choice. The thing about PC is it's live, just not local. And stations have choices of several types of talent within the various formats. So that allows for accents or other regionalisms.

musiconradio.com said:
More was the key word. Meaning, no local talent in those markets.
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I don't know if there will be "no local talent." From what I've been seeing, if a medium or small market station is in a market where there is a competitive advantage in a format to have local talent, the GM will have that option. Plus, from what I've seen, a lot of the premium choice is originating in medium markets. So the talent has the ability to be local there.
 
Many of the DG satellite delivered music formats are now voice tracked.
 
I presume that within a year or two, nearly all Clear Channel stations will be 24/7 voicetracked/syndicated/satellite and will have no local announcers, DJ's, or talk show hosts.
 
Joseph_Gallant said:
I presume that within a year or two, nearly all Clear Channel stations will be 24/7 voicetracked/syndicated/satellite and will have no local announcers, DJ's, or talk show hosts.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Maybe in smaller markets. But I think the majors will still be 70% local. Depends on the format and market.

But since all the music is national, and most of the talk topics are national, then what's the point of local people all doing the same thing? Other than traffic and weather.
 
TheBigA said:
musiconradio.com said:
You will see more of this in Medium/Small markets in the future.
Click to expand...
And stations have choices of several types of talent within the various formats. So that allows for accents or other regionalisms.
Click to expand...

I think all of us chuckle when we hear a VT jock destroy a local pronunciation. But for regionalism, most of these guys do their best big time radio diction to keep it vanilla throughout their network. Whereas I still let slip a "y'all" on air here in FL now and then. But nothing beats the (I'm guessing) young VT guy on an oldies stations outroing "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass (as in bass guitar instead of bass like the fish). I almost wrecked my car!!
 
Nostalgia said:
But nothing beats the (I'm guessing) young VT guy on an oldies stations outroing "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass (as in bass guitar instead of bass like the fish). I almost wrecked my car!!
Click to expand...

There is no guarantee a live and local DJ from San Diego wouldn't make the exact same mistake.

I mean gimme a break...she was a one-hit wonder in 1965. Not to be confused with Wayne Fontana.
 
But since all the music is national, and most of the talk topics are national, then what's the point of local people all doing the same thing?
Click to expand...

This is a opportunity for local stations in smaller markets. Since national buys will be a non issue (the corporate collective will secure those buys) , and PPM well... (no comment).

Interview those who hold community events, that local shop owner, identify that business or local listener on the air. The is plenty to to talk about in your community.

The trading post, local sports, Adopt pet of the day, local birthdays.

I have incorporated the following at my stations and we have survived, and have been part of the community, and have kept a focused playlist, and large market format template ;D
 
musiconradio.com said:
Interview those who hold community events, that local shop owner, identify that business or local listener on the air. The is plenty to to talk about in your community.
Click to expand...

Before you rush out and create content, make sure it's content the listeners care about. Just because you're talking to local people doesn't mean the listeners are interested. In other yours, just because you build it doesn't mean the public will come. They probably won't. Don't let local interfere with your sense of show business. Blather is still blather, even when it's local.
 
TomT said:
So is satellite programming.
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If you're talking about Sirius, I know people who work there, and a lot of it isn't live. Most is VT. And a lot of it gets repeated in different dayparts. Good for saving money, bad for TSL.
 
TheBigA said:
Joseph_Gallant said:
I presume that within a year or two, nearly all Clear Channel stations will be 24/7 voicetracked/syndicated/satellite and will have no local announcers, DJ's, or talk show hosts.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. Maybe in smaller markets. But I think the majors will still be 70% local. Depends on the format and market.

But since all the music is national, and most of the talk topics are national, then what's the point of local people all doing the same thing? Other than traffic and weather.
Click to expand...

Just a few short years ago, one of the top stations in Seattle was running syndicated network programming from 7pm-5am. Over 20 years ago, a major major San Francisco station had a wall of CD players for overnights. And a major Seattle station had a pair of CD changers and Voice-tracked the overnight for years, until replaced by computers.

Nothing new, just the technology.
 
TomT said:
"Premium choice is live--just not local."

So is satellite programming.
Click to expand...

Premium Choice isn't live. The music files are on the local station's hard drive, and the voice tracks are sent by satellite. Dial-Global has some formats done the same way.
 
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