Arrogance Of Corporate Program Directors

[Beernuts]

A similar lower post is getting full, so here's my $0.02 in a new thread.

One person posted that everytime you open the mike, if you get creative, you'll always have a job in radio. What a crock of crap.

Corporate program directors are control freaks. In order to keep their jobs they need to disguise their ignorance from their announcers who might happen to be born and raised in that city and know more about the market than them. Therefore they will not allow their staff any creativity when they "crack the mike".

I worked recently in midday for a program director like this. I would ad lib a bit and add a bit of personality to my breaks. I was called into his office one day and he told me to read the intros, extros, station liners and promos word for word, and in the exact order indicated on the log, with NO variation and NO additions. He told me "WE ALREADY HAVE A MORNING SHOW".

What an (BLEEP). He's still here. Some of you may be working for him. He's quite A Hole.

So, now, "everytime you open the mike, if you get creative, you'll always have a job in radio"? Dream on.

 

[neanderpol]

> A similar lower post is getting full, so here's my $0.02 in
> a new thread.
>
> One person posted that everytime you open the mike, if you
> get creative, you'll always have a job in radio. What a
> crock of crap.

It is the prime tenet of good work ethic. I stand by that attitude.

> Corporate program directors are control freaks. In order to
> keep their jobs they need to disguise their ignorance from
> their announcers who might happen to be born and raised in
> that city and know more about the market than them.
> Therefore they will not allow their staff any creativity
> when they "crack the mike".

This is nothing more than the opinion of someone who feels slighted by "an outsider" who sits in a position of authority over them. It has nothing to do with "corporate" program directors. I know for fact that the former PD of WCKW, for whom I worked, and who hated everything about New Orleans and wasn't from there, was not at all corporate, and still muzzled everyone who worked for him.

You can't lump the personality traits of one manager into the policy of an entire corporation. Doesn't work like that.

> I worked recently in midday for a program director like
> this. I would ad lib a bit and add a bit of personality to
> my breaks. I was called into his office one day and he told
> me to read the intros, extros, station liners and promos
> word for word, and in the exact order indicated on the log,
> with NO variation and NO additions. He told me "WE ALREADY
> HAVE A MORNING SHOW".

And so..you do your job as it's laid out for you, or you find a new place to do it. Program Directors are the boss. You are the subordinate employee. You do your job as you are directed to.

> What an (BLEEP). He's still here. Some of you may be
> working for him. He's quite A Hole.

But you aren't right? So, could this just be some vidictivity rearing its ugly head?

> So, now, "everytime you open the mike, if you get creative,
> you'll always have a job in radio"? Dream on

If you were fired, it was because you chose not to work within the parameters set before you.

That manager didn't appreciate it, but if you were entertaining, or truly creative, there will be a job waiting for you soon.

But...it's your responsibility to go get it. It appears by your post, you're not in the proper frame of mind right now. Take a deep breath, and try again.

 

[smashedcd]

and i thought i was angst ..seriously..a dj in a medium market will not make that much money. why bother with radio. the good ole days are over!! time to move on..i did..and now i make enought money to support my wife and kid. i make more than double what i made in radio..in a medium market..on a low rated fm..
call me johnny fever ..except it wasnt wkrp..it was wqck in baker la..
but i;m over it..time heals all wounds. and the fact that emf bought them helped also ..


> > A similar lower post is getting full, so here's my $0.02
> in
> > a new thread.
> >
> > One person posted that everytime you open the mike, if you
>
> > get creative, you'll always have a job in radio. What a
> > crock of crap.
>
> It is the prime tenet of good work ethic. I stand by that
> attitude.
>
> > Corporate program directors are control freaks. In order
> to
> > keep their jobs they need to disguise their ignorance from
>
> > their announcers who might happen to be born and raised in
>
> > that city and know more about the market than them.
> > Therefore they will not allow their staff any creativity
> > when they "crack the mike".
>
> This is nothing more than the opinion of someone who feels
> slighted by "an outsider" who sits in a position of
> authority over them. It has nothing to do with "corporate"
> program directors. I know for fact that the former PD of
> WCKW, for whom I worked, and who hated everything about New
> Orleans and wasn't from there, was not at all corporate, and
> still muzzled everyone who worked for him.
>
> You can't lump the personality traits of one manager into
> the policy of an entire corporation. Doesn't work like that.
>
>
> > I worked recently in midday for a program director like
> > this. I would ad lib a bit and add a bit of personality
> to
> > my breaks. I was called into his office one day and he
> told
> > me to read the intros, extros, station liners and promos
> > word for word, and in the exact order indicated on the
> log,
> > with NO variation and NO additions. He told me "WE
> ALREADY
> > HAVE A MORNING SHOW".
>
> And so..you do your job as it's laid out for you, or you
> find a new place to do it. Program Directors are the boss.
> You are the subordinate employee. You do your job as you are
> directed to.
>
> > What an (BLEEP). He's still here. Some of you may be
> > working for him. He's quite A Hole.
>
> But you aren't right? So, could this just be some
> vidictivity rearing its ugly head?
>
> > So, now, "everytime you open the mike, if you get
> creative,
> > you'll always have a job in radio"? Dream on
>
> If you were fired, it was because you chose not to work
> within the parameters set before you.
>
> That manager didn't appreciate it, but if you were
> entertaining, or truly creative, there will be a job waiting
> for you soon.
>
> But...it's your responsibility to go get it. It appears by
> your post, you're not in the proper frame of mind right now.
> Take a deep breath, and try again.
>
<P ID="signature">______________
note to the NAB..satellite radio..its worth paying for!!</P>

 

[Beernuts]

> It is the prime tenet of good work ethic. I stand by that
> attitude.

Don't preach to me, son...it just conflicts with your pie in the sky suggestions for hancuffed talent to add personality when the paranoid PD tells them to only read lines.
>
I know for fact that the former PD of
> WCKW, for whom I worked, and who hated everything about New
> Orleans and wasn't from there, was not at all corporate, and
> still muzzled everyone who worked for him.

If you worked for WCKW it's no wonder you have a warped outlook.
>
>
> And so..you do your job as it's laid out for you, or you
> find a new place to do it. Program Directors are the boss.
> You are the subordinate employee. You do your job as you are
> directed to.

And so how do the DJs become "entertaining" as you suggested?
>
>
> But you aren't right? So, could this just be some
> vidictivity rearing its ugly head?

I don't hate that PD. I hope you end up working for him. You deserve each other. Don't judge my experience.
>
>
> If you were fired, it was because you chose not to work
> within the parameters set before you.

Sonny, get off your pompous high horse. I was not fired. I never have been fired in my entire career and I'm still on the air, and have been continuously since before you had pubic hair.
>
> That manager didn't appreciate it, but if you were
> entertaining, or truly creative, there will be a job waiting
> for you soon.

Gee, thanks for your condescending concern. Do you make $50,000+ a year on the air too?

You and I need a face to face sometime to discuss your superiority complex.
>
> But...it's your responsibility to go get it. It appears by
> your post, you're not in the proper frame of mind right now.

You have no idea who you're talking to, son. Cool it while you're ahead.

 

[mightynine]

> You and I need a face to face sometime to discuss your
> superiority complex.

How you typed this with a straight face is beyond me.

 

[neanderpol]

> > It is the prime tenet of good work ethic. I stand by that
> > attitude.
>
> Don't preach to me, son...it just conflicts with your pie in
> the sky suggestions for hancuffed talent to add personality
> when the paranoid PD tells them to only read lines.

I'm not your son. And nobody's preaching to you. I said it's MY attitude. You're more than welcome to your own. Nothing like bringing it to conflict. And people wonder why participation in these forums is lacking. Because as soon as someone comes in, people tend to attempt to rip them.

> If you worked for WCKW it's no wonder you have a warped
> outlook.

Hmm...you mean the idea that we as personalities are responsible for the content of our shows is a warped one?

If you say so.


> And so how do the DJs become "entertaining" as you
> suggested?

Depends on the situation. Instead of making excuses. Why not consider finding a solution? Right now, you sound like another disgruntled worker, looking for reasons why instead of asking "why not?"

But my perception's warped.

> I don't hate that PD. I hope you end up working for him.
> You deserve each other. Don't judge my experience.

Yes. Very nice. Wish someone into an unpleasant work environment.

> > If you were fired, it was because you chose not to work
> > within the parameters set before you.
>
> Sonny, get off your pompous high horse. I was not fired. I
> never have been fired in my entire career and I'm still on
> the air, and have been continuously since before you had
> pubic hair.

Told you before. I ain't yer son.

You might want to re-read my original statement. I never said you were. I said "if". And I honestly couldn't care less how long you've been on the air.


> Gee, thanks for your condescending concern. Do you make
> $50,000+ a year on the air too?

More actually. Thanks for asking. And you're welcome.

> You and I need a face to face sometime to discuss your
> superiority complex.

Not really. I don't feel inferior, or superior, and have no inherent need to prove myself to you. Seems you can't say the same.

> You have no idea who you're talking to, son. Cool it while
> you're ahead.

Or what?

And I don't care who I'm talking to. So you might wanna lighten up a bit. I'm neither impressed nor scared of you. This isn't junior high school.

I've made my point. You're another bulletin board bully. Grow up.

...son.

 

[Radio-X]

> and i thought i was angst ..seriously..a dj in a medium
> market will not make that much money. why bother with radio.
> the good ole days are over!! time to move on..i did..and now
> i make enought money to support my wife and kid. i make more
> than double what i made in radio..in a medium market..on a
> low rated fm..
> call me johnny fever ..except it wasnt wkrp..it was wqck
> in baker la..
> but i;m over it..time heals all wounds. and the fact that
> emf bought them helped also ..
>
Well, to further distance us from the conversation, if you're gonna talk money...

I worked in an small, rated market (upper 100's), and putting in 45 hours a week, I was bringing home less than $15k/ year. My PD was averaging 50 hours/week and brought home just over $20k!!!

After 14 months of that, I went the same route as smashedcd. Started working as a techie in a theatre down in the deep south, I'm bringing home more dough in a cheaper town, plus I work weekends live and VT the weekdays at a local radio station...much nicer situation!

Radio kicks so much more butt when it's not your livelyhood!!

Radio-X<P ID="signature">______________
Formerly shocking, rocking, and angering the R-I community as radiodxrichmond!</P>

 

[LAcajun]

Mr. Marshall...glad to hear ya miss the city but that's about where it ends. You come across as nothing more than a corpoarte crotch sniffer who rambles on with the corporate, pyscho bulls**t. In asking around about you at WCKW, I've found one fact, you have no name recognition. All I get is, "Who?". But from reading your posts, you do have the corporate ass-kisser mentality nailed. You know what the ties want to here. Face it, WCKW's ratings are nothing to hang your Boston jacket on. They haven't had numbers still Walton & Johnson.

Some radio corporations are better to work for than others. Owners and corporate managers are interested in but one thing, MONEY. Local PD's do nothing more than pucker up and sing the same babble you're posting here. When you wake to the real world, you'll realize that.

If you think that if one's creative, they will always have a job, right. It more like, work for peanuts and you'll remain employed. Just read the "R&R" article about Entercom. http://www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2006_02_22/entercomfullyear.asp
PD's want creativity out of their morning shows and nothing more than a short, sweet break out of the other dayparts. Mornings have to be the top rated daypart and when their not, the excuses hit the fan. I sat and listened to your type of rant for years out of a PD and it doesn't hold water, kinda like our levees. What I've learned is, what's right today is gonna be wrong tomorrow. Music tests are nothing more than a $60,000 joke. They have a corporate "safe list" that doesn't change and toss in an extra hundred tunes to get tested. Of those, they might add 50 to make up there 300 song playlist. "Lookie, we've added more music for our listeners." Jocks get bombed about the PD's research that shows "this and that". I made the mistake and asked to see gawd's research and somehow, it was never handy. And lawd help you if you ever questioned it.

Speaking of Entercom, on their corporate website is a well produced 6 minute video about Katrina. It's touching to see what they went through, at the station and personally. Then, there's Mike Kaplan sucking up to the company. And to ice it, that it was all about corporate, was CEO David Field and VP of Programming Pat Paxton on the video. Like they give a rat's ass. I'd had more respect for them if it was simply about those folks who lived and survived it. They make look like nothing more than a photo-op.

So Paul, enjoy those parameters and do your job as you are directed to.
If that's you, take their money and enjoy the ride but pull your head out their corporate cabooses to catch some air.




> > A similar lower post is getting full, so here's my $0.02
> in
> > a new thread.
> >
> > One person posted that everytime you open the mike, if you
>
> > get creative, you'll always have a job in radio. What a
> > crock of crap.
>
> It is the prime tenet of good work ethic. I stand by that
> attitude.
>
> > Corporate program directors are control freaks. In order
> to
> > keep their jobs they need to disguise their ignorance from
>
> > their announcers who might happen to be born and raised in
>
> > that city and know more about the market than them.
> > Therefore they will not allow their staff any creativity
> > when they "crack the mike".
>
> This is nothing more than the opinion of someone who feels
> slighted by "an outsider" who sits in a position of
> authority over them. It has nothing to do with "corporate"
> program directors. I know for fact that the former PD of
> WCKW, for whom I worked, and who hated everything about New
> Orleans and wasn't from there, was not at all corporate, and
> still muzzled everyone who worked for him.
>
> You can't lump the personality traits of one manager into
> the policy of an entire corporation. Doesn't work like that.
>
>
> > I worked recently in midday for a program director like
> > this. I would ad lib a bit and add a bit of personality
> to
> > my breaks. I was called into his office one day and he
> told
> > me to read the intros, extros, station liners and promos
> > word for word, and in the exact order indicated on the
> log,
> > with NO variation and NO additions. He told me "WE
> ALREADY
> > HAVE A MORNING SHOW".
>
> And so..you do your job as it's laid out for you, or you
> find a new place to do it. Program Directors are the boss.
> You are the subordinate employee. You do your job as you are
> directed to.
>
> > What an (BLEEP). He's still here. Some of you may be
> > working for him. He's quite A Hole.
>
> But you aren't right? So, could this just be some
> vidictivity rearing its ugly head?
>
> > So, now, "everytime you open the mike, if you get
> creative,
> > you'll always have a job in radio"? Dream on
>
> If you were fired, it was because you chose not to work
> within the parameters set before you.
>
> That manager didn't appreciate it, but if you were
> entertaining, or truly creative, there will be a job waiting
> for you soon.
>
> But...it's your responsibility to go get it. It appears by
> your post, you're not in the proper frame of mind right now.
> Take a deep breath, and try again.
>

 

[ksw2844]

> I worked recently in midday for a program director like
> this. I would ad lib a bit and add a bit of personality to
> my breaks. I was called into his office one day and he told
> me to read the intros, extros, station liners and promos
> word for word, and in the exact order indicated on the log,
> with NO variation and NO additions. He told me "WE ALREADY
> HAVE A MORNING SHOW".

Please, no disrespect inteded, but,
maybe you were not very entertaining... what you may call "a bit of personality" others may have found boring. It's possible, even if he is, as you so eloquently put it, "a hole."

 

[Beernuts]

> > I worked recently in midday for a program director like
> > this. I would ad lib a bit and add a bit of personality
> to
> > my breaks. I was called into his office one day and he
> told
> > me to read the intros, extros, station liners and promos
> > word for word, and in the exact order indicated on the
> log,
> > with NO variation and NO additions. He told me "WE
> ALREADY
> > HAVE A MORNING SHOW".
>
> Please, no disrespect inteded, but,
> maybe you were not very entertaining... what you may call "a
> bit of personality" others may have found boring. It's
> possible, even if he is, as you so eloquently put it, "a
> hole."
>

Sure, that's why, though I started in N.O., I've been on the air continuously now for 20 years in Houston (a major market, my boy), never been fired and am pulling in just under $50,000 for my airshift.

C'mon, quit sticking up for the PD's who are nothing but A Holes.

 

[neanderpol]

> Mr. Marshall...glad to hear ya miss the city but that's
> about where it ends. You come across as nothing more than a
> corpoarte crotch sniffer who rambles on with the corporate,
> pyscho bulls**t.

I've learned through trial and error that you have two choices;

1. Work within the parameters set.

2. Find another place to work.

It's called knowing your place. Anyone who's ever worked with me knows how I am as an employee, and corporate is the last word you'd hear used. I'm playing the game the way it needs to be played. And when asked my opinion, I give it. It's worked very well for me so far. And as some of the things I've expressed come to fruition, suddenly my opinion becomes more credible, and I can actually effect change within my station.

> In asking around about you at WCKW, I've
> found one fact, you have no name recognition.

I wouldn't expect to. The entire building is different than when I worked there. And it's not about me. But, thanks for asking about me. It shows you care enough to find out who the hell this guy is. And that's respectable any way you slice it.

> But from reading your posts, you do have the
> corporate ass-kisser mentality nailed. You know what the
> ties want to here. Face it, WCKW's ratings are nothing to
> hang your Boston jacket on. They haven't had numbers still
> Walton & Johnson.

I agree. And it was a terrible decision by the Levet family to let them walk. That and a questionable decision to put Bob & Tom on in the morning, which we all know was a disaster. Plus, Tommy B, and Pal being shown the door probably not good. Then there was flipping the format.

But...that falls upon the shoulders of the Program Director, whose history is littered with questionable decisions. Hiring me right up there among them.

> Some radio corporations are better to work for than others.

And that was my point. You can't lump them all into one category. But...you do have a choice which corporation you work for. So, I'd advise anyone to do some researching and making the best decision for yourself as possible. And wherever you work, do the best job you can. Don't half-ass it, or you'll be cheating yourself in the long run.

> Owners and corporate managers are interested in but one
> thing, MONEY.

That's right. Which part of radio BUSINESS do you not understand? It's ALL about making money. that's why stations exist. To make as much money as possible. That's why any business exists.

> Local PD's do nothing more than pucker up and
> sing the same babble you're posting here. When you wake to
> the real world, you'll realize that.

I'm in the real world. I know how it works. And it bothers a lot of you that you're not in control of it. I'm not saying I'm content with the status quo. I'm saying it is as it is, and until you can get to a position to effect real change, you MUST accept it, or find something else to do.

Why is this so hard for people to comprehend?

> If you think that if one's creative, they will always have a
> job, right. It more like, work for peanuts and you'll remain
> employed. Just read the "R&R" article about Entercom.

http://www.> radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2006_02_22/entercomfullyear.asp

What's wrong with revenue going up while keeping expenses down? Why is making money a bad thing? If you were David Field, you'd want to post as much profit as possible from your company. This is just silly...the idea that it's wrong for companies to post huge profits. You have the option to buy stock and get paid for their success you know.

> PD's want creativity out of their morning shows and nothing
> more than a short, sweet break out of the other dayparts.

Some of them yes. And I believe this is a huge mistake. We are now seeing the results of that foolish thinking with the tanking of several major-market radio stations who put all their eggs in the AM show basket. There are 3 other dayparts that can bring in revenue just as well. Being #1 is being #1 no matter what time of day it is. I hate the "As go mornings..so goes the day" mantra. I think it's horrible on both a programming side, and morale for the station.

> Mornings have to be the top rated daypart and when their
> not, the excuses hit the fan. I sat and listened to your
> type of rant for years out of a PD and it doesn't hold
> water, kinda like our levees. What I've learned is, what's
> right today is gonna be wrong tomorrow. Music tests are
> nothing more than a $60,000 joke. They have a corporate
> "safe list" that doesn't change and toss in an extra hundred
> tunes to get tested. Of those, they might add 50 to make up
> there 300 song playlist. "Lookie, we've added more music for
> our listeners." Jocks get bombed about the PD's research
> that shows "this and that". I made the mistake and asked to
> see gawd's research and somehow, it was never handy. And
> lawd help you if you ever questioned it.

Well. I hate research. I think it's horrible, and part of the ruination of what we do. I believe your real audience is not sitting in an auditorium taking a bubble sheet test. They're living their lives. That being said...I've also sat in on both perceptual and music studies, and can say that, when applied correctly, research can help your station. It pains me to admit I'm wrong about it..trust me. But, I have the wisdom to know when I've made mistakes, and now I look at research as a tool, and a resource that, if tempered correctly with proper programming concepts, can be skewed in your favor.

> Speaking of Entercom, on their corporate website is a well
> produced 6 minute video about Katrina. It's touching to see
> what they went through, at the station and personally. Then,
> there's Mike Kaplan sucking up to the company. And to ice
> it, that it was all about corporate, was CEO David Field and
> VP of Programming Pat Paxton on the video. Like they give a
> rat's ass. I'd had more respect for them if it was simply
> about those folks who lived and survived it. They make look
> like nothing more than a photo-op.

Sounds like you have a beef with Entercom. You've mentioned them two or three times in this rant. Tell me. What did they do to piss you off?

> So Paul, enjoy those parameters and do your job as you are
> directed to.
> If that's you, take their money and enjoy the ride but pull
> your head out their corporate cabooses to catch some air.

I'm fine. I'd like to quote the story from "Little Big Man" about the Bull and his son sitting on a hill overlooking a herd of cows.

The younger bull says, "Dad...let's run down this hill and screw one of those cows!"

The elder bull says, "No son. Let's walk down and screw them all."

Sometimes you have to eat a little nutria before you get to Commander's Palace.

I don't expect anyone to think as I do. But...it is my opinion, and I'm entitled to it. Just as you're entitled to disagree.

 

[neanderpol]

> Sure, that's why, though I started in N.O., I've been on the
> air continuously now for 20 years in Houston (a major
> market, my boy), never been fired and am pulling in just
> under $50,000 for my airshift.
>
> C'mon, quit sticking up for the PD's who are nothing but A
> Holes.
>

I hate to tell you. $50k/year for market #8 is absolutely terrible money.

Honestly. You're getting the business.

 

[Beernuts]

> > Sure, that's why, though I started in N.O., I've been on
> the
> > air continuously now for 20 years in Houston (a major
> > market, my boy), never been fired and am pulling in just
> > under $50,000 for my airshift.
> >
> > C'mon, quit sticking up for the PD's who are nothing but A
>
> > Holes.
> >
>
> I hate to tell you. $50k/year for market #8 is absolutely
> terrible money.
>
> Honestly. You're getting the business.
>

It pays my bills and more...and that doesn't include voiceovers for movies and car dealerships...how much are you making?

 

[neanderpol]

> > I hate to tell you. $50k/year for market #8 is absolutely
> > terrible money.
> >
> > Honestly. You're getting the business.
> >
>
> It pays my bills and more...and that doesn't include
> voiceovers for movies and car dealerships...how much are you
> making?

None of your business. I'll tell you this. I made more than twice that at a recent job in a smaller market. And my last two jobs in smaller markets than Houston paid better. I made more money in Boston too.

I wouldn't be happy with $50k in Houston that's all I'm saying. ESPECIALLY after 20 years in the market.

But, if you are. I apologize as it's not my place to say.

 

[Beernuts]

> > > I hate to tell you. $50k/year for market #8 is
> absolutely
> > > terrible money.
> > >
> > > Honestly. You're getting the business.
> > >
> >
> > It pays my bills and more...and that doesn't include
> > voiceovers for movies and car dealerships...how much are
> you
> > making?
>
> None of your business. I'll tell you this. I made more than
> twice that at a recent job in a smaller market. And my last
> two jobs in smaller markets than Houston paid better. I made
> more money in Boston too.
>
> I wouldn't be happy with $50k in Houston that's all I'm
> saying. ESPECIALLY after 20 years in the market.
>
> But, if you are. I apologize as it's not my place to say.

It's all part of the deal with my radio station. They pay me what they do and guarantee my overall annual income with production and voiceovers. So far they have never had to make up the difference. I guarantee if you've been to Houston in the last 20 years and heard commercials on radio or TV, you've heard me. Your Boston money is horsesh*t in comparison.

By the way, hotshot, which market did you say you're on the air in now?
>

 

[buddahfett]

Yeah...PDs are all a-holes, and all jocks are a pleasure to work with it. No egos at all, right? Not one who thinks they have a monopoly on the listener's time. Flapping their lips for minutes on end with nothing to say. That could never happen. $50,000 in a Top 10 market? No wonder you've had a job for 20 years. You work for chump change.