Jake Sommers said:
Oh, for the love of Pete. Whoever you are "marketmyradio" get off of Dan Bughmans butt. I have been doing this a LONG time in a lot of MAJOR markets and Baughman is the best GM I have ever worked for.
Man, you SEEM to think that you are connected but you get bits and pieces and state them as fact.
I have been here for 5 years and this place has turned from a laughing stock into a respected radio station.
Listen to the stopsets...REAL, honest to goodness commercials(the very same ones you here on Saga and CC stations).
Jake Sommers
Afternoon Guy
104.9 The River
It has been a while since I have looked at this original post by Jake. I have prayed about it for a couple of weeks and felt that I needed to reply to this post. I debated whether to send this to Jake personally or to simply reply. I choose to reply because he was so public in your comments. I want others to maybe stop and think about "Christian" radio and where it is today.
As hard as Christian Radio tries to be like secular radio, it is honestly different. There is a different standard held to Christian stations by its listeners because you are a
Christian station. I don't think that people care that Tracy VT's her segments as much as the fact that she tries to sound like she is living here when she is in Florida. Call it what you want but that is deceptive, and although done routinely on secular stations, shouldn't we be honest?
Jake, I want you to consider, really stop and think about what you said here. Yes, I suppose to many WCVO was a laughing stock and "Dan" has changed everything to make it glorious. This comment makes me angry for a couple of reasons:
#1 If you have gone from "laughing stock" to "respected radio" is is ONLY because God has allowed it. Yes, I believe that Dan has done many great things at the river, but it is because of the
Lord that you are where you are. I, personally, think that this "popularity" is clouding your judgement. I have read your posts on here and I am saddend by them.
#2 You need to stop and consider those who have gone before you that PUSHED!!! the envelope -- to the point of nearly being fired --who laid the groundwork on which you so
proudly stand. How do I know? I was there. I watched for over 10 years the blood, sweat, tears and the extremely hard work my husband and others put into that station for PENNIES per hour. There were a few GREAT men who kept pushing for change at the station. The countless board meetings and abrasive remarks from the members and leadership--even threats of violence by listeners who couldn't understand the change.
I want to remind you that it was these same great men who TRAINED Dan to run a board in the wee hours on Saturday mornings. I personally think that anyone who is glad to see the river where it is should thank these GENTLEMEN for the sacrifice. They did not do this for our thanks, it was done for the Lord. However, your comments make them sound stupid and incompetent. I am sure that Dan remembers the spiritual and working conditions of the station at the time that God shook the grounds loose.
Have you stopped to think of the sacrifice these people made to bring WCVO to the place that Dan could do the work that he is doing?
I RESENT it being called a laughing stock. Yes, I guess in the world of radio, it was something to laugh at, but nobody except this finely tuned, GODLY group will ever know the price that was paid. Maybe you should respect that instead of calling it a laughing stock.
I am also quite certain that Dan can handle his own defense. Dan, at least in the past, was a good man, honest, decent and spiritually willing to do the shifts that no-body wanted and without complaint. He was humble and kind. I have not had the pleasure of seeing Dan in some time now, but I doubt that he is full of fluff and stuff. I am also certain that he realizes that being at the top of the heap, you are going to have critics. In the world of radio, it is full of critics..so what?
I know that you know radio so much better than most on this site because of your MAJOR MARKET career. However, my husband and I have lived this MINISTRY for 20 years and have seen a lot of good people get sucked up in the "popularity" of it all and it really has never ended well for those people. We are also aware of the internal fight that goes on with keeping the eyes glued on the Lord while being earthly good to others. As you know, ratings and numbers can plummet in a heartbeat.
I know you and I believe that you love the Lord. I don't mean this to be anything more than a "hey man, stop and think before you speak". If I had not known you when I read your post I would have thought you were pompous and full of yourself. I doubt that is how you want to be perceived.
God bless you, Jake.
Shereda Buckingham
(no, I am not a mother of 2 unless you count my husband, I had a typo and can't figure out how to fix it)
Christian Radio and TV widow (giggle)