BLACKLISTED!!

[Mastrmynd]

Can an on-air personality actually get blacklisted? Does this really happen in the industry?
Is there a secret file on personalities that will prevent them from ever working at a radio station ever again?
Just wondering because a few of my fave all-time dj's have just up-and-disappeared. Did the retire or were they blacklisted?

:O

just wondering if blacklisting is a common practice.

 

[KWYJIBO]

> Can an on-air personality actually get blacklisted? Does
> this really happen in the industry?
> Is there a secret file on personalities that will prevent
> them from ever working at a radio station ever again?
> Just wondering because a few of my fave all-time dj's have
> just up-and-disappeared. Did the retire or were they
> blacklisted?
>
> :O
>
> just wondering if blacklisting is a common practice.
>

I am pretty sure there is no actual hard copy list of DJ's that are hard to work with, drunks, past their prime or just plain crazy. That said, Radio is a small world (smaller and smaller everyday thanks to consolidation), I was in radio a relative short time (7 years) but I know people at stations all over the country. People talk to each other and share story's all the time. "You wont believe what This guy did.............." , " .... this guy is a pain in the ......" so on and so forth, not to mention, this and other web sites, plus blogs. Word travels very quick. So, Yes Virginia there is a blacklist, in the minds and hearts of DJ's everywhere...

 

[Kent]

> Can an on-air personality actually get blacklisted? Does
> this really happen in the industry?
> Is there a secret file on personalities that will prevent
> them from ever working at a radio station ever again?
> Just wondering because a few of my fave all-time dj's have
> just up-and-disappeared. Did the retire or were they
> blacklisted?

To answer your question, there is no secret list of do not hires at least at any of the big companies. However, radio is much the same as it always has been. If you screw the wrong person over, you will have a hard time finding a job. The good ol' boy network is still around just like it always has been. Even 20 years ago (and probably more), it would be hard for the bad apples to find jobs because everyone seems to know everyone else in radio, and you cycle into many of these people over and over again throughout your career. And, yes, you do have to be careful, just like you always have, about what you do to the higher ups at these bigger companies. A friend of mine apparently screwed over his brand manager at Cumulus by working with him on a contract and promising to sign only to balk at the last minute and go to their direct competition. His brand manager will almost certainly remember and has a reputation for knowing the staff at his stations quite well. As a result, it will likely be a cold day in Hell before he ever works for that company again.