CC laying off 20% of workforce on 1/5?

[fredcantu]

And, in the time of a disaster, like Hurricane Ike, most of the information people received came from the radio....

Sadly the good people in Galveston had to listen for the info from the Houston stations since all the AM, FM and TV stations licensed to Galveston had long ago moved to Houston and had no staff or presence on the coast. Even Galveston's mayor told her citizens to listen to the Houston stations for info on Hurricane Ike because Galveston had NO local stations (no matter what the community of license says on the station ID.)

 

[Tom Wells]

Squeaky Wheel and Radiopropd, thank you for cutting past a lot of noise and focusing our attention on the heart of the matter.

Radio, as we developed, nurtured and licensed it in this county is a public trust. As opposed to England, where radio listeners
paid for a receiving license, just as people pay for dish or cable here and now. The difference was in whether the programming
was intended to please listeners vs advertisers/ad buyers/consultants. At any rate, we had a pretty good balance between
making money and nuturing the art for a good 60 years in radio until about the same time that everybody began hyping and
flipping everyting they could, a la ebay, real estate, the SPEED channel, or anything else where hype outstrips all rationality.

Wall St has no concept of service to the detriment of cash flow.

This is why radio as a "business" can only "make money" as long as someone is flipping the properties.
Just as in housing, this causes us to outrun actual valuations, and disregard true inherent values in our properties.

That being said, on my micro soap box, remember reason #1 for broadcast radio...a great way to get out information. The companies currently running the industry in America have ignored the mandate of their broadcast licenses, and it is time for we the people to remind them of their obligation as license "guardians":

"Coming from an old time radio family, the first thing I was taught about the radio business was that owners didn't make a lot of money until they sold the station. Be happy if sales revenue covered expenses and decent salaries(NOT astronomical salaries).

When the Wall Street types eyed the radio business as a profit generator, it was over. To have a excellent product in the biz does not jibe with short term gains.

The Public Service mandate, E.A.S., as much as we make fun of or would love to get around this stuff, the fact is the PUBLIC RADIO AIRWAVES are the number one way to communicate to the population, and GOVERNMENT has a obligation to our democracy to make sure they are not taken over by too few voices and opinions, and that public communication/information is available 24/7 in times of emergency. Who the hell has a battery operated internet connection, or (soon to be digital) T.V., for that matter.

. Normal rules of free market competition can't apply, Radio is too important. "

Art, once it is subject to the whims of the profit motive, is doomed.
Radio is an art, science and service, so well developed that it could support a "business".

This part is so important it bears a separate and stand-alone reference

To have an excellent product in the biz does not jibe with short term gains.

Read this over and over again until you can forget about the business of radio and hear the art of radio.

As I have said over and over...local radio is the only medium that can not only tell you what the weather is for today/tomorrow, but the only medium that can tell you what happened at last night's football game. I am sure there are some who may say that they can get that information from the local TV station, or possibly the newspaper and internet...BUT, you, in general, have to stop what you're doing and pick-u the newspaper, or stop what you're doing and get online, or watch the TV. With radio, you can lsten in the shower, or while shaving, or while you're driving to work - and it doesn't cost you anything, unlike sat radio...

And, in the time of a disaster, like Hurricane Ike, most of the information people received came from the radio....

Next....??????

Thank you for pointing out why radio listeners know big news ON THE WAY HOME from work, not at 9 o clock or whatever...
When they're lucky they get local input on a big national issues, local alerts, and even a variety of music.



I wish everyone well. I wish all in Radio/TV wellness in overcoming the disease that Wall St truly is when it wants you for its special whore
and sensation of the decade.

 

[dallasboyz]

Its quite hilarious to read all of you old school radio vets posting about how radio should be.

It'll never be like that again.

Either get with the times, or get a new career.

I feel bad for you.

 

[KyDXIn]

If they cut 1000 jobs and the average salary was just $25K, the company would return 25 MILLION to the bottom line. I'm no CFO. Is that significant enough to move you? I fear it's not.

actually it would be a bigger savings. 25 k base plus payroll taxes, plus unemployment, plus benefits, plus workers comp, etc...so probably more like 50 million, plus the fact that rumour is some big contracts may be cut.

Define "big contracts"...

 

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

If they cut 1000 jobs and the average salary was just $25K, the company would return 25 MILLION to the bottom line. I'm no CFO. Is that significant enough to move you? I fear it's not.

actually it would be a bigger savings. 25 k base plus payroll taxes, plus unemployment, plus benefits, plus workers comp, etc...so probably more like 50 million, plus the fact that rumour is some big contracts may be cut.

Define "big contracts"...

I would suspect the top 2-4 BIG CONTRACTS in a cluster, depending on market size, etc. If you are contracted on-air talent and aren't commanding ratings and revenue you are likely to be vulnerable if these cuts materialize. EVEN if you are getting ratings you may become a statistic. Several decently rated shows have been put out in the last two weeks at numerous companies around the country.

 

[titoisradio]

Squeaky Wheel and Radiopropd, thank you for cutting past a lot of noise and focusing our attention on the heart of the matter.

Radio, as we developed, nurtured and licensed it in this county is a public trust. As opposed to England, where radio listeners
paid for a receiving license, just as people pay for dish or cable here and now. The difference was in whether the programming
was intended to please listeners vs advertisers/ad buyers/consultants. At any rate, we had a pretty good balance between
making money and nuturing the art for a good 60 years in radio until about the same time that everybody began hyping and
flipping everyting they could, a la ebay, real estate, the SPEED channel, or anything else where hype outstrips all rationality.

Wall St has no concept of service to the detriment of cash flow.

This is why radio as a "business" can only "make money" as long as someone is flipping the properties.
Just as in housing, this causes us to outrun actual valuations, and disregard true inherent values in our properties.

That being said, on my micro soap box, remember reason #1 for broadcast radio...a great way to get out information. The companies currently running the industry in America have ignored the mandate of their broadcast licenses, and it is time for we the people to remind them of their obligation as license "guardians":

"Coming from an old time radio family, the first thing I was taught about the radio business was that owners didn't make a lot of money until they sold the station. Be happy if sales revenue covered expenses and decent salaries(NOT astronomical salaries).

When the Wall Street types eyed the radio business as a profit generator, it was over. To have a excellent product in the biz does not jibe with short term gains.

The Public Service mandate, E.A.S., as much as we make fun of or would love to get around this stuff, the fact is the PUBLIC RADIO AIRWAVES are the number one way to communicate to the population, and GOVERNMENT has a obligation to our democracy to make sure they are not taken over by too few voices and opinions, and that public communication/information is available 24/7 in times of emergency. Who the hell has a battery operated internet connection, or (soon to be digital) T.V., for that matter.

. Normal rules of free market competition can't apply, Radio is too important. "

Art, once it is subject to the whims of the profit motive, is doomed.
Radio is an art, science and service, so well developed that it could support a "business".

This part is so important it bears a separate and stand-alone reference

To have an excellent product in the biz does not jibe with short term gains.

Read this over and over again until you can forget about the business of radio and hear the art of radio.

As I have said over and over...local radio is the only medium that can not only tell you what the weather is for today/tomorrow, but the only medium that can tell you what happened at last night's football game. I am sure there are some who may say that they can get that information from the local TV station, or possibly the newspaper and internet...BUT, you, in general, have to stop what you're doing and pick-u the newspaper, or stop what you're doing and get online, or watch the TV. With radio, you can lsten in the shower, or while shaving, or while you're driving to work - and it doesn't cost you anything, unlike sat radio...

And, in the time of a disaster, like Hurricane Ike, most of the information people received came from the radio....

Next....??????

Thank you for pointing out why radio listeners know big news ON THE WAY HOME from work, not at 9 o clock or whatever...
When they're lucky they get local input on a big national issues, local alerts, and even a variety of music.



I wish everyone well. I wish all in Radio/TV wellness in overcoming the disease that Wall St truly is when it wants you for its special whore
and sensation of the decade.

Tom to correct you, in Britain, radio is free but you are charged a tax on each TV set you own, or at least that is the way it was in 97. Things could have changed.

 

[KyDXIn]

Define "big contracts"...

I would suspect the top 2-4 BIG CONTRACTS in a cluster, depending on market size, etc. If you are contracted on-air talent and aren't commanding ratings and revenue you are likely to be vulnerable if these cuts materialize. EVEN if you are getting ratings you may become a statistic. Several decently rated shows have been put out in the last two weeks at numerous companies around the country.

So you are saying that Mr. Joe Blow, who has consistantly been in 2nd place behind the other station in your cluster that plays country music might be shown the door, despite being instantly identified with your station in the area?

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Its quite hilarious to read all of you old school radio vets posting about how radio should be.

It'll never be like that again.

Either get with the times, or get a new career.

I feel bad for you.

Awesome reading comprehension. Actually, they're discussing what radio's about to be.

Define "big contracts"...

I would suspect the top 2-4 BIG CONTRACTS in a cluster, depending on market size, etc. If you are contracted on-air talent and aren't commanding ratings and revenue you are likely to be vulnerable if these cuts materialize. EVEN if you are getting ratings you may become a statistic. Several decently rated shows have been put out in the last two weeks at numerous companies around the country.

So you are saying that Mr. Joe Blow, who has consistantly been in 2nd place behind the other station in your cluster that plays country music might be shown the door, despite being instantly identified with your station in the area?

Stranger things have happened throughout the history of radio. I think the bottom line is, nobody's indispensable in the next few weeks. According to Taylor on RI's newsletter, the decisions have already been made with no room for recourse or bargaining; it's just a matter of what date the chain releases the information. He reports that his sources are leaning toward Inauguration Day 01/20/09, with the hopes that the massive cuts will be overshadowed in the national news by Presidental events.

I'm wondering, what's the general opinion around here about CC's continuing to maintain that the majority of the cuts will be in sales? Does that still ring true?

 

[bartstar]

Word on the street is they are having one manager to oversee a variety of markets.
Norfolk and Richmond used to have two separate managers and now have one.

Consolidation! CC stations have lots of managers that they do not need. How many sales people have to be managed anyway? And you can always add more work to the stressed-out sales team. Cold calls and appointments, write proposals, enter contracts, collections, traffic, production, filing, driving, phone calls, faxes, email, research and the old stand by...."pick up the spot" at the agency across town!!! Radio sales is the best in multi-tasking!

 

[KyDXIn]

So you are saying that Mr. Joe Blow, who has consistantly been in 2nd place behind the other station in your cluster that plays country music might be shown the door, despite being instantly identified with your station in the area?

Stranger things have happened throughout the history of radio. I think the bottom line is, nobody's indispensable in the next few weeks. According to Taylor on RI's newsletter, the decisions have already been made with no room for recourse or bargaining; it's just a matter of what date the chain releases the information. He reports that his sources are leaning toward Inauguration Day 01/20/09, with the hopes that the massive cuts will be overshadowed in the national news by Presidental events.

I'm wondering, what's the general opinion around here about CC's continuing to maintain that the majority of the cuts will be in sales? Does that still ring true?

I only know what I see looking at what's happened here in Louisville. CC has gotten rid of dozens of people including on air staff, many of whom were hard working, and did what was best for the company. Listeners could tell, especially with hosts doing extra work and double shifts and working during snowstorms. One example was Joe Elliott who was nighttime host at WHAS. When John Zieglier was fired, Joe filled in several weeks doing both the 9 am to Noon, and the 9pm to midnight shifts. But despite public outcry, his evening shift was replaced with Michael Savage. He is now on Sundays from 8:30 to noon, and I have a feeling that will be eliminated in the next round of cuts. Even now on his Sunday show, the majority of people mention they miss him on the evening program.

How long can a station remain in business before people just give up and turn it off? I know I've cut back on the number of hours I listen to CC Louisville radio. They took off the Sunday afternoon host in favor of "Handel on the Law". He's another Rush-wannabee who is so arrogant! I also don't listen to Savage, who to me seems just crazy. I don't listen to "Coast-to-coast". If my local oldies station offered more top of the hour local news, I wouldn't have to switch my radio.

 

[Curtis E. Flush]

One thing I've noticed over the past few years is that when people are asked what stations they listen to most have to try and remember what the presets are in thier car.

Your average Joe is so sick of the same 25 songs and automated crap (pick a format) that radio has become nothing but white noise to use when driving.

And frankly, it's getting to where it hurts too much to care. Good people are along for the ride, but the suits won't be happy 'till the whole industry busts the gates of Hell wide open.

 

[radiopropd]

Its quite hilarious to read all of you old school radio vets posting about how radio should be.

It'll never be like that again.

Either get with the times, or get a new career.

I feel bad for you.

It's interesting to see a comment like this...my issues with it are as follows: 1) Presuming that you're in radio, why did you get into Dallas? was it because of the radio vets? DId they do something to make you want to become a broadcaster? 2) As for it never being like that again, that's not necessarily true, as there could always be deconsolidation...now, maybe you don't think so, but it's already happened previously - can we say Ma Bell and all of her baby bells? 3) Feel bad for me? Don't feel bad for me, or any of the rest of us - we're in this business, and we know what to expect. 4) As for being a radio vet, I am proud of it, and even though I've been in this business for 20 years of my 46 years on this earth, I would not have it any other way.

It's all because of deregulation and greediness that the industry is in the position it's in.

Here's a story for you, and I am sure it's happened in other areas across the country - but this one happened up north - way up north. There were two towns - separated by a state line and a river - they were less than 1 mile apart. There were five radio statins between the two cities, with three different license holders. They all had their own compliment of staff - on-air, sales, administrative, etc. One day, one license holder decides to sell his one station - he sells it to one of the others that has two stations. The new owner decides that he can reduce his costs by eliminating the old staff from the station he just acquired, and he makes it so. But, there is still another owner that all the fired staff can possibly go to work for, so they aren't completely left out in the cold, and some of them go to work for the other owners. But, there is deregulation, and eventually, the other two owners decide they're going to sell their properties, and they sell them to one person, who has never owned a station in his life.

But, the new owner finds out that he paid too much for the stations, and he has to reduce his expenses. Keeping in mind, that these two owners, before they sold, had full compliments of staff - on, air, sales, administrative, etc. However, the new owner decides to cut across the board - keeping in mind there are five stations...well, once the cutting happens, and some of those who lost their jobs previously are now out of work again, and this time, with no where to go...and the result was that there are 5 full-time on-air to run the five stations, one traffic person, one office manager, and three sales execs.

The total number of people that lost their jobs from this exceeded two dozen - all because of one greedy person and because the government decided that deregulation was a good thing.

Now, before any of you make any assumptions - I was not one of those who lost their jobs in this story, I was one of those who workd at the five stations - pulling 6 and 7 day weeks because of those cutbacks.

This, my friends, is what's happening now, except on a larger scale. The new owners of CC paid far too much for the properties, they know it, and we know it. They had to pay millions too much for them due to the deal they made - now they have to make their numbers.

Quite honestly, we would all be better off if there was once again regulation, limiting the number of properties someone can own - it certainly would allow for more competition as well as more choices for the advertisers.

Any thoughts anyone?????

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

Quite honestly, we would all be better off if there was once again regulation, limiting the number of properties someone can own - it certainly would allow for more competition as well as more choices for the advertisers.

Any thoughts anyone?????

There's plenty of room on my soapbox for two. I don't mind sharing!

 

[radiopropd]

Quite honestly, we would all be better off if there was once again regulation, limiting the number of properties someone can own - it certainly would allow for more competition as well as more choices for the advertisers.

Any thoughts anyone?????

There's plenty of room on my soapbox for two. I don't mind sharing!

Thanks Aunti - I appreciate it - hopefully there are others out there that feel as we do, and hopefully, at some point, our elected representatives in congress as well as the new adminisration will feel the same way and be willing to do something about it.

 

[SqueakyWheel]

The time is right for a letter writing campaign to our congresspersons. The new administration should be much more open to the discussion that consolidation has truly hurt diversity, public safety....and JOBS.

Before unemployment reaches double digits, de-consolidation is one way to get Americans back to work...and I'm NOT kidding.

 

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

The time is right for a letter writing campaign to our congresspersons. The new administration should be much more open to the discussion that consolidation has truly hurt diversity, public safety....and JOBS.

Before unemployment reaches double digits, de-consolidation is one way to get Americans back to work...and I'm NOT kidding.

I will jump on this bandwagon, but have one question. How does the government force companies like Clear Channel to sell stations? Can they change the ownership rules/cap and force divesture? Where are the legal eagles on this board? We are waiting for your wisdom.

 

[MaskMan]

Regulate Baby Regulate! Doubt they could change the way things are. CC would have to be grandfathered in, as would all the other groups. They NEVER should have done this in the first place! AND, it's not just the radio industry, it's everywhere! These mega corporations can't control their companies! That's obvious by all the bailing out that's happening. When you have mega corporations, they cook the books to look good to shareholders. It's a cancer! There's no way to keep tabs on everyone in the company. It's a big f-ing mess!

 

[radiopropd]

Well, without knowing the specifics, and certainly not being an attorney, it would appear to me that a model to use would be when Ma Bell had to sell and break itself up. It's simple, although not easy, but congress could simply pass a law saying that in order to provide a more perfect union (sounds like Lincoln) that broadcasting entities cannot own more than "X" number of stations/properties in total, and no more than "Y" number of properties in a market. Further, the new regulation would have a requirement that owners truly serve the COL. I can bet, when it comes to the quarterlies, that many of them are fabricated with the information contained, and that they have not served the public interest.

Additionally, the new regulation would have to prohibit the current players from owning any part of the stations/markets they divest, or, in the case of CC, creating the Aloha Trust, whereby allowing them to take back those stations at any given time.

Yes, this would create additional jobs, and put not only those of us who are talents back to work, but all the other staff - sales, administrative, support, etc.

 

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

Now all we need is someone with deep pockets that wants to buy stations as they are freed up. We could gather the brightest of the unemployed and train them to be Washington lobbyists to get the deed done. They would have employment now and later at the radio stations with new owners.

 

[aunti-terrestrial]

The time is right for a letter writing campaign to our congresspersons. The new administration should be much more open to the discussion that consolidation has truly hurt diversity, public safety....and JOBS.

Before unemployment reaches double digits, de-consolidation is one way to get Americans back to work...and I'm NOT kidding.

I will jump on this bandwagon, but have one question. How does the government force companies like Clear Channel to sell stations? Can they change the ownership rules/cap and force divesture? Where are the legal eagles on this board? We are waiting for your wisdom.

While we wait for the wisdom and stuff, does anybody mind if I hit the Obamas up with a friendly request or two on Myspace and Facebook?

What an amazing world we live in right now. I'm Myspace/Facebook buddies with my President. Blows my mind.