Changes at Clear Channel/San Francisco

[HenryOchs]

All Access is reporting that KMEL PD Stacy Cunningham and KNEW and KKGN PD John Scott have exited
the cluster. CC Bay Area OM Don Parker will handle KMEL Programming duties.

Any thoughts?

 

[oaktree]

Well, a .4 share and a cume of less than 100,000 in a market like S.F. for "Green" KKGN can certainly do that. And for KNEW, as well with less than a 1 share and less than a 200,000 cume.

A still downtrending Rhythmic / CHR with less than a million cume (in a market of 6-million) at 13th is a bit off the radar for KMEL.

Welcome to the Clear Channel world of radio. Patience is not a virtue.

 

[DyingMedium]

Both of those people are solid pros who had been with CC for years...John Scott was certainly doing no worse than his predecessors - and doing it for a lot less money. Less money for him...and NO money for either station. God, what a freakin' nightmare...WE WANT RESULTS, BUT WE DON'T WANNA PAY FOR IT!

I think both of those moves are entirely budget related. Hopefully, both will land on their feet...They deserve it.

 

[SFStatic]

For what it's worth, I think Medium is right on the money (sorry about the pun!)

 

[Jay F]

My impression is that Don Parker has long followed and respected KMEL, decades before he arrived at CC/SF. I recall in 1990 while at B95/Fresno he played songs that were big hits on KMEL yet played on few other stations. One song that comes to mind is Oaktown 3-5-7 "Juicy Gotcha Crazy". Anybody remember that song? It sounded so good...back when hip hop was as fresh as can be.

 

[NoMoreLurking]

And Ricci Fillar, the APD of KISQ, gets the mondo promotion to PD of KISQ *AND* KKGN *AND* KNEW.

I guess Clear Channel thought he was just getting too much sleep.

 

[SFStatic]

They have now managed to have 100% turnover in program directors for all their Bay Area stations in about a year and a half.

 

[DavidKaye]

They have now managed to have 100% turnover in program directors for all their Bay Area stations in about a year and a half.

If you owned stations and they weren't going well and you had program directors who weren't performing, what would you do? How long do you hold onto someone who is not bringing in the audience?

 

[ContactLenz]

You make a good point DK...however, Clear Channel has not given many of its operators the "tools to succeed"...read, a bit of budget to market the stations, hire and RETAIN good folk, and in many cases inferior formats or signals.

One or all of these issues would apply to CC SF.

Like in sports, you fire the manager/coach, not the team, but when the team is a bunch malcontents who only look out for themselves or don't buy in to the PD's/Coaches message, you get failure.

So CC I think needs to look inward instead of having a revolving door of PD's.

Plus, no one person can oversee more than 2 stations and expect not to have cracks and issues...that is too much to ask of one person...so again CC/the owner of the club, will set up its coach/PD/talent to fail.

It is untenable, and CC cannot see this as this has been the case for over a decade.

 

[SFStatic]

I would add to interloper's point with this: several of those sticks did quite well before CC came in and cut out all the tools. Some of the AEs would come back into the building and say that their clients wondered why they should advertise when CC had cut out all advertising for their own stations. All TV was dropped, billboards were cut back or dropped, etc. Promotion budgets were totally eliminated...you couldn't do a remote broadcast just to try to attract listeners or excite P-1's, it had to be sold and make 3 times as much as it cost. This type of thing is out of even the best PDs' control, and has caused a downward trend in ratings.

Add to this the cutting of live air talent to relate to the listeners in virtually every daypart but mornings, and you've set the stations up for failure.

 

[Questor]

Some of the AEs would come back into the building and say that their clients wondered why they should advertise when CC had cut out all advertising for their own stations.

I've heard refrains of this when prospecting for local advertisers. You rarely hear local business ads on some Clear Channel stations.

Promotion budgets were totally eliminated...you couldn't do a remote broadcast just to try to attract listeners or excite P-1's, it had to be sold and make 3 times as much as it cost. This type of thing is out of even the best PDs' control, and has caused a downward trend in ratings.

Add to this the cutting of live air talent to relate to the listeners in virtually every daypart but mornings, and you've set the stations up for failure.

John Scott once set up a meet-and-greet type party at the Back Forty BBQ in Pleasant Hill for Bay Area Armstrong & Getty listeners. Some of the KNEW sales staff were there too. Events like these do translate to dollars spent too. You never know who will attend these and who's connected to whom.

Conversely, if a radio station treats its internal and external customers poorly, there are other venues.

 

[SFStatic]

As to your second point, that was the second of those at Back Forty. The 1st featured Ed Schultz. There was also an Ed appearance in SF with listeners, and of course, the infamous Randi Rhodes one where she smeared Hillary and caused a bit of fallout. Having been at all of these and many others, I am quite aware of what was going on.

The point really was, the music stations don't go out and do what they used to (and in fact don't even have the staff to), like a big remote from Pier 39, or the One Warm Coat one from Union Square that was 6 hours a day Saturday and Sunday, with all the air staff showing up. That kind of thing makes friends with one of the stations set of customers....the listeners, which CC seems to have decided to ignore. It also builds cred in the community, seeing the station actually taking a hands on approach to helping others.

 

[skyrocker]

For any action to occur it must first be thought of.

In the game of (show) biz, great business ideas will generate great business moves.
Continued clear thinking will always deliver patterns of winning values, success and growth.
Fear generates defensive motions of all sorts, eventually turning tail and fleeing the stage.

You can see what's been going on here...

 

[Jay F]

While budget might have been the main consideration...ratings could have had something to do with this as well. KMEL has seen better days.

 

[TheBigA]

Clear Channel has not given many of its operators the "tools to succeed"...read, a bit of budget to market the stations, hire and RETAIN good folk, and in many cases inferior formats or signals.

Then again, if you give a manager all star talent, a big budget, and all the tools, what does the manager do? You're just buying a championship, and all the manager is doing is scheduling. A good secretary can do that.

I was in a market years ago where CC owned a lot of the stations, and they targeted us. They spent money, power, and promotion. They were seen by many as a big bully, beating up on the little guy. So you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

The real challenge for a programmer is to motivate without money. The stories that make programmers legendary is taking a station from worst to first without money or promotion, but with creativity and energy. The budget cuts at the major radio owners have leveled the playing field between the big guys and the small guys. So now the question is: What can you bring to the table as a programmer that doesn't require a big budget. Some people are up to the challenge, and some aren't.

 

[ContactLenz]

Okay BigA...then give a programmer and format more than 6 months to suceed.

While doing that, make sure as a cheerleader you are not pumping sunshine to guy who makes an hourly wage, knowing that he/she regardless of the stations success gets paid the same.

Look, I agree with some of your thoughts, but for you to say "try without"..I say why not try to give some tools.

You still have to lead whether you "coach" the Yankees or the Pirates.

But anyone can tell you, having talent and people motivated because they are VALUED and compensated decently goes a long way.

SO instead of CC saying "show what you can do"...I would say "arm me well, and then if I fail, its likely me".

CC cannot have expectations of being #1 if they act and support like #10 in regard to pay, marketing, and having the back of the programming department.

 

[TheBigA]

Sounds like somebody needs a hug.

Next week, CC is sending Hoagan around the country to give everyone in the company a big hug. He can't give money, because the company's broke. But they have lots of hugs.

 

[SFStatic]

Sure, they can give stuff away to show appreciation. If you win a national award, they'll send you a box of Mrs. Fields cookies...better not eat any on company time, though!

 

[DavidKaye]

Add to this the cutting of live air talent to relate to the listeners in virtually every daypart but mornings, and you've set the stations up for failure.

Failure? KYLD, KIOI, KMEL, and KISQ seem to be doing quite nicely, thank you. It's their AMs that are suffering.

 

[DyingMedium]

Worst to First programming "Genius" only works if you have REAL people in the building. Seriously, talent and hard work only go so far if you don't have people - let alone money. And if the Big A knew what he was talking about, he'd know that NOBODY at CC has been getting any money or staff support for quite some time now. Saw an old 1980 KPIX Dave McElhatton report on changes in radio...quaint in many ways, but it spotlighted KSOL back when it was in Foster City...and how THEY went from worst to first. Know what I noticed? People...Lots of 'em. Can't do it without people - although CC and others have certainly tried.