Changes at PLR

[CTListener]

I gather that the problem is that advertisers just aren't spending on ANY time slot, no matter what the ratings. In this economy, businesses are in hunker-down, survival mode and have slashed or even eliminated advertising budgets.

Radio groups are reporting first quarter reports that are down as much as 25% year-to-date.

Same as newspapers and magazines. And TV ain't doing much better. Right now, the basic business model of mass media -- advertisers paying the freight -- is broken.

 

[amfmradio1]

Why don't they get one of weekend part timers to fill in instead of "Jesse"?

He sounds like he's on college radio.

He did overnights for awhile & produced some for the morning show, then he was gone, but now he's back?

How does Prodoti feel now that Lapatino has taken an hour out of his 7-12 gig, with Lapatino doing 1-8 & Prodoti doing 8-12 instead of 7-12?

They're both painful to listen to.

Congratulations to Wiggy Wigmaster.

He deserves a full time gig, & I hope he stays.

Change the jocks & the music.

'PLR, "Connecticuts' Number One Rock Station" currently has no female on the air.

 

[videokilledtheradiostar]

The decision to cut Pam Landry was strictly corporate. Her salary plus benefits was too much for the corporate suits at Cox to handle. Nineteen years at PLR and she goes out with class instead of kicking and screaming. She's a better person than me.
Now there will be plenty of work for a few people. That's showbiz! ;D

 

[Mike Lapitino]

I have been reading these posts now for over 3 years. We all know by now that AM/Fm is in fact Jack Allen. (Please don't make me bring up an old post of his to prove it). Let's set the record straight, Jack I thought we were friends as did Prodoti and Pam. Your rantings on us and the station is nothing more than sour grapes for being fired. We didn't do it, so don't take it out on us. Granted I'm not the best jock in the world (maybe the luckiest) but I don't pretend to be either. It's easy to critque someone while hiding behind an alias. I've been in radio for 33 years(23 at plr, 10 year at wmm@wdjf and did a stint at zlx in boston) and always kept a job. I've learned how to adapt to the changing times in this business, can't say I always agree with management decisions, but it is what it is. We do what we have to do to survive. I didnt take an hour from Prodoti I was told what my hours will be. Wiggy has been full time for the past 2 1/2 years. (mornings on wybc) so his hours got increased as well as mine. The economy sucks right now and it's a shame we have to lose good employees. I love the business despite the changes and feel optomistic that it will in fact get better. I've stay employed because I work well with others and never say no to the company, is that kiss ass, probably, but yet I remained employed in a career that I love. Jack, I hope that we never meet face to face again because it would not be a pleasant experience.
Good luck to you all still in or out of the business.
Mike Lapitino

 

[videokilledtheradiostar]

It's a free country brother! Just because you managed to hang in there in adverse times, doesn't amount to a hill of beans to me. Clear out of those eardrums!
I know what inside radio bs is all about. You can't tell me jack! Been there done that.
Enjoy the ride while it lasts, cause there's a steep drop off up ahead.

 

[Mike Lapitino]

Wow video, you musta got [EDIT-profanity]pretty good. That sucks. after 30+ everyday is a gift. Your right it's bound to end, maybe sooner than later, but until then I'll just keep, keeping on. Plus I'm not trying to tell you anything, my post was directed at Jack Allen.

 

[mdiglia]

Granted I'm not the best jock in the world (maybe the luckiest) but I don't pretend to be either

Funny how the same quote can be interpreted differently by people. I read the above line from Mike and thought he may have echoed the thoughts of alot of radio people, sometimes longevity has more to do with luck than talent. Others saw his post as something else. Not surprising I guess.
If your used to doing a 4 or 5 hour shift, 7 hours seems like an eternity, especially when you spend most of that time in a small room looking at a computer monitor. But as has been said before on this board you do what you have to do to survive. In an ideal world Pam landry would still be there and this thread would not exist, sadly the radio world over the last decade has been anything but ideal.

How does Prodoti feel now that Lapatino has taken an hour out of his 7-12 gig, with Lapatino doing 1-8 & Prodoti doing 8-12 instead of 7-12?
They're both painful to listen to.

What does that mean? Can you explain painful to me? Do dogs howl at the sound of their voices? Just another stupid line tossed out for the sake of having something negative to say. If they are that bad, change your radio. Its the big knob on your receiver that says "tuning" on it. There are people on CT's airwave that I may not like, but I tune out or deal with it. Some of those jocks have been around a long time, and my opinoin aside, I give them credit for weathering the storm so far.

 

[videokilledtheradiostar]

Wow video, you musta got [EDIT-profanity]pretty good. That sucks. after 30+ everyday is a gift. Your right it's bound to end, maybe sooner than later, but until then I'll just keep, keeping on. Plus I'm not trying to tell you anything, my post was directed at Jack Allen.

Eventually a person wakes up and smells the coffee. Right now I'm smelling the mouth watering aroma of Eight O'Clock coffee. Tastes delicious too. Better than the stench of dead beat losers that work in CT radio.

 

[GlennO]

Wow video, you musta got [EDIT-profanity]pretty good. That sucks. after 30+ everyday is a gift. Your right it's bound to end, maybe sooner than later, but until then I'll just keep, keeping on. Plus I'm not trying to tell you anything, my post was directed at Jack Allen.

Eventually a person wakes up and smells the coffee. Right now I'm smelling the mouth watering aroma of Eight O'Clock coffee. Tastes delicious too. Better than the stench of dead beat losers that work in CT radio.

No bitter aftertaste there!

 

[Pam Landry]

For what it's worth I willl set the record straight:

Cox Radio Milford needed to cut X dollars from the budget. My contract was up and my position as midday jock and music director (for the past 19 years with the #1 show in the market) was "eliminated".

Trust me, I made a lot less than the morning and afternoon jocks do. It was much less messy for them to "eliminate my position" rather than, say, afternoon drive. Now they cover my former on-air hours with two people who are already on payroll (and who are dear friends of mine) and who won't make another cent doing it.

The part I find most puzzling is this: the economy stinks, advertisers aren't buying, sales can't sell the "product"...so the choice of budget cuts is a person who has #1 ratings, heritage, community service and a loyal listening audience...a person who IS the product they are trying so desperately to sell? That certainly isn't going to help sell PLR to advertisers. If your product is Pepsi and you take the Pepsi out of the can and replace it with some watered down version of Pepsi, just because the can still says "Pepsi" doesn't mean people will buy it.

Unfortunately in radio it is almost ALWAYS the programming side that has to suffer the axe while the sales department remains.

I loved what I did at PLR and the people I worked with and the listeners who spent time with me every day. Despite what some have said on this board, even in Connecticut it takes a long time to build what I built at PLR.

If you were one of my listeners, thank you.

 

[DToTheJ]

For what it's worth I willl set the record straight:

Cox Radio Milford needed to cut X dollars from the budget. My contract was up and my position as midday jock and music director (for the past 19 years with the #1 show in the market) was "eliminated".

Trust me, I made a lot less than the morning and afternoon jocks do. It was much less messy for them to "eliminate my position" rather than, say, afternoon drive. Now they cover my former on-air hours with two people who are already on payroll (and who are dear friends of mine) and who won't make another cent doing it.

The part I find most puzzling is this: the economy stinks, advertisers aren't buying, sales can't sell the "product"...so the choice of budget cuts is a person who has #1 ratings, heritage, community service and a loyal listening audience...a person who IS the product they are trying so desperately to sell? That certainly isn't going to help sell PLR to advertisers. If your product is Pepsi and you take the Pepsi out of the can and replace it with some watered down version of Pepsi, just because the can still says "Pepsi" doesn't mean people will buy it.

Unfortunately in radio it is almost ALWAYS the programming side that has to suffer the axe while the sales department remains.

I loved what I did at PLR and the people I worked with and the listeners who spent time with me every day. Despite what some have said on this board, even in Connecticut it takes a long time to build what I built at PLR.

If you were one of my listeners, thank you.

"Watered-down" - oh, like, the radio industry in general? I hear ya... (I'm the one that made that correlation, not you...)

I'm sure you've got a few more good years left in ya. I bet you'll probably turn up on WRKI in Danbury or one of the non-corporate Connecticut rockers. Good luck in the future, Pam.

 

[SoNo]

They don't cut sales staff when revenue is down. That would be biting off your nose to spite your face. They're commissioned... you wouldn't save any money by cutting sales.

 

[cspotrun]

For what it's worth I willl set the record straight:

Cox Radio Milford needed to cut X dollars from the budget. My contract was up and my position as midday jock and music director (for the past 19 years with the #1 show in the market) was "eliminated".

Trust me, I made a lot less than the morning and afternoon jocks do. It was much less messy for them to "eliminate my position" rather than, say, afternoon drive. Now they cover my former on-air hours with two people who are already on payroll (and who are dear friends of mine) and who won't make another cent doing it.

The part I find most puzzling is this: the economy stinks, advertisers aren't buying, sales can't sell the "product"...so the choice of budget cuts is a person who has #1 ratings, heritage, community service and a loyal listening audience...a person who IS the product they are trying so desperately to sell? That certainly isn't going to help sell PLR to advertisers. If your product is Pepsi and you take the Pepsi out of the can and replace it with some watered down version of Pepsi, just because the can still says "Pepsi" doesn't mean people will buy it.

Unfortunately in radio it is almost ALWAYS the programming side that has to suffer the axe while the sales department remains.

I loved what I did at PLR and the people I worked with and the listeners who spent time with me every day. Despite what some have said on this board, even in Connecticut it takes a long time to build what I built at PLR.

If you were one of my listeners, thank you.

it seems these days that "Success is Punished" and the rest are left......

 

[Pam Landry]

SoNo I was not referring to the sales STAFF...referring to the sales MANAGERS who make a lot of money and clearly aren't getting the job done.

Plus there are too many of them to begin with.

 

[cspotrun]

SoNo I was not referring to the sales STAFF...referring to the sales MANAGERS who make a lot of money and clearly aren't getting the job done.

Plus there are too many of them to begin with.

these days, management thinks there can NEVER be too many salespeople or managers, look at the job listings... I was referring to on-air people when i posted about your "Success" VS the ones who are left.

 

[amfmradio1]

Hey DToTheJ,

If Pam were to land @another CT Rocker, it would be corporate Clear Channel 'HCN, non-corporate Active Rock 'CCC (Marlin Broadcasting) - don't know if Pam would want to do that format - or corporate I-95/WRKI (Cumulus).

Even though Danbury & New Haven are separate mkts., there has been some competition between I-95 & 'PLR.

The two Pams' - Pam Landry & Pam Brooks - have both been doing middays.

If P. Landry were to take over middays on I-95, she'd be somewhat competing w/the Wigmaster.

There has been a history of conceit & jealousy on Pam Brooks' part toward other females working on the same station as her.

Imagine if Miss Landry took over for I-95 PD & PM Driver Tim Sheehan & did PM Drive, competing against 'PLRs' Lappy!

My vote is for Pam to go to Hartford & work for 'HCN, or I-95.

She's paid her dues, she deserves it & she'd sound great!

 

[DToTheJ]

AMFM - Good points, one and all, but does anyone really see themselves working for CC, at this point?

And toward the end, where you say: "My vote is for Pam to go to Hartford & work for 'HCN, or I-95..." Given what you said about I-95 prior to, you mean "'HCN or 'CCC", correct?

 

[Pam Landry]

cspotrun:

Thanks...I understood your original post and I appreciate it!

 

[bub]

For what it's worth I willl set the record straight:

Cox Radio Milford needed to cut X dollars from the budget. My contract was up and my position as midday jock and music director (for the past 19 years with the #1 show in the market) was "eliminated".

Trust me, I made a lot less than the morning and afternoon jocks do. It was much less messy for them to "eliminate my position" rather than, say, afternoon drive. Now they cover my former on-air hours with two people who are already on payroll (and who are dear friends of mine) and who won't make another cent doing it.

The part I find most puzzling is this: the economy stinks, advertisers aren't buying, sales can't sell the "product"...so the choice of budget cuts is a person who has #1 ratings, heritage, community service and a loyal listening audience...a person who IS the product they are trying so desperately to sell? That certainly isn't going to help sell PLR to advertisers. If your product is Pepsi and you take the Pepsi out of the can and replace it with some watered down version of Pepsi, just because the can still says "Pepsi" doesn't mean people will buy it.

Unfortunately in radio it is almost ALWAYS the programming side that has to suffer the axe while the sales department remains.

I loved what I did at PLR and the people I worked with and the listeners who spent time with me every day. Despite what some have said on this board, even in Connecticut it takes a long time to build what I built at PLR.

If you were one of my listeners, thank you.

BRAVO and AMEN!!! This has to be THE BEST post I have seen on this message board! Way to go, Pam! Hang in there! You'll be back on the air soon!

 

[videokilledtheradiostar]

For what it's worth I willl set the record straight:

Cox Radio Milford needed to cut X dollars from the budget. My contract was up and my position as midday jock and music director (for the past 19 years with the #1 show in the market) was "eliminated".

Trust me, I made a lot less than the morning and afternoon jocks do. It was much less messy for them to "eliminate my position" rather than, say, afternoon drive. Now they cover my former on-air hours with two people who are already on payroll (and who are dear friends of mine) and who won't make another cent doing it.

The part I find most puzzling is this: the economy stinks, advertisers aren't buying, sales can't sell the "product"...so the choice of budget cuts is a person who has #1 ratings, heritage, community service and a loyal listening audience...a person who IS the product they are trying so desperately to sell? That certainly isn't going to help sell PLR to advertisers. If your product is Pepsi and you take the Pepsi out of the can and replace it with some watered down version of Pepsi, just because the can still says "Pepsi" doesn't mean people will buy it.

Unfortunately in radio it is almost ALWAYS the programming side that has to suffer the axe while the sales department remains.

I loved what I did at PLR and the people I worked with and the listeners who spent time with me every day. Despite what some have said on this board, even in Connecticut it takes a long time to build what I built at PLR.

If you were one of my listeners, thank you.

BRAVO and AMEN!!! This has to be THE BEST post I have seen on this message board! Way to go, Pam! Hang in there! You'll be back on the air soon!

That's exactly what CT radio vagabonds do. When they get fired they go from robojocks to hobojocks. Hoping anyone will hire them. Even if it means going from a 50,000 watt FM to a 1000 watt AM daytimer, filling in for regular hosts and weekend swing shifts and punching buttons for the occasional Yanks, Sox, or Mets game. All because they are in a field they love. CT Radio rogues are a very strange breed indeed!