Citadel Doles Out Stock To Execs, CEO Farid Suleman To Get 1.9 Million Shares

[SirRoxalot]

You're right, 9, and the idea of "getting out among the audience and becoming more than a disembodied voice" is older than TheBigA. This ain't NYC, where Imus wants a limo to go to the bathroom. This is a hard-working market where pretty much everybody interacts with listeners on a daily basis.

It's interesting that radio survived other recessions much more comfortably that the current one without Draconian cuts in talent. What I hear from people on the street is that the cuts in talent deepened the recession in radio a lot more than what was saved in salaries. Of course, that's because I've been "getting out among the audience and becoming more than a disembodied voice". Listeners and advertisers both noticed.

Advertisers who took money out of more expensive media and put it in radio in past recessions were unhappy with both the quality of the product, and the quality of the commercials produced by harried, overworked radio stations. Some went to agencies to get a better spot produced, which cut the amount spent on the schedule, further reducing the effectiveness. Snowball much? Citadel's bankruptcy was no fluke. It was simply a case of horrible management at the top, doggedly ignoring local management in too many cases. And, to be fair, not a whole lot of local managers put their own paycheck in danger for the good of the station or the people under them.

 

[chas108]

THe point of my post though is the talent that remain need to redefine themselves, because the audience expects other things from talent besides front and back announce, or time cues. Some of that has to do with getting out among the audience and becoming more than a disembodied voice.

And on this point you'll get no argument from me.

Today, it's important to not only be plugged into your community but into your music - and be able to relate both - on-air AND on-line. Can you write as well as you speak? Does your station have tools for you to retrieve images and audio to facilitate creation of compelling content? Can you create a podcast that isn't just a re-hash of your on-air show? What is your contribution to growing the brand...not just the on-air product? Can the sales department monetize all of the above?

Proficiency in the above areas should provide a measure of cushion against being fired...but again that comes back to corporate mentality. If an owner hands a target number to a GM or cluster manager and leaves the execution at the local level, that's better than operators imposing talent cuts by fiat from San Antonio or Atlanta.

 

[TheBigA]

Rox writes specifically about issues in the Buffalo market and he's correct.

Not in this case. He specifically said the word "nationally." In that case, he's not correct.

 

[heydaybegone]

Damn, the stall is locked...and someone said there was a contest going on. Guess I'll just use that sink over there and hope the judges see me (oh shoot...did I even go in the correct restroom?)

 

[SirRoxalot]

Rox writes specifically about issues in the Buffalo market and he's correct.

Not in this case. He specifically said the word "nationally." In that case, he's not correct.

Really? Apparently you haven't been reading and/or understanding posts saying exactly that on a plethora of boards on this very site. Not only that, but multiple trades have published stories about Clear Channel, Citadel (CC-Jr.), and others executing cuts by corporate fiat in multiple markets. I'd say that makes it "nationally".

 

[TheBigA]

It's interesting that radio survived other recessions much more comfortably that the current one without Draconian cuts in talent.

I think you should study what condition radio was in during the double recesions of the 1950s.

This hasn't been a recession. It's a depression. Especially in the world of local business.

What I hear from people on the street is that the cuts in talent deepened the recession in radio a lot more than what was saved in salaries.

It didn't matter. You can't pay someone if there's no money. How many of those on-air folks were willing to work for free, but get a cut of the sales, and put them back on the air? That's how on-air talent survived in the double recession of the 1950s. How many of them would want to promote concerts for a cut of the gate? How many would be willing to sell their own show to local sponsors? Before everyone blames the corporates, how much out-of-the-box thinking is actually being done?

Advertisers who took money out of more expensive media and put it in radio in past recessions were unhappy with both the quality of the product, and the quality of the commercials produced by harried, overworked radio stations.

That may be your experience, but not mine. Because the fact is that ALL media is underfunded now, including local cable and local TV. But especially online. You can't get local production or ad creation from most local online sites. So as "overworked" as the guy in radio may be, if he's any good, he's better than the similarly overworked guy at the local TV station. Have you heard the quality of agency spots lately? They're no good either. I don't think it's a function of overwork. I think it's a function of under-dedication, and under achieving. No amount of time will fix that. People have this negative attitude of "It's only radio," so it gets treated shabbily. I've heard that for years.

Citadel's bankruptcy was no fluke. It was simply a case of horrible management at the top, doggedly ignoring local management in too many cases.

It had nothing to do with local management. You need to read their annual report before you make stuff up like this.

Really? Apparently you haven't been reading and/or understanding posts saying exactly that on a plethora of boards on this very site.

So then you're disputing what Element 9 said?

I have no idea that a bunch of message board posts from anonymous people, including you, have any fact in them. Quite a few posters on this board don't even work in radio, and never have.

But it really gets down to this: If there are REAL broadcasters who know so much about how to make money with radio, why don't they simply put their talent where their mouth is and work on commission? That's an offer no manager will refuse. I promise you. There is no union for nsales people, and no one will file a grievance against you. Then you can control the budget and can hire all the people you want. All the manager has to do is take his cut. That's something he knows how to do. By the way this IS being done in some major markets, and there's no reason why it can't be done in Buffalo.

 

[TheBigA]

Proficiency in the above areas should provide a measure of cushion against being fired...but again that comes back to corporate mentality.

Local hiring and firing decisions aren't being made at the corporate level. And for anyone who says they are, I can show you a bunch of examples. Here's one: A live & local talent at a medium market Citadel station from 7 to midnight. I thought corporate fired them all. Not at this station. And it's live, not VT.

You describe it right: The local GM gets a target number. How he gets there is his business. If he ignores corporate directives but makes his numbers, that's OK. That's often where the breakdown is.

 

[TheBigA]

Not only that, but multiple trades have published stories about Clear Channel, Citadel (CC-Jr.), and others executing cuts by corporate fiat in multiple markets. I'd say that makes it "nationally".

I refer you back to my earlier post about these kinds of format-specific cuts. The role of the DJ has changed. The DJs missed the memo. The audience doesn't care what you did on your weekend, or who you played golf with. It's all useless chatter. People tune in for the music, and instead they hear some self-involved boob. That's what the PPM is saying in market after market. So eliminate the boob, and give the audience what it wants.

The interesting part is that for the most part, there has been no clammor or widespread demonstrations to bring these people back. What does that tell you?

 

[SirRoxalot]

Apparently you haven't read the http://www.radioink.com/article.asp?id=1877618&spid=24698"]Alan Burns & Associates studies[/url].

The first data from Alan Burns and Associates' study "Here She Comes: Insights Into Women, Radio, and New Media," show that both women who are the heaviest users of radio and women who are listening to radio less lately report content concerns.

Read the study. Then show me one that shows listeners want more of the same-old, same-old. You're long on opinion, but woefully short on source material.

And, BTW, you sure weren't answering phones when a guy named Slick Tom got fired at Citadel Buffalo.

 

[TheBigA]

Apparently you haven't read the http://www.radioink.com/article.asp?id=1877618&spid=24698"]Alan Burns & Associates studies[/url].

What do you know about Alan Burns? Do you know he is the creator of the Movin' format, a mostly jockless format that hasn't exactly been burning up the ratings books lately. Most of this study is in opposition to his own programming applications. I think his credibility is a bit faulty. But that's just me.

Then show me one that shows listeners want more of the same-old, same-old.

Depends on what "the same-old, same-old" is, don't you think? Maybe you can be more specific about that, and I'll address it.

Look, I addressed all your points. Address at least one or two of mine.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Look, I addressed all your points. Address at least one or two of mine.

Really? You've yet to show me a single example of a study that agrees that people want a jock-free jukebox on the radio. If that's what they want, they aren't listening to radio anyway because they've already got an MP3 player with a bunch of their favorite songs.

Some companies are reacting to PPM like it's an infallible system instead of the under-sampled, technically dubious provider of flawed data that many experts contend. Is it better than the flawed diary system? Maybe. But, it's what we have to live with, and programming has had its difficulties adjusting to the new methodology that favors cume over TSL.

Exactly which of your concerns would you like me to address? Your contention that jocks are "self-involved boobs" who dole out "useless chatter"? MOST of that "useless chatter" is outmoded positioning statements and repetitive station promotion that's a function of the format, or is pre-recorded by "the voice guy" who does his best to make something out of the pap that was sent to him by an overworked PD responsible for too many stations in too many markets.

I don't care what format Alan Burns sells. He's providing what his corporate customers want. His published studies indicate that listeners want more relatable content, not less. Cut the crap, and provide more relatable human moments, and the response to radio will be better.

 

[TheBigA]

You've yet to show me a single example of a study that agrees that people want a jock-free jukebox on the radio.

How about the studies having do with with PPM usage, which all clearly say the less talk the better?

Look, you mis-characterize my view on this. I have never said that ALL formats should be "jock-free." What I clearly said was that the role of the jock changed, and the jocks don't seem to understand that. There are other things they should be doing to maximize their value, especially in terms of LOCAL services. That means personal appearances and social media. Quite a few don't know how to do that, or refuse. They're the ones who end up getting fired.

I don't think people will say they don't want jocks. They just don't want them to talk. Big difference.

Some companies are reacting to PPM like it's an infallible system instead of the under-sampled, technically dubious provider of flawed data that many experts contend.

I don't think they are. Lots of companies have challenged the system, and fought its implimentation. They were viewed by some as protecting the status quo or living in the past. In any case, it doesn't matter because it's the system the advertisers demanded, and they poay the freight.

What PPM means is that on air prersentation has to be better, quicker, sharper, and tighter. Lots of people can't work within those constraints. Once again, they're the ones who are either getting fired, or will soon be. I've also seen morning teams shuffled a bit to bring some younger people in, or some staffers who know social media. Same-old, same-old doesn't cut it. The changes that are taking place are to shake things up, and give the people what they want. Those who've been doing same-old for 25 years are threatened, as well they should be.

MOST of that "useless chatter" is outmoded positioning statements and repetitive station promotion that's a function of the format, or is pre-recorded by "the voice guy" who does his best to make something out of the pap that was sent to him by an overworked PD responsible for too many stations in too many markets.

Blah blah blah. that's why you have a consultant. Or several consultants. The PD doesn't write those liners. Have you ever actually worked at a station? (can't wait to get your reaction to that) All of those positioning statements come from the consultant. And usually the voice work is part of a package the station buys. Maybe Buffalo is too small a market. But where I've been, the PD doesn't get involved in that kind of thing.

His published studies indicate that listeners want more relatable content, not less. Cut the crap, and provide more relatable human moments, and the response to radio will be better.

You criticize my posts as opinion, and then you take one consultant's opinion as gospel. I can show you other studies by the same guy that say the opposite. That's what consultants do. They say what the customer wants to hear. Consider yourself snookered. If he really wanted more relatable content, he would have delivered it in Movin.' But he didn't. That's why most people ignored his study.

 

[chas108]

The content concerns found in Burns' studies and other research, IMO, come down to a basic trait of human nature: What are you saying that's of interest to me?

We've all known people who could reel you in with a fascinating story or joke, and other people who couldn't relate a story or tell a joke to save their life. Many times the problem isn't in the content per se but in the jock's inability to get right to the point and make the content about the listener. Plus, does the jock understand the target listener and how to relate to them? Failure in any one of these areas results in "self-involved boobs" behind the mic instead of relatable personalities.

Normal people tune-out self absorbed boobs, whether at a family reunion, office party or on the radio. But if you give them just music...you risk losing the emotional connection as your brand becomes no more than an iPod w/commercials.

A, my hat's off to that Citadel station who kept a live & local 7-Mid show. CBS had cut a number of night and midday shows in some markets...although some of the cuts have been restored. Just haven't seen it yet in my market.

 

[TheBigA]

CBS had cut a number of night and midday shows in some markets...although some of the cuts have been restored. Just haven't seen it yet in my market.

Depends on the market and the station. The Phoenix board reported that the CBS country station there just dropped a syndicated 7-mid show for a local one. The jock does a lot of the web blogging too. That is how stations get around the PPM...by putting the chat on the web site.

 

[chas108]

Depends on the market and the station. The Phoenix board reported that the CBS country station there just dropped a syndicated 7-mid show for a local one. The jock does a lot of the web blogging too. That is how stations get around the PPM...by putting the chat on the web site.

That's KMLE, whom I think got middays back too. And CBS has really stepped up the push for more personality involvement on the web sites. There's always a learning curve for an old war-horse like me but I welcome the changes.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

I have no idea that a bunch of message board posts from anonymous people, including you, have any fact in them.

BigA, you got a laugh out of me with this one. Savage, Bob1370 (most of us know it's Bob Smith of WXXI, Rochester), Mike Saffran, Debaser (who most of us recognize as Don Berns with an 'e' of CFNY, WKBW and WPHD) and many others here post under their real names. Some posters use a moniker to protect the innocent. Others use a moniker and identify themselves, such a Philip_Airtime (Mark Scott of WBFO), Sherlock, alw (Al Wallack) and TopSound (Tom Schuh.)

Quite a few posters on this board don't even work in radio, and never have.

While your first comment made me laugh, this one put a stone in my shoe. Statements like this may work on other boards, but since many posters have been here since the beginning of Radio-Info, it simply doesn't pass muster on this board.

The guys previously noted work or worked in radio and have a very successful body of work in the market. Savage is an owner. Judging by the remarks and the knowledgeable references made by posters such as Roxalot, Charles and 9, most of the other posters here appear to work or at least spent some time in radio as well.

The PD doesn't write those liners.... All of those positioning statements come from the consultant. And usually the voice work is part of a package the station buys. Maybe Buffalo is too small a market. But where I've been, the PD doesn't get involved in that kind of thing.

Buffalo once was a top 20 market (yes, albeit back when Joey Reynolds had a 32 share in the Scranton, PA Hooper, a 42 share in Buffalo and something like a 25 share in Rochester) and has slid to 52, but it's still a pretty damn good market. IF you could count the ears on "the other side of the river," (Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Hamilton, Toronto) Buffalo would be a Top 20, easy. But as my daddy once said, "if IFS and BUTS were candy and nuts, it'd be Christmas every day."

I'm here to say Buffalo PDs do write the liners; the live ones and the produced ones. As a production guy, I've produced my share of them voiced by John Wells, Charley Kendall and others. As a jock, I've read and improvised more than my share, with the encouragement of the PDs for whom I've worked. And I've worked with some fine consultants too, from Ed Shane to Gary Guthrie, Owen Leach to Fred Jacobs.

As for me, I'll skip the full blown curriculum vitae. Most people here know the particulars. My last stop: Citadel. Middays and multi-format experience in AOR, Classic Hits, Oldies and AC, as well as production and the Buffalo Bills Radio Network. Ticket punched, joining a bus full of people locally and nationally whose number came up. It happens. 'Nuff said.

As to PPM, Bob Neil of Cox is no fan, nor is John Parikhal, both of whom have issues with sample size and other vagaries of the methodology. I'm not a PPM fan, nor am I an expert, but I've read some very well-reasoned criticisms by people who know the particulars. It appears other knowledgeable guys like Dave Eduardo like PPM.

And there's the PPM article by Ben Fong-Torres.

Seems we've traded one flawed system for another. But like everything else, the better you know how to play the game, the more likely it is you'll score points.

That's a wrap. Savor the day.

 

[TheBigA]

BigA, you got a laugh out of me with this one.

Don't take it personally. I know this is the Buffalo board, and a lot of regulars use their own names, but in the broader scape of Radio-Info, different rules apply. That's what I was refering to.

Statements like this may work on other boards, but since many posters have been here since the beginning of Radio-Info, it simply doesn't pass muster on this board.

Once again...I'm refering to the broader scope of Radio-Info. You'd be surprised how many I encounter (a few in Buffalo, but mostly elsewhere) who obviously have never done this for a living.

I'm here to say Buffalo PDs do write the liners; the live ones and the produced ones.

As I said, I know about markets the size of Buffalo where liners and positioners come from the consultant. The PD has no say. I really doubt that every PD in Buffalo writes his own liners. I don't know, but I see a lot of very standard syndicated positioners that no local PD could have written. "The best and most country," or "the best mix of the 60s, 70s, and 80s." No PD in Buffalo wrote those.

Ticket punched, joining a bus full of people locally and nationally whose number came up. It happens. 'Nuff said.

Sorry to hear that. But just so you know, that same company is hiring lots of live and local staff right now in many of its other markets. I was just reading that the Citadel station in DC is about to hire the legendary Cerphe, a guy who has worked that market for almost 40 years. His last stop was CBS and he don't work cheap. And he won't be doing syndication or voice-tracking. So just because you hit a bump in the road doesn't mean the entire Interstate is defective. I've worked in about a dozen markets from sea to shining sea, and never let geography or anything else stop me from doing what I do. Like a rat in a maze, if I hit a dead end, I back up, and try another path. That's what I tell college kids, and I'd say the same to you if you asked.

Seems we've traded one flawed system for another. But like everything else, the better you know how to play the game, the more likely it is you'll score points.

Here's what I've learned, and it's served me well: You can't change things you aren't responsible for. The PPM system was demanded by advertisers. I don't know if you deal with advertisers, but they're used to getting their way. This isn't a reality TV show where we get to vote. So our opinions really don't matter. The advertisers pay the bills and the salaries, and they wanted something more modern than handwritten diaries. So all we can do is find a way to work within the system, flawed as it may be.

 

[SirRoxalot]

A, I've cited studies and provided links. You keep saying things like "I can show you other studies by the same guy that say the opposite", yet you fail to provide a link to any such study. How about if you come up with something other than your opinion? Or maybe something to justify why we should care about your opinion.

You roll out a statement like:

The PD doesn't write those liners. Have you ever actually worked at a station? (can't wait to get your reaction to that) All of those positioning statements come from the consultant. And usually the voice work is part of a package the station buys. Maybe Buffalo is too small a market. But where I've been, the PD doesn't get involved in that kind of thing.

When a well-know, and vastly experienced personality who's been very successful at two of the market's largest groups calls you on it, you insist that you know better what goes on in the BUFFALO market. Well, Bub, you're pontificating on the BUFFALO board, and the people who work in this market know how it works. Stop trying to pretend that you have a clue as to what goes on here.

Citadel may be hiring in other markets, but they're continuing to lose good people in Buffalo. From what I hear, none of the salary cuts from before the bankruptcy have been restored. None of the vacation that was taken away has been restored. None of the retirement benefits have been restored. None of the people cut because of financial austerity have be restored, despite that fact that the absurdly high debt service is no longer a burden thanks to bankruptcy. Yet Farid is being richly rewarded for driving the company into bankruptcy in the first place. THAT'S the point that sticks in the craw of a lot of people around here.

If they're spending big money in DC, it might be because their best station is #12 in the market and heading in the wrong direction - hardly anything to make potential investor tingle at the prospect of handing over their money. And lets hope that they don't overspend on anybody from from CBS - which isn't exactly tearing up the market. Sound more like Farid's either living in the past, or he's trying to poke a stick in the eye of a former employer.

 

[TheBigA]

A, I've cited studies and provided links.

You cited one study with one link, and I've addressed that study quite directly. Move on to something else.

Or maybe something to justify why we should care about your opinion.

If you don't care about my opinion, why do you feel this need to respond to my posts?

When a well-know, and vastly experienced personality who's been very successful at two of the market's largest groups calls you on it, you insist that you know better what goes on in the BUFFALO market.

Show me where I "insist I know better." All I said is I know a syndicated positioner when I see it, and I see it in Buffalo. As you know, and I've said many times, I don't live in Buffalo now, but I can see web sites and listen online. He was talking about stations where he's worked. I questioned if the PD at every station in Buffalo writes his own liners. Do you know the answer? If so, just say it. We don't need additional drama.

Citadel may be hiring in other markets, but they're continuing to lose good people in Buffalo.

That would tell me that it's time to move to another market. That's what I said in my post to Jim. When I hit a dead end, I back up and try another route. He said Buffalo was once a Top 20 market. I think after the 2010 census it'll drop even lower. That's not a place for growth. The spiral is heading the wrong way, and it won't be getting better.

Sound more like Farid's either living in the past, or he's trying to poke a stick in the eye of a former employer.

I doubt very much that these decisions are being made by Farid. This is all about a gutsy market manager who's on the fast track. And Farid's "former employer" now runs Sirius, not CBS. A few of Citadel DC workers do PT work at Sirius XM.

 

[yugoidar]

Big A, which is it?  In one post in this thread, you wrote, "I know a lot of people from working in about 20 markets and taking part in all the major conventions".

Then, in a more recent post, you claim, " I've worked in about a dozen markets from sea to shining sea...".

Seems to me there's a significant difference between 12 and 20.  Which is it?

Interesting how, time after time, you make a statement and then, when called on it, find a way to weasel out of it.  Latest example?  Your remarks about anonymous posters. 

Looking over many of your posts on various boards - it's rare to find a post where you're not engaged in an "argument" with someone. 

If that's part of your personality, maybe that's why you've worked in so many markets.  You must be pretty tough to get along with.  Must be sad to be you!