Cox spinning format wheel again

[GeneSavage]

JournalGuy - You're right: turnover there IS low, and it's because it's a great bunch of folks and a great place to work. Believe you me, my intent had been to retire from there someday!

If the promotions guy is the one I'm thinking of (Wes), you're right... he is a FANTASTIC guy. Went out of his way to say hello to me, always friendly and funny, seemed genuinely concerned about me as a person even when I wasn't technically under his "umbrella." He's one of many over there I'm going to miss. McDonald (whose first name I could have told you 5 minutes ago, but it's gone now) was a great guy from what I could tell, too... I just never had too much contact with him.

It's worth repeating: I really didn't have problems with 99% of the people there. In fact, 98% of the people were more like family to me than co-workers. The problem was the positions held by the 1% I DID have problems with. You can't fight City Hall, as they say.

My latest adventure is at 1270 KRVT doing afternoon drive, and sales. As you can imagine, it's a completely different environment! I report to one person who is "the boss and TV star." There's no committee to go through to make decisions, it's not checked with somebody in another time zone, and there are no focus groups. I feel like we can react much faster to the listener than at any other station I've ever worked at.

I've never done radio sales before so that's kind of exciting (and scary) but KRVT is a station I feel I can sell. I really believe in what we're doing! And come November, we should be up to 5KW daytime which is REALLY going to help our penetration into Tulsa.

NOW I'm planning to retire from KRVT... of course, that sort of plan has been thwarted before. Even if I do someday have to grab my mic and go hunting for a new frequency, I know I'm going to be glad to have had such a freeform experience. I hated leaving Cox... but if it had to happen, I think I've landed in the best place possible.

 

[BehindTheLines]

Gene,

I, too, think you sounded great on KRMG and the FM's. You were a good fit. You seem like a good all around radio guy. I wasn't in the building nor was I privy to secret conversations, so I don't really know what their problem was with you.

You don't sound like a yes man. But your assessment of your experience there sounds "fair and balanced."

You report. We decide.

This brings up another good discussion. Where is the line between being a "team player" and being a "yes man?" When do you speak up?

While I agree that one needs to line up with the vision and direction of their leadership, there are going to be times when you disagree with your leadership. I think that ff your leadership is TRULY leadership, then they will take your respectfully voiced opinion and consider it. They may or may not go in the direction your think they should . But a true leader will listen. If they disagree, they will respectfully tell you why. And you can go back to work without feeling threatened.

On the other hand, a "boss" may take your respectfully voiced opinion as a threat and may put you out to pasture because of it. This is where you must assess if you are working for a "leader" or a "boss." If you're working for a boss, you then know to keep your opinions to yourself if you want to keep working there.

Bosses are usually scared little men. Leaders, regardless of stature are secure, fair, and firm.

I don't work for your previous employers at Cox, Gene. So I don't know which they are. The thoughts above are just general ramblings about the subject.

 

[Kent]

Gene,

First of all, I believe Ol' McDonald is Steve McDonald, who was the PD of KWKH 1130/94.5 and was transferred to Tulsa by GEB after they sold KWKH to Progressive United Corporation in 1996. I remember that situation quite well as I was living in Dallas at the time and could hear KWKH pretty much anytime, and a friend of mine had previously worked there. Everything she told me about Steve was that he was an absolutely great guy and was a real pleasure to work for.

Secondly, sorry to hear about what happened at Cox. I don't know if it's any consulation to you, but I found myself involved in a similar situation a few years back. I always got rave reviews on my performance evaluations and was well-liked by my co-workers. However, one of the cluster OM's stabbed me in the back over the objections of my PD and the other OM simply because he didn't like me, and, to this day, I don't know what I could've done to upset him. Looking back, it's still amazing that I received an award at the company banquet two months earlier, and the very person who shafted me was the one who introduced me and talked about me like I was the best employee he had ever had before handing me my award. Don't get me wrong, I'm not overly bitter about the situation. He didn't really do anything to hurt me as I got a better job, complete with a $10,000 pay raise, before he could completely push me out the door. However, it's something that I still find shocking. It sounds like you had a similar situation, and I really hate to hear that. There's not much of an excuse for that kind of management. Just remember, what goes around comes around.

Finally, I wish you well at The River, or whatever 1270 is calling itself these days. I also hope the upgrade goes as planned. I can remember accidentally discovering KWPR 1270 in its AC days in the mid 80's while listening to a boombox at my family's old house in midtown Tulsa. I was trying to listen to Z-104.5 (and, yes, I listened to you when you worked there) and accidentally had the dial flipped to AM. Even with the weaker signal, it's still very listenable. I also used to know Stan, and he's a good guy. I can't imagine him being anything other than a great employer.

 

[JournalGuy]

Sometime there is a personality conflict and no matter how hard one tries, the situation will not work out. Sounds like Gene found a better situtation and he is still in radio. I consider that a win-win. There is a lot of heritage at KRMG and several senior staffers. I would imagine that it is like joining a fraternity. Best of luck Gene with KRVT and Black Light Radio.

 

[BehindTheLines]

Sometime there is a personality conflict and no matter how hard one tries, the situation will not work out. Sounds like Gene found a better situtation and he is still in radio. I consider that a win-win. There is a lot of heritage at KRMG and several senior staffers. I would imagine that it is like joining a fraternity. Best of luck Gene with KRVT and Black Light Radio.

Sorry to be a jerk, but that was written like political press statement. Kudos on the neatness of it. However, I honestly want to heave after reading that.

Here's the truth about personality conflicts. They usually boil down to ego or selfishness. There is no "personality conflict" that cannot be overcome by maturity, humility, and team work. Period!

The term "personality conflict" is as useful and specific as "irreconcilable differences." It's merely an ambiguous phrase we throw out there to avoid pinning or accepting responsibility.

Maybe I'm being naive and idealistic. But I've never personally encountered a personality conflict that couldn't be remedied greatly by ME adjusting my own attitude. I think if all parties are willing, there's always a solution.

 

[GeneSavage]

Re: Cox spinning format wheel again in Tulsa

JournalGuy,

Thanks for the kind words... but it's hard for me to see this as a "win-win." I'm not 100% it's convinced it's a "win" yet.

K95 lost their Sunday afternoon guy, Spirit 102.3 lost their Saturday afternoon guy, promotions lost a remote engineer, production lost their primary backup, KRMG lost their afternoon guy, and as of 12:10AM Tuesday, September 4th, the Rush Limbaugh page on krmg.com (which supposedly was part of the reason I was fired) has still not been updated... I assume because I was needed to update it. Any future promtion for me within Cox Tulsa has also been eliminated.

That's a win for Cox?

I lost the ear of my Mother-In-Law who is a P1 for KRMG (and is humoring me for now by listening to KRVT, but eventually political talk will pull her back), I lost a guaranteed full-time income (sales is commission, after all), my medical, dental, and vision benefits, my paid vacation time (my wife and I were planning a week's paid vacation this month for our 10 year anniversary; no more), the hope of pension, the joy of working with the incredible staffs of those stations, and likely some credibility within the broadcast community ("why did they fire you AGAIN?").

I've shut off my TV, dropped Weight Watchers (don't laugh), may be shutting off my phone, and my internet is only on because a listener out in California is paying for it for now. We may have to go to our relatives for our mortgage payment until sales take off... which, of course, is not guaranteed. In my car, my check engine light is on, and I'm ignoring it. Our goal at this point is to keep the house, then keep as many utilities as we can, then eat. This first month or two, that all may or may not happen.

So that's a win for me, how?

BlackLight Radio CAN'T make me any money right now because of licensing restrictions... besides the fact that my little stream doesn't attract enough listeners to be sellable even if it were legal to run ads. Never mind that new licensing laws, if not revoked, will kill the whole internet radio scene...

Stan at KRVT is a GREAT boss, and very generous; I won't go into details, but he's doing what he can to help me a little along the way until I start making sales... but he's gotten where he's gotten by controlling spending. Right now, I'm an expense rather than a revenue-generator.

Remind me again how this is a "win-win?"

The feeling is more like I got chased out onto a tightrope; if I can make it to the other side without looking down, there's a buffet table waiting for me.

Lots of people have plummeted to their deaths in this position... I'm trying not to think about it.

BehindTheLines: Thanks for the perspective on JournalGuy's posting... perhaps it was MY ego? MY selfishness? Perhaps I don't have the maturity, humility, or willingness to be a team player? Maybe I wasn't willing to adjust MY attitude? I suspect there's at least one somebody somewhere who would say that was the case... I know others close to the matter who disagree.

It was, in an odd sort of way, comforting to see the dropping jaws as I left for the last time. I wasn't the only one who didn't see it coming, and apparently I wasn't the only one who felt I was a valuable member of the team.

For somebody, anybody, to consider me a valuable member of THAT team... well, that felt pretty good. A number of those guys were my idols growing up, and others are "contemporaries" I greatly admire.

That was pretty good company to keep.

I'm feeling like this is becoming a pity-fest... :

KENT: Holy crud, you remember hearing me on Z104.5? Why didn't you go to BED??? I was overnights on the weekends in '89 & '90, with Mel, Bananna, D.C., Dave, Randy (STILL with Shamrock, now on 94.1), Rob Banks, Hollywood, and a bunch of other great guys.

I really believe I learned more in those two years under Mel than I've learned at any other station... no disrespect to anybody else, but Mel had me bring in an aircheck every single week and we'd go over a shift together. We'd spend about an hour, him commenting and making notes and then copying the notes for me to take home and make improvements the next weekend. And I was the lowest of the low on the airstaff totem pole! Yet he took the time every single week. I feel like my skills grew like a weed, working under him... wish he was programming... ANYTHING... today. I'd clean toilets to be tutored by him again...

...Hey, back on topic... what if Mix went 1954 - 1964 oldies rock n roll, like what KOOL used to do?

Nah... demo's too hard to sell, and you have to assume KOOL dropped it because it wasn't working.

...still...

Nah. ;D

 

[KountryBill]

Gene,

It's 2007 now. An aircheck outside of morning drive?

What's that?

Many of us are envious of the fact that you got to work under Mel. What a great guy. I will say this for the people at Cox. They've taken care of the legends like Andy, Mel, and Chuck very well. Kudos to them for realizing the value of those talents and providing a safe haven for them.

It's a shame to see the way legendary talent like those guys has been thrown away by other radio groups across the country. They're very lucky to be with a company like Cox who values their heritage.

PS - I remember you from the "Z" too. Did you play some sort of roar when you said your name on the air? Refresh my memory.

 

[GeneSavage]

KountryBill - Holy crud again; didn't anybody sleep in this town? ;D

Yeah, that was me with the roar. I found that on a sound effects record they had at the Z; it was the opening roar to a longer track of something like "lions at the zoo" or some such thing. I've tried to track it down on CD, to no avail.

"I'm GENE ("roar!") SAVAGE, with another 10-in a row, on the Hot New Z!"(Z-104.55555!!!)

Heh... that was a LOT of fun.

Between '91 & '94 I used the roar again, this time on urban contemporary Mix 102.3, owned at the time by Tim Barraza (sp?) and my boss was Tony Barrow. We were in the Christmas parade, and a couple of guys were shouting at us: "who are you?" We had the names on the backs of our shirts and showed them.

At first they couldn't figure out who I was: "Gene, Gene, Gene..." "Wait! Were you the... 'ROAR!' guy? YEAH! 'ROAR!' Savage!!!" I was laughing, they were laughing... it was great.

After 7 years at a Christian talk station, the climate had changed so much and I figured nobody would remember, so the cart (!) with the roar has stayed moth-balled ever since.

What a trip down memory lane... thanks for remembering! 8)

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

The old Z104.5 was one HELL of a station. You guys really had it together from the presentation to the music.

 

[GeneSavage]

OKCRadioguy -- Thanks; wish I could take credit for ANY of that, but of course it was Mel and Dave steering the ship. I was following orders.

Based on what they did with 14K & 92K and then The Z, it makes me wish some bright station owner would put them back in charge of a station or stations. Anything those guys touch seems to turn to gold.

The owners are different today;there are too many shareholders involved to risk putting somebody locally TRULY in charge. I feel badly for Program Directors these days... everything they do is gone over with a microscope by somebody in a different time zone, and compared to the latest focus groups. I've heard some in the biz say even if they were offered a PD job they wouldn't take it because of the stress of having to get it approved if you need to sneeze.

It feels like we've lost that consultants, focus groups, and the like are only tools, not a road map. I don't blame local management, I blame those who own the stations. It's hard to feel like you're really in control of the station with somebody constantly hovering over your shoulder.

Back to The Z: seems like I heard somebody on this board asking about airchecks. I do have a few, mostly from '86 - '87, or from '89 & '90 of me. However, if anybody'd like to hear them, maybe I could make scoped versions available.

 

[tillman]

Stick them up. I'd like to download them.

 

[JournalGuy]

Gene -Doesn't sound like you want to work for any of the BIG companies anymore.

 

[Radiogre]

Gene -Doesn't sound like you want to work for any of the BIG companies anymore.

I could see how his experience would color his view of corporate media. One can only take so much "Catch-22", and it sounds like he's had his share.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

I love to hear any of the old Z stuff!

 

[tillman]

Gene -Doesn't sound like you want to work for any of the BIG companies anymore.

Wow. That's either an astute observation based on Gene's writings or a THREAT (also because of Gene's writings) from someone who has industry sway who works for one of the big companies ;D

I love the subtle drama of these boards. Gives a former weekend dj from way back something fun to do. Careful, Gene. They may blackball you for having the black balls to give your opinion! I wish more guys had the guts to call them like they see them.

 

[kxojdj]

Proud not to work for one of the BIG companies. I would say that Gene has probably blacklisted himself from most broadcasters in this market with or without the postings. Not sure I would want to deal with corporate suits, but he seems to be angry without accepting some of the responsibility.

 

[BehindTheLines]

Proud not to work for one of the BIG companies. I would say that Gene has probably blacklisted himself from most broadcasters in this market with or without the postings. Not sure I would want to deal with corporate suits, but he seems to be angry without accepting some of the responsibility.

I don't personally sense any anger in his posts, KXOJDJ. I did read some frustration. But he's been surprisingly balanced in his posts when explaining everything; Especially considering the fact that he recently lost his job. Many would be angry and irrational.

Let's take a poll. Does anyone really take KXOJDJ seriously? From what I have read over the last year, everyone here knows you work for someone OTHER than who your name suggests. A small number of us even know who you really are. Wow, talk about being blacklisted by nearly every broadcaster in this market. That's the pot calling the kettle blacklisted. Why do you continue to play these games? Albeit, it's not surprising; especially knowing your true identity and your track record of folly from group to group in this market.

But seriously, do you ever stop?

 

[GeneSavage]

Z'check posted in separate thread.

DO I WANT TO WORK FOR ANY OF THE BIG COMPANIES ANYMORE: I would certainly be willing to. As I said, I enjoyed my time at Cox immensely. As with any job, there's good and bad. The good at Cox was that they assembled 5 KILLER teams and when shifts were voicetracked, they were 99% voicetracked in-market. The benefits were amazing, and the equipment was generally in good repair. I liked the work I did and I liked the people I worked with.

Nothing got me going like StormCenter or breaking news on KRMG. K95 was just plain fun, a great change from news/talk. Spirit gave me the opportunity to learn Enco's voicetracking system. At least one staff member was encouraging me to ask about weekend stuff on Star and I thought classic rock would be a lot of fun. Mix96 plays a lot of 80s, and as a child of the 80s, that's "my" music and I expect I would have enjoyed that as well.

Is it bad that I could look at the MD / PD / middle management positions and realize that wasn't something I wanted? What I really want to do is jock. That's what I've wanted to do since I was a little kid, that's what I seem to be best at doing, and it's what I enjoy most. I would think some management-types would be glad to know I wouldn't be gunning for their jobs! ;D

I've worked for Journal (10 years ago?) and found them to be a generally good company. I wept openly when they killed off the KVOO-AM calls, but it's hard to argue with the success of 98.5, and 99.5 (their numbers surprised even me, and I'm a fan!). When Michael wasn't on I'd listen off and on to KFAQ, even more now that he's in another state.

When I briefly did some weekend work for Rhenda, I found them also generally a good company, full of good people doing their best to do good radio. KBEZ strikes me as a little dull, but I'm not a 34 yr old female... and K-Hits is a little too "rappy" for my tastes... but I'm not an 18-yr old male, either. For better or worse, KBEZ is the type of format I've been told my voice would be good for, and back when Tim VanMerrin (sp?) was PD I practically begged for a shift... the problem was, nobody would leave or die. That speaks highly of Tim.

I've never worked for Clear Channel but I've seen their studios and they are first-rate... a little light on actual STAFF for my tastes, but hey, it's great for controlling costs. KMOD has dominated forever, it looks like 92.1's morning show is heating up the boards here, 101.5 is apparently making 1530 cry, and their AMs... well... 3 outa 5 ain't bad. 8)

I've saved Shamrock for last; I've got to say of all the multiple-market owners here, they impress me the most.

The Edge is finally coming along and I find myself listening more and more. They've actually given the listeners what they ask for both on 104.5 and 94.1, and that's not talking over intros and exits, and identifying the songs.

Don't tell anybody, but my clock radio is set to The Sound and I often leave the alarm on for a while just to listen to the music mix, or let a song finish. I don't know how much is smart corporate decisions and how much is smart local decisions... whatever and whoever, it works for my ears. If the job at KRVT hadn't come up, I had figured to bang on their door first, and the hardest. (All I knew of at that time, though, was a night shift which would take me away from my wife, and I don't know that I'm a great fit for The Edge anyway...)

KXOJDJ, I'm curious what you've heard about me... have you heard that I'm blacklisted in this market? If so, it might explain a few previous job searches! I'm just curious to know what I did, and I'd love to hear what the rumor mill has to say about me. Details, details!!! What awful things did I do to previous employers? I want to air my dirty laundry in public! Usually the rumors about me are MUCH more interesting that my actual life.. what juicy tidbits can you tell me?

I might also mention that there have certainly been times in the past when I've been dismissed when I was partly (or entirely) at fault. I've tried to look honestly at this situation and see where I was at fault, and so far I haven't been able to see it. I truly believe that for whatever reason I just annoyed the snot out of my supervisor, and he went looking for a justification to eliminate me. At the least, discipline was handed out unevenly, and at the worst... Well, motivation beyond that, I couldn't speculate, and more of my opinions, I couldn't express here.

It might be worth mentioning that at every station I've worked since I started with almost no exceptions, the staff typically complained about corporate's lack of understanding of the local market, and the feeling of paralysis which comes over middle management when they know what ought to be done to win but they have to get every move cleared through the higher-ups. I had no idea what I've "revealed" here was such a big secret...

I've had PDs lament to ME that they are not allowed to be in control, but they are required to be responsible for the station's success. In other words, "succeed with our plan, or you're fired." If sympathizing with the boss gets me "blacklisted" with somebody, I'm not sure I'd want to work for them anyway!

With any kind of luck, KRVT will be my last stop on the Tulsa dial and it won't matter what other stations think because I won't be an option. However, if it doesn't fly, I'll certainly be knocking on doors again, and you can bet they will be broadcast booths, and they'll be in the Tulsa market... my roots are here, I'm not going anywhere.

If that unfortunate situation happens, hopefully some like-minded PD will be willing to take a chance on me... and as time goes by, hopefully they'll be glad they did.

 

[kxojdj]

Re: Cox NOT spinning format wheel again

Over a week later and still no format change? Somebody got some bad information.

KKCM has a new morning show and so does KHTT. I bet KQLL flips soon.

 

[GeneSavage]

KXOJDJ,

I'm curious what you've heard about me... have you heard that I'm blacklisted in this market?

I'm just curious to know what I did, and I'd love to hear what the rumor mill has to say about me.

Details, details!!!

What awful things did I do to previous employers?

What juicy tidbits can you tell me?