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Cumulus/Citadel Blood bath in Maine

C

Clickin

Has anyone heard about Cumulus/Citadel cuts in Maine yet? Cumulus just hacked a bunch of jobs in Chicago...and they're just starting. They have to cut over $50 million by the end of the year...and EVERY market has been given a certain number to meet. With the exception of Portland, the other three markets are running pretty slim already. The next few weeks will be very interesting.

By the way, Clear Channel (who's also slashing local jobs right now) and Clumulus share the same philosophy: to syndicate the the very best announcers they have and if they're good enough...the listeners won't know the difference. One Clear Channel spokesperson even said that "we can make a super, talented syndicated announcer sound just as local, if not more, than the locally staffed competitor."

Hmm. Do they plan on flying in "super johnny jock" from LA to do weekend remote in Augusta or Bangor, Maine? Do they plan on flying in "super johnny jock" from Nashville to do morning stunt in Presque Isle?

Ugh. Listeners AND advertisers KNOW who's local and who's not. You'd think the big-wigs would've learned by now. The bottom line ain't gonna grow with philosophies like that!
 
Clickin said:
Has anyone heard about Cumulus/Citadel cuts in Maine yet? Cumulus just hacked a bunch of jobs in Chicago...and they're just starting. They have to cut over $50 million by the end of the year...and EVERY market has been given a certain number to meet. With the exception of Portland, the other three markets are running pretty slim already. The next few weeks will be very interesting.

By the way, Clear Channel (who's also slashing local jobs right now) and Clumulus share the same philosophy: to syndicate the the very best announcers they have and if they're good enough...the listeners won't know the difference. One Clear Channel spokesperson even said that "we can make a super, talented syndicated announcer sound just as local, if not more, than the locally staffed competitor."

Hmm. Do they plan on flying in "super johnny jock" from LA to do weekend remote in Augusta or Bangor, Maine? Do they plan on flying in "super johnny jock" from Nashville to do morning stunt in Presque Isle?

Ugh. Listeners AND advertisers KNOW who's local and who's not. You'd think the big-wigs would've learned by now. The bottom line ain't gonna grow with philosophies like that!
Click to expand...

It's going to take a backlash from local direct advertisers to stop this madness. Move that radio money to TV. Hurt em in the pocketbook until these stations start operating in the public interest again.
 
The timing is interesting. It was almost exactly 3 years ago when they had the first round of slashings. 10/21/08 in my case.
 
WCYY does a lot of local stuff so this could be very interesting for them. I do agree that people do know their local jocks well. I know so of my freinds back home who used to listen to the radio not any more with satellite and ipod and can still remember the Jocks from k-rock. (remember NYC has no rock station)
 
WCYY may do a lot of local stuff, but the ratings have been in the toilet for what, 3 or 4 books now? Bottom line is they can continue to get crappy ratings with a full staff, or cut costs and VT--while maintaining crappy ratings. I wonder if Herb can save the ex-wife's job.
 
Seltzer said:
It's going to take a backlash from local direct advertisers to stop this madness. Move that radio money to TV. Hurt em in the pocketbook until these stations start operating in the public interest again.
Click to expand...

That either will never happen, or when it does, it won't force stations to reverse course, but throw in the towel. :-\

I will add that TV isn't the only place advertising revenue can go either. Websites are appealing also.
 
I can't imagine that much will change with the Portland cluster. I know that the book has been embargoed and that unless you have an "in" you don't have any actual numbers to reference...but have any of their numbers dropped so much that Cumulus would change anything on WBLM, WCYY or The "Q"? If anyone has actual positions to reference by all means please say so...I know you can't give exact numbers but how does Portland shake out? As for Herb's "wife"...I don't listen...but the friends that I have that do, actually enjoy that show so I think that would be an unfair remark. From what I see on this site...it doesn't appear anyone in Portland radio is safe right now.
 
It's coming. They started with corp level people, and are working their way down from large markets to small. The cuts elsewhere have been painful and in many cases, ill advised.
 
It's begun. WHOM morning guy GV Rapp was fired earlier this week. PD Tim Moore is now on 5:30am-12noon, and Sandra Harris is on 12noon-7pm.
 
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