Cumulus is Clueless About Talk

[smedge2006]

With the recent blow-ups of Cumulus FM talkers in Indy and Cincinnati, I think it's safe to make these conclusions:

1. Cumulus is clueless about talk radio.

2. Dave Ramsey cannot be the cornerstone of a talk radio format.

3. Cumulus' business model (cut, cut, cut, cut, cut and then cut again) is uniquely ill-suited to building a talk radio format.

4. Cumulus doesn't possess the programming acumen to pull off talk radio start-ups.

5. Start-up talkers need a local connection. Hiring one name (Furman) or zero names (Indy) won't do it.

6. Just being on FM doesn't guarantee success in a market with established and competent AM talkers.

7. Future FM talkers that succeed will spend money on local talents and build a presence in the community (as opposed to a web presence -- do you really think you're going to outdo the local TV station and newspaper's web site traffic with all your news articles and video? Do on the web what you do best -- sound.)

 

[cm454]

Most companies don't know how to do RADIO, no less talk.

Believing you can cut, cut, cut your way into profit is very short-sighted, especially in light of the explosion in COMMERCIAL FREE audio sources now available.

The braintrust that brought you the "cut your way to profit" gameplan, also introduces HD radio as a viable alternative to all those other pesky sources.

When radio feels threatened by a formidable adversary, it distracts itself with meaningless technologies meant to counter that threat.

AM stereo anyone?

There was, is and will never be ANY buzz on HD radio. It is a stupid and misguided squandering of financial resources at a time when companies are pinching pennies to a fault.

I have never been more convinced of, or disappointed with, the absolutely incredible lack of foresight, understanding and downright common sense as demonstrated by the people at the very top of this business.

If it were not for the fact that I make money in this biz, I would take great pleasure in watching these companies systematically crash and burn.

So much power and control in the hands of those who, in large part, haven't the foggiest ------- idea what they're doing when it comes to programming.

It makes you want to cry.



[NOTE-modified with language filter]

 

[Julius Leonard Marx]

The radio Kool-Aid drinkers are sleeping late this morning.

Here's what they will say:

Cuts are good; management says so and anybody being fired deserves it.
Syndication is good; it allows cuts.
Programming and personnel decisions are about money;it doesn't matter that they don't result in money.
I just bought an HD radio because I love radio.
Management can do whatever it wants. How many stations do you own?

 

[Elephant]

Smedge...I agree with the title of this post, however, WFTK in Cincinnati was just starting to build. They had a live and local morning show that just started in October and had already seen incredible growth in the October Trend. That show was helping the station as a whole. The next Trend is out on Monday and I'll bet you it shows even more growth. Glenn Beck and Dave Ramsey were also doing quite well there. This was a case of someone in a corporate office with no patience and little commitment to what they had started.

 

[jimwalsh2001]

Re: "Cumulus is Clueless About Talk"

I don't know that they're "clueless," but I think it's safe to say that the talk format is not a priority with them...