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Cumulus: No One is Safe?

F

flyonthewall

So question for ChannelFlipper. What do you really mean when you say no one is safe? The example at KGO is pretty harsh. Does that mean you think Cumulus will clean house at both KABC and KLOS. I heard there is one guy, in Atlanta, who does all the programming for all of the stations across the country and tells the stations exactly what songs to play? Can you expand on your post.
 
"Nobody is safe" is the general rule in any merger or acquisition - especially for employees working in the company being acquired.

Example: Bank of America/Nations Bank. Yes - the combined corporation took the B of A name, but it was South Carolina's Nation's Bank that was the acquirer, and sent most senior and middle B of A managers packing just a few months after announcing this "merger of equals."

Second Example - Daimler Benz/Chrysler. Same thing.
 
It'll be interesting to see which stations get spun off in the end to help balance out the cost's of the purchase! I think there is going to be a lot of wheeling and dealing going on too with other radio companies to help lighten the cost's to Cumulus.
 
RadioStarOne said:
It'll be interesting to see which stations get spun off in the end to help balance out the cost's of the purchase! I think there is going to be a lot of wheeling and dealing going on too with other radio companies to help lighten the cost's to Cumulus.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing lower rating Citadel metro stations.
 
This deal is happening at a pretty bad time, economically. How on earth is Cumulus going to get all of the money to finance this? If any stations need to be sold, it's the Cumulus stations in almost unranked markets!
 
carolinaradio said:
This deal is happening at a pretty bad time, economically. How on earth is Cumulus going to get all of the money to finance this? If any stations need to be sold, it's the Cumulus stations in almost unranked markets!
Click to expand...

I thought I read that of all the stations in the Cumulus group, it was the small to medium market stations that were making decent coin. It makes sense, as there is less competition and fewer costs.
 
carolinaradio said:
This deal is happening at a pretty bad time, economically. How on earth is Cumulus going to get all of the money to finance this? If any stations need to be sold, it's the Cumulus stations in almost unranked markets!
Click to expand...

If the stock market keeps crashing they're going to have a rough time.
 
radioman148 said:
carolinaradio said:
This deal is happening at a pretty bad time, economically. How on earth is Cumulus going to get all of the money to finance this? If any stations need to be sold, it's the Cumulus stations in almost unranked markets!
Click to expand...

If the stock market keeps crashing they're going to have a rough time.
Click to expand...
Yeah, their stock is $2.87 a share today - when the deal was announced, it was about $5 a share, I believe. If the stock market keeps going down, so will their stock, of course.

The bigger markets are what got Citadel in trouble, after they got the ABC stations. I feel that these clusters are small and inefficient. Even though they're big stations (WLS, KABC, WABC, WPLJ, etc) I think these are always going to be challenge markets for whoever owns them.
 
Lee Anderson, that is exactly what I was asking...what will Jan Jeffries DO.. will he be programming the music for all of the stations from Atlanta?
Finally, a good conversation that actually has to do with something other than 60s and 70s radio in Los Angeles. This is such a big deal, I am surprised more people are not talking about it here. When this is done, Cumulus will be the biggest pure play radio company in the country, at least that is what I have been reading. It will affect not just KLOS and KABC, but major stations all around the country. If Jan Jeffries programs all the stations from Atlanta will they all have the same playlists? From La to New York? As far as the Stock Market goes, I can't imagine Cumulus not going through with this deal.
 
Oh, and as far as going through with the deal, I'm sure Cumulus is going to do everything humanly possible to get it through. Citadel, who knows. The recent economic/stock market developments, though, do kind of put a few question marks here and there. The way the date has been adjusted ("by Labor Day", "by the end of 2011", "by the end of September") does make one wonder if this is being more difficult than Cumulus originally intended. I think it will get done, but maybe not as soon or as easily as originally said.
 
Why would CITADEL not want this deal done. It is the only way out for them. And, from what I read, the Chairman is going to walk away with an amazing golden parachute. Nice gig if you can get it!
 
carolinaradio said:
The bigger markets are what got Citadel in trouble, after they got the ABC stations. I feel that these clusters are small and inefficient. Even though they're big stations (WLS, KABC, WABC, WPLJ, etc) I think these are always going to be challenge markets for whoever owns them.
Click to expand...

While I have trouble thinking of KABC's lack of ratings and inadequate coverage as being "a big station" I agree with the point that the ABC acquisition is a less than perfect group. KGO has been massacred by the PPM, WPLJ is in the middle of various squeeze plays, KLOS is aging none to gracefully, WLS-FM is being challenged by WJMK, and so on.
 
Oh no.

Mr. Kaye at K-Earth has found the perfect blend for the station, and they're long established as being an oldies/classic hits station.

Unlike KLOS, up the dial at 101.1 KRTH has found a way to age gracefully and remain relevant.

"True oldies" wouldn't work anyways due to demos issues.
 
Yes! At first glance, that is a really interesting idea, though considering the numbers at K-EARTH and the iconic program director, Jhani Kaye, I doubt anyone can win against him and K-EARTH.
Just look what he has done at the Wave. I would not want to be the PD to go up against him. And, Jahni Kaye is truly one of the REAL good guys in the business!

How Lee do you see that working? Do you think Cumulus would really flip KLOS?, even though Jack continues to beat them and they sound so old and tired, that is why I stopped listening a couple of years ago. Flipped to them in the car the other night in drive time. Did not hear a jock but did hear the same old tired playlist.. same songs, different year.
 
I have a better idea! Why doesn't KLOS flip to Pandora. I have Pandora's classic rock station streaming on my laptop as I type this, playing Edge of Seventeen. I also listen to Pandora's Rock Hits station. Playing right now on that, Welcome to the Jungle. I can get Aerosmith, Don Henley, Journey, and much more on both of these Pandora stations with no commercials.
Seriously, the last one out of KLOS, turn out the lights!
 
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