The next level? Indie 103?
> > Does anybody have the press release?
>
>
> DICKY BARRETT FIRED
>
> LA’S INDIE 103.1 PULLS HIM
>
> AND HIS MIGHTY MORNING SHOW FROM THE AIRWAVES
>
> Why would Los Angeles radio station Indie 103.1 fire an
> incredibly successful and much loved host and pull his show
> from the airwaves without an honest explanation?
>
> That's a good question, one that should be asked until
> there's a satisfactory answer.
>
> Here’s what happened according to Dicky…
>
> “The station was built to (BLEEP) with KROQ (Infinity) by
> people from KISS-FM (Clear Channel) it was just supposed to
> be a short lived pain in the ass that that took away a few
> ratings points, and talked some (BLEEP) about KROQ -
> Inadvertently (and you can credit Steve Jones and the other
> celebrity DJ's) it became good, and got a lot of national
> attention, and credible press ''the coolest station in
> America'' rolling stone etc. – At that point the FCC said
> Clear Channel who operated Indie 103.1 out of the
> Entravision offices could no longer do so - All business
> ties on paper we're severed - It became a full Entravision
> property - But the hard right leaning Clear Channel program
> director and station manager (along with a lot of the behind
> the scenes technical employees) were already firmly in place
> - It is in Clear Channel's best interest that Indie 103.1
> exist - the PD, Michael Steele (who brags about ''breaking
> Britney Spears'') and the station manager, Dawn Girocco (a
> long time radio sales women) are believing their own hype
> and considering themselves radio geniuses who masterminded
> the Indie 103.1 phenomenon, so it's now time to implicate
> their superior ''radio wisdom'' and conventional ''radio
> strategy'' - ..1) Morning shows need to be musically
> formatted and the music needs to be heavily rotated - ..2)
> All guests must be approved by Michael Steele (Dawn Girocco
> really, she's Dick Cheney, Steele's George Bush) ''no guests
> to controversial soccer moms are listening in the a.m.'' -
> There were other things that were more annoying, then
> actually detrimental to the show ''say the time, and call
> letters till your blue in the face'' - I reluctantly, and
> unhappily against my better judgment went along with all
> this for about two weeks, hoping they would come to their
> senses - During this time they brought in a longtime radio
> guru, to consult (he also worked at one point for Clear
> Channel) - His assessment was the show was ''really good''
> and I was a ''legitimate talent and a potential radio star''
> - Not the information these people wanted me to have - When
> I made an on air remark about not liking the new overplayed
> Morrissey track I was marched into the President of
> Entravisions office (Jeff Lieberman, a fan of Mighty Morning
> show) - In front of me, Jeff told Dawn he was not prepared
> to ''strip Dicky of his opinion'' she was obviously and
> visibly embarrassed - Then he asked her if she gave me the
> book about morning radio that he gave her to give to me
> ''no, it's at home'' she said, ''why the hell, is it there''
> he asked, she looked humiliated - This was the beginning of
> the end for me, and the writing was most likely on the wall
> - Two weeks after that I had a substantial, unauthorized,
> pro-choice conversation on the air with a South Dakota disc
> jockey and a few callers, the straw that broke the camels
> back - This is not the direction supporters of the current
> administration want the station going in.
>
> - I was fired that day
>
> -I loved doing the show and loved the people who loved it
>
> Thank you,
>
> Dicky
>
> Here’s what happened according to Indie 103.1…
>
> From Hits;
>
> L.A. Indie 103.1 station GM Dawn Girocco on the firing of
> morning man Dicky Barrett: "We have been working with Dicky
> for the past five months trying to get the show to the next
> level.. We invested a lot into not only the show, but in
> promoting and coaching him. Unfortunately it takes a lot of
> work to build and grow a morning show as well as develop
> interesting, compelling content. This was not Dicky's
> priority, as he had other commitments with Jimmy Kimmel
> Live, which was, in his words, 'his bread and butter.'
> Everyone at Indie has a tremendous commitment to the station
> and to the audience. We need to have a morning show that is
> able to make Indie their ..1 priority"
>
> ________________________________________________________
>
> From Dicky;
>
> Jimmy Kimmel is a great guy who supported the Mighty Morning
> Show, and loved it, even though he helped to build the Kevin
> and Bean Show on KROQ and is the Producer of the Adam
> Carolla Morning Radio Show.
>
> The man hired to ''coach'' me "trying to get the show to the
> next level'' Dan Kieley said "Dicky is a true talent and a
> radio star'' and ''it's a great Morning Show''
>
> I was fired for being unwilling to be, in Dawn Girocco's
> words ''more mainstream'' It was a great morning show. It is
> unfair to let people think I walked away to put more work
> into loudly reading twenty to thirty words a night on
> Jimmy's T.V. show. I worked hard on the Mighty Morning Show.
> I along with Stacey, Chuck, and Liz, built and grew it to
> what it was. You could count on it (for the most part) to
> provide you with interesting, compelling content and better
> music then any other show on the air in the morning.
>
> Further inquires please contact Dana Gordon at Independent
> Music Media at ..213.864.2690 or
[email protected] / Dicky
> will make himself available to comment.
>
> Contact Indie 103.1 and express your disappointment call or
> e-mail ..877.900.1031 or Michael Steele (program director)
> at
[email protected].
>
The next level? what I wonder would a corproate type think that the next level for a show or a station named Indie would be? were they thinking that they could get Dickie into the ring with Big Boy and Ryan Seacrest? that's where Kevin and Bean compete, on that level. And should that even be the desire for a station like that? if they get to that next level do they not cease to be "Indie 103"?. Dickie is right about Indie even existing just to be a flanker to krow and steal a share or two of theirs it's textbook Clear Channel programming, theyre not supposed to BEAT Kroq just shave a little off of their cume and huge numbers with little operating overhead so either way Clear Channel wins. To think that they can get to "the next level" with that format and that signal is pretty dumb, and to even mention "soccer moms" as being part of the target for that station is proof that too many have drunk the kool aid in that building.'
Good luck Dickie, you'll be fine kid.
