Do Program Directors have creative control over their stations?

[Hamp]

I bring up this topic because it seems like PD's don't really have any say over their stations anymore. Case in point, for the Clear Channel Chicago cluster it seems like Darren Davis makes all of the decisions while the individual "programmers" at the various CC stations just twiddle their thumbs.
Kris Kelley, the new PD at WGCI, seems to me has made little to no changes over at WGCI. What is she waiting on? The station has taken a dive in the last book, why hasn't she been more active with the station, is she waiting on Darren Davis? What does everyone think, has GCI gotten worse or better since Kelley's arrival?

 

[Shoot From Hip]

The reality is that everyone has a boss. In the case of the CC/Chicago cluster (as with most clusters), there is a strategy at work that's bigger than any single station...so it's not unreasonable that one person is in place to ensure that the "cluster strategy" is being implemented. Any company that owns multiple stations in a market and does not have some kind of focus on the "greater good" deserves what it gets. Shoot...sometimes even the cluster PD doesn't have full say in what gets on the air (note the changes this week at WLIT to undo previous changes, or the likelihood of a company-driven decision by CBS being made regarding the future of WCKG). They way PDs get complete control over their product is to become owners.

 

[Damixah3]

Actually The PD are the ones who make the deciscions....most PDs work slowly and the changes are at the same pace.....

 

[djfrresh]

wgci slowly making changes for the worst they got rid of teffa howard mcgee and more whats this new pd doing gci no longer 1 in chicago everybody tune in to power92 the only local show on hiphop station in chicago

 

[beefjerky]

Seems like the PD of today is more like an ASSISTANT PD. The PD of today is told what to do by those above and then is charged with pulling it off. The promotions, music, morning show, talent is chosen by others and the PD just coordinates the activities of gettin' Er Done, as they say.

I don't see any PD actually in charge of the programming as we did back in the 60s and 70s and at least most of the 80s. Back then the PD was more like the director of a movie, totally in charge of all that came out of the radio speakers.

Today it is programming by committee, for better or worse.

Am I wrong?

 

[DangerousLoner]

Completely depends on the company/cluster/management, and usually talents of the PDs.

Some are micro-managed, some are left to their own devices exactly like it's always been.

 

[oslca35]

The PD does have some say so over what happens! Not much but enough to know when the wrong decision has been made! Case in point WGCI, first removing Evening radio host Mike Love (Bad Idea), Second getting rid of Crazy and Crew, wasn't the best decision they made since she came to WGCI! I feel Elroy Smith had quite a bit of control over what happens at WGCI, under him they did a great job! This is the first time in years WGCI as a whole has done terrible! I can tell you one thing get ready for a new PD and new personalities! Especially in the mornings!

As for 92.3 they did terrible in the rating this time and will continue to do so until they get Elroy! But I think the guys at Kiss -FM got it together they have moved up steadily since coming on the air! They now sit at number 7 as a station and I didn't get to see how well The Morning show did but i'm sure it was pretty good! They have a great PD!

 

[djfrresh]

wgci.radio the wost station i ever herd havin the diz on at nite its not good thing the mixshow is the wost gci ever done they need bring back house music like they used to do in 90s put kenny jammin jason on gci. has. no. people, tuning, in

 

[InTIMadate]

Considering that Emmis fired both PDs back in April and continue to decline into the lower regions of ratings with one "brand manager" running their sinking ships....
It's obvious that corporate suites don't understand or respect what a good PD can do to improve their bottom line. Unfortunately, some of the best have left the business or jumped on the Sat or online bandwagon. Hopefully some will come back once the empty suits take their golden parachutes and go play golf next year.

Please note:
Emmis stock price in April: $8
Emmis stock price today: $4

 

[mediamayhem]

Emmis stock yearly HIGH's:
1999: $62.32
2000: 56.56
2001: 36.68
2002: 29.60
2003: 27.17
2004: 26.71
2005: 23.62
2006: 20.69
2007: 10.76

The lowest Emmis stock has ever been is RIGHT NOW...$3.98. :-\

Any wonder Spike just left for Philly? Jumping ship before it sinks!

 

[windycityradio]

I have to defend Emmis at least on the Loop side of the business. Since the PD was fired, the APD/MD Bill Klaproth has been doing a great job. The music has improved. New features have been added on a regular basis such as live music days. The Loop is finally out and about at concerts and bars such that they are a visible member of the rock community which they weren't in the past. Maybe he isn't fully responsible for all of it, but it sure seems like the Loop improved under Bill's leadership.

 

[InTIMadate]

Perhaps Bill's a good guy trapped in a bad situation. I wasn't referencing individuals that are stuck striving hard to suceed and survive under lousy management and a leadership vacuum. You are right to defend Bill, but I have to question your loyalty to Emmis. They alone have created and sustained the eroding environment of failure, low ratings and falling stock value. How many talented people have you seen kicked out the door? How many more will go in the next few weeks?

They were once respected as a company to work for when Charlie Rose ran the radio division. Those days are long over.

I wish you and Bill the best and a better opportunity in 2008.

 

[mediamayhem]

Bill K may be a fine person but he is working for a company that is in serious financial distress. Emmis has let-go plenty of good people in Chicago, especially in the past 12 months. No fault of theirs, simply the fault of a company suffering financial hardship. The billing at WLUP and WKQX is horrible, ratings are in the dumper, and stockholders are not suprisingly upset. PPM getting pushed back another 6 months was lousy news for Emmis/Chicago, as they were most likely counting on a ratings boost with PPM and hopeful that a revenue increase would soon follow.

A lot of bad decisions were made prior to Bill running the show. I can't imagine he would have messed with the on-air lineup had it been up to him. No one from the market (as he is) would have hired midday and afternoon personalities who so obviously are/were not in tune with the city. The midday woman is quite abrasive. I feel like I'm listening to a scary biker chick at Penny Road Pub at 3am. Every time I flip to WLUP during the day I can't believe how disappointed I am (which is why I've been listening to Stroud the past few years). I tried it again yesterday and heard her tell a very wordy story of how her Mom was so drunk on Thanksgiving that she fell off her chair. All I wanted to do was hear a good rock song, not hear about her trailer-park family (sorry to offend those living in trailer parks). Did she ever take radio101 and learn how to speak concisely and not ramble? And does she ever NOT giggle? I think that's what grates on me most. I hate people who always laugh at themselves. She must think she's quite entertaining but her sinking ratings prove she's practically the only one who feels that way. Sorry for the rant, had to unload. Now I'm better.

And why can't they make McMurray the official afternoon guy? I can't believe he's been filling in for 6 months. If Bill would hire McMurray permanently and get a decent jock on middays, then he'd really impress me.

I do appreciate WLUP attempting to get more of a presence around Chicago now and I think they finally chose a Rock Girl that proudly represents the city. I also respect WKQX for attempting something new with their morning show, but was frustrated with the poor execution.

 

[Jan Rx]

And why can't they make McMurray the official afternoon guy? I can't believe he's been filling in for 6 months. If Bill would hire McMurray permanently and get a decent jock on middays, then he'd really impress me.

I would be impressed if they made Byrd the official afternoon guy. He is the best music intensive jock there is and his "Loop on Demand" show would be a great fit for the Loop's afternoon drive.

 

[regionear]

These days....I say NO.

My last two stations....I had little if any control at all (but was to blame for the problems of course)

Seemed like my PD control slipped away little by little right along side consolidation.

Mediabase list here, research there....consultant, regional vp....