Entercom Changes in Seattle

[TheBigA]

Changes coming to Entercom's country and alternative stations. For now, we know Alek Halverson is out at KKWF and so is Alyssa Boccuzzi at KNDD.

https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/...pread-entercom-rif-in-progress-memo-to-staff-

Replacements will be announced tomorrow. It appears that they will regionalize some air shifts. So the new afternoon host at the Wolf may be located somewhere else. Same with middays at KNDD.

 

[TheBigA]

More details announced here:

http://www.insideradio.com/free/lay...cle_b1cf2e1e-f39d-11ea-b81c-cf9d4bfb8f34.html

Specifically, at KKWF:

Meanwhile, all of the company’s 21 country radio stations will carry national shows in middays and nights. Katie Neal from WNSH New York will anchor middays across the platform. A “Superstar Power Hour” will be part of the midday block, featuring a different music artist as co-host for a week, starting next week with Luke Bryan.

Having big name artists as co-hosts will “drive a better listener experience through contact with the artists they love on a daily basis,” said Roberts. The ACM Award winning duo of Rob Stone and Holy Hutton from WYCD Detroit will host nights across the 21 stations.

 

[DMK]

Tim Taylor afternoon host at KSWD is out.

 

[DN14224]

And in a company wide e-mail DJF says "To be clear, ENTERCOM will remain local, first and foremost" as they continue to cut local personalities.

 

[medev]

DeAnna Lee and Alek are out per All Access. What was once the #1 station in Seattle has cut all its local talent (except the morning show), including the station program director and music director.

And in a company wide e-mail DJF says "To be clear, ENTERCOM will remain local, first and foremost" as they continue to cut local personalities.

 

[TheBigA]

Tim Taylor afternoon host at KSWD is out.

Looks like his main gig was in Portland. From AllAccess:

TIM TAYLOR, APD at Classic Rock KGON/PORTLAND, Afternoon Host at Country KWJJ/PORTLAND, Afternoon Host at AC KSWD/SEATTLE

 

[DMK]

And in a company wide e-mail DJF says "To be clear, ENTERCOM will remain local, first and foremost" as they continue to cut local personalities.

So which definition of "Local" is Entercom using:

1. characterized by or relating to position in space : having a definite spatial form or location
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place : not general or widespread
3. of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole
4. primarily serving the needs of a particular limited district
5 : of or relating to telephone communication within a specified area

 

[MarkW]

It amazes me how one corporate radio press release after another, after another, after another is filled with half truths if not outright lies.

Why not state the REAL reasons these changes are being made, at least in the internal memo?

 

[TheBigA]

Why not state the REAL reasons these changes are being made, at least in the internal memo?

Here you go again. You said you bought stock in Entercom. Contact the investor relations folks and tell them you want the truth.

Then let us know what they tell you. We'll be waiting.

 

[seatownmedia]

All these cuts were predicted around March of this year due to you know what. Nothing surprising here.

 

[MarkW]

Re:

Here you go again. You said you bought stock in Entercom. Contact the investor relations folks and tell them you want the truth.

I sold the last of my Entercom position around $1.70 or $1.80 a share in early summer. I already know the truth; I think the continued spin and lies found in company issued press releases and internal memos is pathetic. I saw one from a Cumulus station in Lexington, KY that was especially pathetic.

These companies not only have very little respect for their audience and advertisers, they also have little respect for many of their own employees!

 

[TheBigA]

These companies not only have very little respect for their audience and advertisers, they also have little respect for many of their own employees!

It's not just "these companies." It's ALL companies. Take a look at the retail situation in this country. Consider Sears, Penneys, or similar very successful, heritage companies that many people depend on for employment and products. How much respect do they have? This is how all companies operate. Not just big ones either. I see a lot of small businesses that do the exact same thing. Even successful companies like Facebook and Apple. They do what's best for themselves. It's the American way.

 

[bossbill]

So which definition of "Local" is Entercom using:

1. characterized by or relating to position in space : having a definite spatial form or location
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place : not general or widespread
3. of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole
4. primarily serving the needs of a particular limited district
5 : of or relating to telephone communication within a specified area

We need to ease up on Exitcom. I have it on good authority that their transmitters will remain local.

 

[MarkW]

It's not just "these companies." It's ALL companies. Take a look at the retail situation in this country. Consider Sears, Penneys, or similar very successful, heritage companies that many people depend on for employment and products. How much respect do they have? This is how all companies operate. Not just big ones either. I see a lot of small businesses that do the exact same thing. Even successful companies like Facebook and Apple. They do what's best for themselves. It's the American way.

The way Eddie Lampert dismantled Sears is truly depressing. That company unquestionably needed to be reshaped, but I think he never had any interest in ensuring its long-term viability as a major national retailer.

In the case of Seattle, it will be interesting to see how the programming changes at 100.7 affect its ongoing battle with 98.9.

 

[TheBigA]

In the case of Seattle, it will be interesting to see how the programming changes at 100.7 affect its ongoing battle with 98.9.

It'll be interesting to see what the Wolf does in afternoon drive. We know they'll do the national shows in middays and nights, but they still have to replace Alek. Maybe VT from a co-owned station?

 

[fordranger797]

It'll be interesting to see what the Wolf does in afternoon drive. We know they'll do the national shows in middays and nights, but they still have to replace Alek. Maybe VT from a co-owned station?

I would suspect VT from 99.5 from Portland (if they have anyone left to do a live show during that slot with their other departures).

 

[fordranger797]

The way Eddie Lampert dismantled Sears is truly depressing. That company unquestionably needed to be reshaped, but I think he never had any interest in ensuring its long-term viability as a major national retailer.

In the case of Seattle, it will be interesting to see how the programming changes at 100.7 affect its ongoing battle with 98.9.

It seems like Hubbard really made the right choice by flipping 98.8 to "The Bull." They've put together an incredible lineup with local hosts, and even brought back Fitz. I think it's safe to say that 100.7 is a shell of its former self, and losing some of the best talent will only widen the gap.

 

[TheBigA]

I would suspect VT from 99.5 from Portland (if they have anyone left to do a live show during that slot with their other departures).

That's the funny part. The afternoon host at KWJJ is Tim Taylor, and he was let go. Mid-days were done by Erin Austin, and she was also let go. She was VT-ing mid-days at KILT, and that position was eliminated. Tim Taylor was VTing afternoons at KSWD, but no longer. So I guess we'll see who's doing what on Monday.

 

[fordranger797]

That's the funny part. The afternoon host at KWJJ is Tim Taylor, and he was let go. Mid-days were done by Erin Austin, and she was also let go. She was VT-ing mid-days at KILT, and that position was eliminated. Tim Taylor was VTing afternoons at KSWD, but no longer. So I guess we'll see who's doing what on Monday.

Very good point. Either way you look at it, it looks like difficult times are on the horizon for Entercom in Seattle. We all knew that this would happen, though...

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Question about out-of-market voice tracking

Can anyone clarify the logistics of the "regional" programming?

Is Exitcom going to be running the SAME show into multiple markets (like Tom Joyner used to do?)
or
Do they do tracks for each station -- and, if so, is music scheduling coordinated in any way to be the same across the target stations?

I assume the former because logistically it's easier.
In the case of Brooke et al (Hubbard not EC) were they just sending generic bits to stations to plug in on their morning show ... kind of the "John Tesh" model?

Never really followed T-Man (or others) in their day where they would syndicate their morning show to other stations so not sure what choices were made....