For WHOM the bell tolls...? It tolls for Dean-o

[grover]

Mark Osborne(JEFF RYDER) back at WJBQ in 1975 Pitched the music
the Idea is NOT to play more Commercials BUT to make the competition
Sound Bad!
WJBQ's Music JUST sounded Better/Rocked better( WJBQ WON BIG!!! in the Ratings!)
While the Competition WLOB's Music Sounded Slower
Like there was Something Wrong with them!!
it really works Well!
1975 WJBQ
WALLY BRINE-6-10AM
JOE MC MILLAN 10AM-2PM
JEFF RYDER 2-6PM( Mark Osborne)
GRANT WEST 6-12MID
CHRISTIE MAX 12MID-6AM
I'm Sure MARK and Tim used the same Idea
at KISS 94.5 Ellsworth in the 80s
Mark does NOT pitch the Music at WNSX
its PURE and Sounds GREAT!
Joe

 

[Erie_Lackawanna]

I'm sure Mike Sambrook and/or Tim Moore and/or Herb Ivey of Citadel are excited to learn Chuck that you question whether or not they have an actual working brain when these are very painful and difficult decisions for any management to make, including yours. I am sure that they are not taken as likely as you seem to convey.

again - i'm Erie. thanks.

i did not point the finger at the local Citadel management crew, AdBuyer - you did.

none of the above named individuals garner any glee from what this current state of corporate downsizing is doing to an industry they all very much love. gotta be love.

the marching orders came from above - someone with a calculator gave a number and said make it happen.

 

[radiothis!]

To answer the question: is consolidation to blame?

Well, I, for one, blame greed. I don't know if consolidation, in itself, is to blame. Radio is hurting because a bunch of suits made a bad gamble in the mid-nineties. They paid millions of dollars for over-valued signals.

If you're bringing in 250,000 a year in ad revenue--and you pay 1.5 million for a signal--how long is it going to take to pay off that loan, your staff salaries, your marketing budget, your energy bills, etc.? Too long.

So you start applying pressure to your larger markets. In the meantime, at that overvalued station, you cut staff and budgets. Your listeners stop tuning in. Your advertisers cut out. Your profits tank.

You apply more pressure to your successful markets to make up the difference. You cut their budgets and staff too. Their listeners notice. Their advertisers notice. Profits tank.

I'm no analyst, but that's what's going on--across the board: tv, radio, newspapers. Greed killed us.

People demand media content now more than ever. But traditional media is so bogged down by bad debt and poor decisions that we can't react fast enough to be the next big thing. Radio, TV and newspapers aren't even close to dead...but they lack the legs to stand on.

 

[jparsons]

I'm still in shock and still have a sick feeling in my stomach. It absolutely sucks that three of my co-workers are now looking for work, but I wouldn't be so quick to blame management. Tim Moore will go to bat for people he believes in and he did just that for Dean and Teddy, it just didn't work out. I've worked with Tim for 12 years now, and have never respected a PD in this business more than him. Let's not point fingers at people without knowing the details of the decision, which none of us do.

Difficult decisions had to be made and we can all debate if they were the correct decisions or not, but that doesn't help our friends who are now looking for work. It was very hard to do a show today and not have Dean next door or having our usual cross talk with Teddy.

Quite frankly, I'm sure that everyone's head was on the chopping block at some point, and in the end this is how it fell. Believe me this is the last thing Teddy needs after the year he's been through. I have to hand it to him though. He has a passion for this business like no one else I've ever met. He wants in, and he will be in one way or another.

You all know what a pro Dean is. You won't find a nicer man in the business. I worked with him both at the station and with the Sea Dogs, and he's like a father figure to many of us. It won't be the last you hear from any of these folks, believe me.

Radio is seeing the worst times it may have ever seen in its history. All we can do is buckle in and hope we all weather the storm.

 

[Oldbones]

I've never worked for a station that pitched up their music, but I remember seeing some CD players that could be set to play 2% fast like the Denon 951s.
I suspect WRKO may have done it back in the day (70's)...I remember being a teenager and hearing those songs later on FM and thinking they didn't sound right, but couldn't put my finger on why.
Could turntables be set fast? Maybe changing the idler wheel? Could cart decks be tricked into this?

I've never seen a sped-up cart machine...wouldn't it be easier to just pitch the songs when you carted them? Of course when you decided to not play this game anymore you had to re-cart your entire library.

I've worked at a couple stations that pitched their music. First time I ran into that I must have stepped on every intro on my first shift!!

As far as WRKO, I'm pretty sure they did selectively. Some songs sounded sped up while others didn't.

 

[louiemanno]

To answer the question: is consolidation to blame? Well, I, for one, blame greed.... I

The radio industry under deregulation rode a bubble similar to the sub-prime lending business. It was a short-term strategy that big box broadcasters designed and timed so that only a privileged few knew when to cashout and profit.

Radio re-regulation is as much a job for the SEC as it is for the FCC... That being said, my heart goes out to everyone who is affected by the massive contraction of the radio business. It’s all ass backwards… those to care the most and have the most talent… are the most expendable. For lack of a more apt term...this freaking SUCKS.

Louie Manno

 

[Biff Barfington]

Greed and avarice clearly share much of the blame here, but let's not forget good old, dyed in the wool stupidity. To be fair, radio isn't the only industry plagued by an extra high dumb-ass quotient. Take a look at GM, pleading poverty and looking for a fat govenment handout. Well, they made their own bed by consistantly ignoring what American consumers want in a vehice and continually flooding the market with high markup SUV's and the like.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to recognize the market potential for fuel efficiency. The trend has have been evident for years. So how did GM respond to this sea change? By making plans to roll out another gas guzzling Hummer. No wonder the Japanese and Koreans are eating their lunch.

Maybe the top dogs in the biz should think (yeah, not very likely, is it?) about beseeching the feds for a handout of their own. A half a trillion would probably do the trick. As you know, trillion is the new billion.

 

[Jack Blades]

Does anyone know what or who is replacing Dean? Or did miss that amongst the pitching of music mini thread?

 

[True Grit]

Why don't you email WHOM's PD why they still haven't flipped to CHR?

You know, Tim Moore did pitch WKSQ's music when he was PD there. I bought and returned Toto IV to DeOrsey's because I thought I got a bad cassette!

DeOrsey's? Wow...that goes back a few years.

 

[radiothis!]

Just to clarify my point: I blame upper management. The "business" folks. I don't know Tim, but I've heard great things...I'm sure he wasn't enjoying today either. Down the street where I work, I can say the same thing about my bosses. Good grounded folks.

But the corporate types who were paying big cash for lousy radio properties (why, why, why did Citadel buy a station in Aroostook county?)--they made some bad decisions and it's hard to get out from under it.

It's a little like owning a theater company, firing all the actors and then wondering where the audience went.

 

[True Grit]

Just to clarify my point: I blame upper management. The "business" folks. I don't know Tim, but I've heard great things...I'm sure he wasn't enjoying today either. Down the street where I work, I can say the same thing about my bosses. Good grounded folks.

But the corporate types who were paying big cash for lousy radio properties (why, why, why did Citadel buy a station in Aroostook county?)--they made some bad decisions and it's hard to get out from under it.

It's a little like owning a theater company, firing all the actors and then wondering where the audience went.

That's a good analogy. I wish my fellow (former) air talent colleagues all the best, but would love to see the CEOs behind this bull**** on Skid Row down the road. Call me bitter. I really don't care.

As for this Dean gentleman who was the subject of this thread, I must admit I never knew him, or even knew of him. Sounds like a great guy. I wish him and everyone else recently axed the best of luck.

 

[Andy Taylor]

Dean Rogers, Teddy McKay, Dominic got let go. For what? To keep a 3-person morning show? To keep somebody's ex-wife employed? To further discourage those of us who really love what we do, but every single day wonder how much longer we get do it? I hope all you a$$holes who pull the money strings face what you've done to these 3 men--get f***ed over.

Dominic was on the air tonight.

 

[Channel Surf]

I've never worked for a station that pitched up their music, but I remember seeing some CD players that could be set to play 2% fast like the Denon 951s.
I suspect WRKO may have done it back in the day (70's)...I remember being a teenager and hearing those songs later on FM and thinking they didn't sound right, but couldn't put my finger on why.
Could turntables be set fast? Maybe changing the idler wheel? Could cart decks be tricked into this?
And of course the $64,000 question: Why would you do this? To cram a few more spots per hour?

Why don't you email WHOM's PD why they still haven't flipped to CHR?

You know, Tim Moore did pitch WKSQ's music when he was PD there. I bought and returned Toto IV to DeOrsey's because I thought I got a bad cassette!

WRKO did pitch their music. Their news director taught a broadcasting class that I was in, and he expalined that it made their music sound a little hotter than the same song would sound on WMEX or WVBF...This was in 1973...

 

[dave.ross]

I'm still in shock and still have a sick feeling in my stomach. I wouldn't be so quick to blame management. Tim Moore will go to bat for people he believes in and he did just that for Dean and Teddy,

Hmmm....does anyone else dectech a possible brown - noser here? Parsons you are so lucky your still on the air! But Portland maine needs a all female morning show and gosh we are all lucky
you were there to read the news!! Gosh My day is so complete! Thanks Jeffy for your lisppy news cast!

 

[jparsons]

Hmmm....does anyone else dectech a possible brown - noser here? Parsons you are so lucky your still on the air! But Portland maine needs a all female morning show and gosh we are all lucky
you were there to read the news!! Gosh My day is so complete! Thanks Jeffy for your lisppy news cast!

Sadly, this type of response to my post took longer to appear than I expected. Thanks to those of you who don't stoop to this level. You're better people for it.

 

[Biff Barfington]

Well Jeff, at least you'll have one attendee at the next meeting of your fan club. Seriously, don't be bothered by the ravings of a single lunatic.

There was a Dave Ross who worked in Portland many, many years ago. If it's the same dude, his advanced age would put him right on schedule for a dose of dementia. If its not, hospitals should start to keep better tabs on their ether supplies.

 

[Oldbones]

Take a look at GM, pleading poverty and looking for a fat govenment handout. Well, they made their own bed by consistantly ignoring what American consumers want in a vehice and continually flooding the market with high markup SUV's and the like.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to recognize the market potential for fuel efficiency. The trend has have been evident for years. So how did GM respond to this sea change? By making plans to roll out another gas guzzling Hummer. No wonder the Japanese and Koreans are eating their lunch.

They weren't the only ones. For all the hype about Toyota, they've made some pretty boneheaded moves in the last few years too, from the needlessly-huge-but-still-prissy Tundra to their Hummer-wannabee PJ Cruiser to the general upsizing of most of their product line. Their sales are down about as much as GM's. The only thing that saves them is the myth that their vehicles are somehow better built.
Korean cars are crap, the only reason they sell is that they're cheap.

Your analogy is a good one though, even if my take on it is different than you perhaps intended. Once upon a time, radio, much like the "Big 3" pretty much was the only game in town. Now there are many sources of entertainment/information to choose from, yet the available audience hasn't grown all that much. Guess what? The audience (and advertising dollar) pie is being divided more ways than ever. That means less money coming in and costs must be cut. The sad fact is that most dj's are (and always have been) pretty much background patter, only radio geeks like us care.

 

[dave.ross]

Sorry Bill, NOT THAT DAVE!!!!......Im Not even in New England! I do however work in a top 10 market! Oh and Jeff, Its all fun and games buddy....I'm just in a higher market and tax bracket that you will ever be!

 

[Maine-i-ac]

I do however work in a top 10 market! I'm just in a higher market and tax bracket that you will ever be!

Well,la-dee-freaking-dah! Just another reason not to visit Tampa. Speaking of noses, sounds like someone has theirs turned way up in the air.

 

[True Grit]

Sorry Bill, NOT THAT DAVE!!!!......Im Not even in New England! I do however work in a top 10 market! Oh and Jeff, Its all fun and games buddy....I'm just in a higher market and tax bracket that you will ever be!

Classy. Reeeeeeal classy.