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Getting fired at Christmas

A

AliceTheCook

Guest
I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency, that companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on layoffs and firings during November and December. I sit here and think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who got the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to me once as well. What a load to have on your mind during "the most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out there, somebody.
 
> I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd
> think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency, that
> companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on layoffs
> and firings during November and December. I sit here and
> think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who got
> the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to me
> once as well. What a load to have on your mind during "the
> most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out there,
> somebody.
>
Well Clear Channel always does it before their Christmas Party so they can show a year end profit. They certainly have the Christmas spirit of Ebeneezer. Infinity probably wants to be Old man Potter from "It's a wonderful Life"
 
> I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd
> think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency, that
> companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on layoffs
> and firings during November and December. I sit here and
> think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who got
> the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to me
> once as well. What a load to have on your mind during "the
> most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out there,
> somebody.

Common decency......in broadcast ownership/management?
>
 
> I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd
> think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency, that
> companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on layoffs
> and firings during November and December. I sit here and
> think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who got
> the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to me
> once as well. What a load to have on your mind during "the
> most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out there,
> somebody.


The local management for Infinity is creating a lot of negative energy in the ranks. It's an unhealthy atmosphere in which to work. Even "team players" are looking for an exit.
 
Re: Getting fired at Christmas--CC update:

> > I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd
> > think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency, that
>
> > companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on layoffs
>
> > and firings during November and December. I sit here and
> > think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who got
>
> > the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to
> me
> > once as well. What a load to have on your mind during
> "the
> > most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out there,
>
> > somebody.
> >
> Well Clear Channel always does it before their Christmas
> Party so they can show a year end profit. They certainly
> have the Christmas spirit of Ebeneezer. Infinity probably
> wants to be Old man Potter from "It's a wonderful Life"
===========================

For 35 years, Jerry Phillips has been the voice of the community on the radio in Washington. This week, Clear Channel Communications, which owns eight D.C. stations, shut down its public affairs department and let Phillips go, eliminating what some local charities called their main link to the public.

"We're taking a new direction," said Bennett Zier, Clear Channel's regional vice president. "Jerry is moving on."

Zier said his stations, which currently have no news staff, will add "personality-based news for our morning shows," including some public affairs content.

As WHUR's morning host in the 1970s and '80s, Phillips was a beloved, if sometimes corny, daily reflection of the black Washington of green-and-white awnings and people who regarded anyone whose family had been here less than a century as out-of-towners. For the past 13 years at Clear Channel, Phillips "was the main voice for the downtrodden and for small local organizations, whether it was traffic safety, drug addiction or the homeless," said Lon Anderson, the AAA Potomac spokesman and a frequent guest on Phillips's "Metro Talk" on Big 100 (WBIG) and WTEM.
================
One of Wichita's major radio broadcasters fired three staff members this week as part of an end-of-the-year housecleaning.

Clear Channel Communications, which operates four stations in the area, let go two on-air personalities at classic rock station KTHR 107.3-FM, The Road, and a program director whose duties were split between The Road and KZSN 102.1-FM, Kissin' Country, said general manager Dick Harlow.

"We're restructuring next year and the 2006 business plan calls for us to operate differently," Harlow said. "That means we will have a slightly smaller staff than in 2005."

Shane Sellers, afternoon disc jockey and assistant program director, was one of the staff members affected at The Road.

"They came in yesterday and told us they were doing budget cuts and let myself and two other guys go," he said Wednesday.

Program director Chuck Geiger and morning show producer Mark Good also lost their jobs.

"It's horrible," Harlow said of the timing. "I wish it could have been at a different time of the year."
 
Re: Getting fired at Christmas--CC update:

> > > I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd
>
> > > think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency,
> that
> >
> > > companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on
> layoffs
> >
> > > and firings during November and December. I sit here
> and
> > > think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who
> got
> >
> > > the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to
>
> > me
> > > once as well. What a load to have on your mind during
> > "the
> > > most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out
> there,
> >
> > > somebody.
> > >
> > Well Clear Channel always does it before their Christmas
> > Party so they can show a year end profit. They certainly
> > have the Christmas spirit of Ebeneezer. Infinity probably
> > wants to be Old man Potter from "It's a wonderful Life"
> ===========================
>
> For 35 years, Jerry Phillips has been the voice of the
> community on the radio in Washington. This week, Clear
> Channel Communications, which owns eight D.C. stations, shut
> down its public affairs department and let Phillips go,
> eliminating what some local charities called their main link
> to the public.
>
> "We're taking a new direction," said Bennett Zier, Clear
> Channel's regional vice president. "Jerry is moving on."
>
> Zier said his stations, which currently have no news staff,
> will add "personality-based news for our morning shows,"
> including some public affairs content.
>
> As WHUR's morning host in the 1970s and '80s, Phillips was a
> beloved, if sometimes corny, daily reflection of the black
> Washington of green-and-white awnings and people who
> regarded anyone whose family had been here less than a
> century as out-of-towners. For the past 13 years at Clear
> Channel, Phillips "was the main voice for the downtrodden
> and for small local organizations, whether it was traffic
> safety, drug addiction or the homeless," said Lon Anderson,
> the AAA Potomac spokesman and a frequent guest on Phillips's
> "Metro Talk" on Big 100 (WBIG) and WTEM.
> ================
> One of Wichita's major radio broadcasters fired three staff
> members this week as part of an end-of-the-year
> housecleaning.
>
> Clear Channel Communications, which operates four stations
> in the area, let go two on-air personalities at classic rock
> station KTHR 107.3-FM, The Road, and a program director
> whose duties were split between The Road and KZSN 102.1-FM,
> Kissin' Country, said general manager Dick Harlow.
>
> "We're restructuring next year and the 2006 business plan
> calls for us to operate differently," Harlow said. "That
> means we will have a slightly smaller staff than in 2005."
>
> Shane Sellers, afternoon disc jockey and assistant program
> director, was one of the staff members affected at The Road.
>
>
> "They came in yesterday and told us they were doing budget
> cuts and let myself and two other guys go," he said
> Wednesday.
>
> Program director Chuck Geiger and morning show producer Mark
> Good also lost their jobs.
>
> "It's horrible," Harlow said of the timing. "I wish it could
> have been at a different time of the year."
>
Same in Oklahoma City with Jimmy Barreda the Former PD at The Buzz. they let him go after 15 years of being there. And I heard he has a 4 month old at home to.<P ID="signature">______________
--THE_Consultant----</P>
 
> > I know this is very un-Corporate of me to say, but you'd
> > think that, out of common (or now un-common) decency, that
>
> > companies would declare a 'courtesy' moratorium on layoffs
>
> > and firings during November and December. I sit here and
> > think about Craig T. Allen, Larry Dixon and others who got
>
> > the axe just in time for the holidays. It's happened to
> me
> > once as well. What a load to have on your mind during
> "the
> > most wonderful time of the year." Have a heart out there,
>
> > somebody.
> >
> Well Clear Channel always does it before their Christmas
> Party so they can show a year end profit. They certainly
> have the Christmas spirit of Ebeneezer. Infinity probably
> wants to be Old man Potter from "It's a wonderful Life"
>
Poor excuse for management behavior, but the corporate ego reigns supreme. The suits sit around and congratulate each other on the number of people they move over/around/out--always pursuing the elusive big deal, looking good, cutting costs, and padding their year-end bonuses They wax philosophic about the "good work" they are doing for the home office. They should be waxing floors, instead. Perhaps they will be when the axe falls on them, too.
 
Re: Getting fired at Christmas--CC update:

This all goes back to de-regulation of the radio business, which allowed companies to go on a wild acquisition spree, buying up properties at way beyond rational prices. Ever since, they've squeezed and squeezed, cutting corners, and getting rid of a lot of talent in an effort to get quarterly profits up and keep the stock prices high. Now I hear the bankers are realizing that the properties are over-valued and the conglomerates are having to make even more cuts to their already thin programming budgets, and THERE'S NO FAT LEFT TO CUT. Gonna be a sad couple of years ahead for talent in this business until other options start popping up, like wi-fi radio, cellphone radio, and the expansion of internet radio.
Eventually we'll look back at the bankrupt Clear Channels and have the last laugh. In the meantime, expect even more bloodletting.
 
Re: Getting fired at Christmas--CC update:

> This all goes back to de-regulation of the radio business,
> which allowed companies to go on a wild acquisition spree,
> buying up properties at way beyond rational prices. Ever
> since, they've squeezed and squeezed, cutting corners, and
> getting rid of a lot of talent in an effort to get quarterly
> profits up and keep the stock prices high. Now I hear the
> bankers are realizing that the properties are over-valued
> and the conglomerates are having to make even more cuts to
> their already thin programming budgets, and THERE'S NO FAT
> LEFT TO CUT. Gonna be a sad couple of years ahead for
> talent in this business until other options start popping
> up, like wi-fi radio, cellphone radio, and the expansion of
> internet radio.
> Eventually we'll look back at the bankrupt Clear Channels
> and have the last laugh. In the meantime, expect even more
> bloodletting.
>

AMEN!

The corporate clowns are their own worst enemy. The product suffers horribly as they get cheaper and greedier, chopping away to the quick to shore up profits of their overvalued properties. I do believe the stock market is beginning to realize this already. I personally will celebrate the day when WIFI puts these sorry-assed suits in soup line like they have sent so many hard-working broadcast professionals. Bring on the wide-spread WIFI access and the diversity that comes with it. It will be a wonderful day when the public and their desire for good radio will be allowed to break the stronghold of Crap Channel syle stupidity in the near future.



<P ID="signature">______________
--- THE Insultant ---</P>
 
Re: Getting fired at Christmas--CC update:

What a lot of us forget is that it's not a radio thing. It's a business thing. Pretty much everyone starts firing around this time of the year. The type of business doesn't matter. Unemployment claims skyrocket. A friend of mine was let go from the firings at WMAD in Madison. So far, he's the only one of my friends to be canned from a radio job in recent weeks. I have four other friends who were cut loose from other businesses in the last week, though. It's definitely awful. It's also definitely not new or unique to the radio business.

If Clear Channel goes bankrupt and you're laughing, good for you. I doubt most people in the business will feel the same way. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a fan of the way Clear Channel does business, but I don't want to see an Enron or Worldcom style bankruptcy happen there. After all, too many good people still have money tied up in the company from employee stock purchase programs and 401k's. They're not bad people simply because they've worked for Clear Channel. I've been fortunate enough to avoid Clear Channel, for now, though I did briefly work for the Cumulus monster. However, I have plenty of friends who have walked through the doors of Clear Channel stations, and they would lose money they really can't spare if that were to happen.
 
Re: Getting fired at Christmas--CC update:

> > This all goes back to de-regulation of the radio business,
>
> > which allowed companies to go on a wild acquisition spree,
>
> > buying up properties at way beyond rational prices. Ever
> > since, they've squeezed and squeezed, cutting corners, and
>
> > getting rid of a lot of talent in an effort to get
> quarterly
> > profits up and keep the stock prices high. Now I hear the
> > bankers are realizing that the properties are over-valued
> > and the conglomerates are having to make even more cuts to
>
> > their already thin programming budgets, and THERE'S NO FAT
>
> > LEFT TO CUT. Gonna be a sad couple of years ahead for
> > talent in this business until other options start popping
> > up, like wi-fi radio, cellphone radio, and the expansion
> of
> > internet radio.
> > Eventually we'll look back at the bankrupt Clear
> Channels
> > and have the last laugh. In the meantime, expect even more
>
> > bloodletting.
> >
>
> AMEN!
>
> The corporate clowns are their own worst enemy. The product
> suffers horribly as they get cheaper and greedier, chopping
> away to the quick to shore up profits of their overvalued
> properties. I do believe the stock market is beginning to
> realize this already. I personally will celebrate the day
> when WIFI puts these sorry-assed suits in soup line like
> they have sent so many hard-working broadcast professionals.
> Bring on the wide-spread WIFI access and the diversity
> that comes with it. It will be a wonderful day when the
> public and their desire for good radio will be allowed to
> break the stronghold of Crap Channel syle stupidity in the
> near future.
>
This post and those previous point up that as Wall Street puts a pin to the inflationary bubble, some people who least deserve it will get hurt. But the upside is they eventually will recover. Meantime, the smug corporate types who've themselves so far profited onscenely from all their firings and cost cutting measures can ponder their greed and avarice as they try to get into a homeless shelter somewhere. Being homeless, though, would be far too good for them. If there's any justice their fate will be much worse. May they suffer the same cruel, heartless rejection they cast upon others.
 
> The local management for Infinity is creating a lot of
> negative energy in the ranks. It's an unhealthy atmosphere
> in which to work. Even "team players" are looking for an
> exit.

In the Fitzhugh building for sure. Camp Carpenter probably has the best atmosphere in local radio. Despite being a total dump of building in a shaddy part of town. Even the Promotions Director that organized ticket giveaways for "When The EDGE Stole Christmas," was allowed to keep his job (for now). Perhaps DH is waiting till January to thin the herd.

Pour a little out for Craig T.
 
Re: not so fast...

> What a lot of us forget is that it's not a radio thing.
> It's a business thing. Pretty much everyone starts firing
> around this time of the year.

You mean everyone whose business isn't doing well, and that would certainly include corporate radio. Healthy businesses with smart executives at the top aren't firing people this week.

I'll add to what Eye is saying. He's right that big radio companies overpaid for stations in the 90's. At the time a lot of Wall Street analysts cautioned investors to stay away from radio stocks because it was pretty evident that radio companies were overpaying for stations--and doing it with borrowed money. The dot-com boom delayed this reality, and people were able to make money on radio stocks in the short term. Those days are over.

> If Clear Channel goes bankrupt and you're laughing, good for
> you. I doubt most people in the business will feel the same
> way.

I don't know if I'll laugh, but it will be a happy day. Radio's current business model doesn't work. Even stations with ratings are having to eliminate positions and combine two, three, or four job titles into one.

Regardless of the spin your PD or GSM puts on this practice, it's a very bad business indicator. I predict that a good number of today's radio companies will follow ABC in the next 5 to 10 years and get out of the radio business. What's so sad is that I'm not really going out on a limb with that prediction.
 
Re: A little too fast

>
> I'll add to what Eye is saying. He's right that big radio
> companies overpaid for stations in the 90's. At the time a
> lot of Wall Street analysts cautioned investors to stay away
> from radio stocks because it was pretty evident that radio
> companies were overpaying for stations--and doing it with
> borrowed money.

Nearly all the major acquisitions were done with equity or as mergers. The debt loads of the major broadcasting companies are lower than that of major industrial concerns, like GM and Boeing, when expressed as a ratio of debt to equity or debt payment to unencumbered cash flow.

Radio is a mature industry, and the slower growth is what holds back the stock porices. Add to that thee fact that very few radio companies pay dividends in an era that is value driven int he market, and you have underperformance.

The pos-consolidation prices are low by today´s standards.
>
> I don't know if I'll laugh, but it will be a happy day.
> Radio's current business model doesn't work. Even stations
> with ratings are having to eliminate positions and combine
> two, three, or four job titles into one.

Every industry is focusing on revenues per employee and efficiency and productivity. From Merck to IBM there have been cutbacks, making people work more efficently so America can try to compete with lower cost offshore providers.
>
> Regardless of the spin your PD or GSM puts on this practice,
> it's a very bad business indicator. I predict that a good
> number of today's radio companies will follow ABC in the
> next 5 to 10 years and get out of the radio business.
> What's so sad is that I'm not really going out on a limb
> with that prediction.

ABC is not out of the radio business, and will only exit if they get an extraordinary price and tax considerations. Most of the other companies in radio would buy more stations if any came on the market.
>
 
Re: not so fast...

> You mean everyone whose business isn't doing well, and that
> would certainly include corporate radio. Healthy businesses
> with smart executives at the top aren't firing people this
> week.

Any business that's not meeting its margins is firing people. There are some businesses that have unreasonable margins but would otherwise be doing well. My point is that you'll find businesses of all kinds firing people at this time of the year. It also isn't new to the radio industry. Stations firing people at this time of the year has been common for a long time.

> I'll add to what Eye is saying. He's right that big radio
> companies overpaid for stations in the 90's. At the time a
> lot of Wall Street analysts cautioned investors to stay away
> from radio stocks because it was pretty evident that radio
> companies were overpaying for stations--and doing it with
> borrowed money. The dot-com boom delayed this reality, and
> people were able to make money on radio stocks in the short
> term. Those days are over.

I don't disagree with everything he said, or everything that you're saying. Certainly, the prices of stations have gone up astronomically. In 1977, the station that set the record sale price (KBEQ Kansas City) sold for less than $3 million.

> I don't know if I'll laugh, but it will be a happy day.

This is the point I disagree with. There's nothing happy about a large employer in the radio business going under. Love the company or hate it, it's a bad thing. For example, I was pretty miserable working for Cumulus. However, I wish it well in its future endeavors, including managing Susquehanna. Why? Because Cumulus is still the steward of my 401k. They have to take care of it because I was automatically vested in the company when they acquired the company that had previously employed me. I'm not in a position to roll it over for the next few years because I'm not vested in my current employer and will have to find another option for retirement savings, including any rolled over amount, should I lose my job. If Lew Dickey and the rest of Cumulus start to suffer, I will suffer, too, and I'll start sufferring before they do. I will also suffer worse. They can lose millions without substantial problems. I cannot. Most people in the industry are in the same, or a similar, boat.

> Radio's current business model doesn't work.
> Even stations
> with ratings are having to eliminate positions and combine
> two, three, or four job titles into one.

Certainly, radio and its business model have their share of problems. Keep in mind that the stage for the consolidation we have now was set in the late-70's/early-80's when too many stations were dropped into areas that could not support them. This is the main reason we're seeing consolidation, both of employers and of jobs. In 1990, more than half of all commercial radio stations were losing money. Of course, most of these stations were in smaller markets that should have had far fewer stations. However, rather than let these stations go dark or drag naive entrepreneurs into the ground, consolidation was the proposed solution. Of course, that meant fewer jobs and more work for the people with those jobs. The overall profitability of radio, at least in the short-term, has actually increased. Whether or not it will last and for how long remains to be seen.
 
Re: A little too fast

David, no offense, but your mouth is so full of milk from the corporate tit, there's no way anyone on this board can take your analysis as objective. We all know the company line, and you're good at repeating it.

Enjoy the ride while it lasts, and Merry Christmas to you.
 
Re: not so fast...

> This is the point I disagree with. There's nothing happy
> about a large employer in the radio business going under.
> Love the company or hate it, it's a bad thing.

My prediction isn't that these companies will go under. They will give up on radio and sell off their stations. It remains to be seen whether the future buyers will bring a fresh perspective to the industry.
 
Re: A little too fast

> David, no offense, but your mouth is so full of milk from
> the corporate tit, there's no way anyone on this board can
> take your analysis as objective. We all know the company
> line, and you're good at repeating it.
>
> Enjoy the ride while it lasts, and Merry Christmas to you.
>
Best post you have ever stated poindexter. He has never stood for serving a community or for local talent, only his stock dividends along with a comparison of notes along side his alter ego on All access as someone has pointed out.
 
Re: A little too fast

> > David, no offense, but your mouth is so full of milk from
> > the corporate tit, there's no way anyone on this board can
>
> > take your analysis as objective. We all know the company
> > line, and you're good at repeating it.
> >
> > Enjoy the ride while it lasts, and Merry Christmas to you.
>
> >
> Best post you have ever stated poindexter. He has never
> stood for serving a community

Actually, our most successful stations are firmly rooted in local programming, with a number of them operating on the theory that local service is key to success. Our internal PD of the Year was honored for creating a scholorship program for local disadvantaged students.

Perhaps there is a reason why the listeners we serve use nearly 30% more radio weekly than general market listeners do... because we and our colleages provide more service, are live and local more of the time, and have locally customized playlists and talent.

> or for local talent, only his
> stock dividends

The company I work for has never paid a stock dividend. In fact, I won no company stock.

> along with a comparison of notes along side
> his alter ego on All access as someone has pointed out.

I have no idea who you are talking about on AA. I do not "access" All Access since it is mostly hype from record companies, who pay the freight for presenting the website.
 
Re: A little too fast

> David, no offense, but your mouth is so full of milk from
> the corporate tit, there's no way anyone on this board can
> take your analysis as objective.

I work with a relatively small company, in a niche market. But it is absurd to see the lies posted by those who will damn consolidation on any count, real or fabricated.

The fact is that the larger compnies have very resonable debt, if any. Most have lower debt ratios than well know and solid companies such as GE or Coca Cola or McDonalds.

The fact is that consolidations has brought better working conditions to most radio people than we had under smaller owners.

The fact is that staitons prices are determined by radio revenue in each market along with suppply and demand. Since ad revenues have increased in some markets as much as 50% since 1996, when consolidation began, this means stations are worth as much as 50% or more above the pre-consolidation prices.

The fact is that pre-consolidation radio was for the most part horribly managed, as it was such a small busines s model that stations could not get bank financing, group insurance, get access to equity capital, etc., etc.

The fact is that mom and pop radio was populated by folks like Don Burden, Max Richmond and Richard Eaton because the business was of little interest to good business people as the potential for expansion were so limited. For every macLendon and Storz you had a dozen flakes and cheats and check bouncers.

> We all know the company
> line, and you're good at repeating it.

Since my first encounter with consolidation was 43 years ago, and I found it produced better radio, I do not see this as a company line but my view of what creates good radio.

As an examp0le, when I onwned my first cluster, I was able to provide unprofitable programming on several frequencies, something a single owner could never do. I was also able to innovate, like putting on at a loss the first FM for over 1000 miles in any direction. Try any of those things as a single owner.

> Enjoy the ride while it lasts, and Merry Christmas to you.

In the spirit of the evening, Merry christmas to you, too. Hopefully, we can debate for fun and learn from each other.
 
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