TheGreenskeeper said:
Does Bloomquist really make ANY decisions? Larry Wachs made a comment on the HOW site that all decisions are made by Clear Channel Command and RB just does as he's told. What a job.
I worked in that sewer of a station as a board-op/producer for about 14 months, 3 of which were under RB's command. I'm not sure who's decision it was, but I know as soon as he came in, morale went in the tank.
We were hanging signs in the news room by the time I got fired that read things such as "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves" etc. I don't know what it is like over there now, since no one I really worked with at the time (Peterson, Hughes, Any of the Board-Ops, Most of the News team that broadcast from 1500-2200) are still there.
I'm wondering about this phrase "Coming Back" to Atlanta. It seems to me that RB's main goal when I was there was to syndicate the station as much as possible, and gut the staff, as it only takes one board op to run a syndicated show, who doesn't have to be anywhere near as talented as a live board op. Is Beck actually coming back to Atlanta, or has Bloomquist just picked up another syndicated show, who happens to have a name and a history with Atlanta listeners?
I'm asking these questions because I'm not really familiar with the talk radio game anymore, as I have moved on to bigger and better formats.
Also, earlier in this thread I saw where someone had asked if anyone could name someone who could beat Boortz. One names come to mind. Scott Farrell. Also, why not get out of the typical radio places to find a name? Ann Coulter was in the market for a radio gig at some time in the past, and she has that Howard Stern "If they hate her, why are they listening to her?" vibe. However, big names cost money, and ClearChannel will continue to tank as long as they attempt to beat top shelf talent while paying bargain basement prices.
In closing, let me say I would be extremely suprised to find out Beck is actually sitting in the Atlanta studios doing his show. I'm guessing it's going to be (yet another) syndicated show.
The best part of all is this. The last GST meeting I attended, we were told this: "We have done considerable market research and we've found that Atlanta talk radio listeners feel disconnected with SB, feel it's too far away, too big. There is a hunger in the Atlanta marketplace for a true
local talk station. That's what we're going to be."
That was 3/06. Now, here we sit, with a station with one local show (R&S).
Good call Bloomquist.
Also, to answer your question, no I don't believe Bloomquist is making the decisions anymore. I do believe, however, that there was a time when he was. I still believe and always will that RB pulled the trigger to yank Peterson, as well as Schaffer. I wasn't a fan of Schaffer at all, but I certainly liked him better that what's on the air now. Basically, RB has turned GST into such a disaster area that corporate has taken over, and he's kept his job by getting in line and doing what he's told. You say "What a job." but don't forget, RB dug his own grave here. He had the reins, and he made such a mess they were taken away.