Heidi May & Randy Lundquist out at KJR-FM/Oldies 95.7

[WKomm]

Dear GooRoo - Thanks for the Business 101 lecture. I haven't checked into this forum for quite awhile so it's comforting to know that, despite your busy travel schedule preventing you from posting, and all the major business deals you must be conducting - hey, you're a GooRoo, right? - you finally chime in with the corporate side of the story.

To everyone else with a heart and a soul and a love for radio, this is terrible news. To guys like you - it's all about business. To others, it's about a passion for the job. Time will tell but I highly doubt firing Heidi and Randy after the expense of Rivers will net out much black ink.

We all understand the need of any business, large or small, to make a profit to keep the doors open. And we may not be as sophisticated as you or have the need for travel schedules but we know crap when we see it. Since its inception, CC has been about greed, not profit. They want to squeeze every single red cent they can in any way possible. Your prior service, your need for medical coverage, the tough economy - it means absolutely zero. It's just business! When you say it's not about Randy and Heidi, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. Because it's not personal. They don't care. Each year, Jim Sinegal of Costco goes to as many Costco locations as he can. He walks through the store, meets the employees, asks questions, makes suggestions - even has a hot dog. A few years back 20/20 ran a profile of Sinegal and the headline reads: Costco CEO Finds Pro-Worker Means Profitability.

It's not a matter of CAN CC be more employee friendly - they can. But they need to want to. BTW - some things never change. It's spelled "pity" - if you're going to mock those who care, at least spell it correctly.

 

[TVradioguru]

Well I guess you told me! But frankly, the only thing you're right about is that I spelled pity wrong. That happens when you post from an IPhone at an airport. Oh that's right, apparently you wouldn't know much about traveling for business.

Here's a little quick lesson for you WKomm; business opportunities change and evolve, sometimes leaving workers of any field or industry to find other work. Nobody owes you or I a job for a lifetime. It's all about performance of the employee and watching overall expenses.

I was in the Midwest recently and heard about a heritage AM local radio station who RIFed the entire airstaff in one day. The morning show host had recently celebrated thirty years of doing that show. But due to the economic environment, the owner was faced with going full automation and satellite programming. The owner was quoted in the local paper that he truly felt bad about sending so many people to the street, but he had no choice. Do you consider someone like that greedy too? Sounds like chances are good the airstaff would have been out anyway if the business went under.

Certainly I doubt KJR has ever been in the same situation, but large groups are constantly faced with growing their business, not remaining stagnant. As someone pointed out, with additional expense of a new morning show that chances are will bring in excellent multiples eventually, operations such as this have to watch expenses. If you can get the same job done at a lower cost, why wouldn't you? If Costco could do what they do, growing their business with less employee cost, you really think they wouldn't take that opportunity? If any CEO missed an opportunity to cut expense and grow the business they would be out on the street first.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

I suspect we can't make a dent in giving the tin man a heart.

Really it comes down to employees at thousands of warehouse stores respecting their CEO vs. employees at thousands of stations hating theirs'. In both cases it's about business but the extra mile makes the difference.

 

[scott salvatori]

Well I guess you told me! But frankly, the only thing you're right about is that I spelled pity wrong. That happens when you post from an IPhone at an airport. Oh that's right, apparently you wouldn't know much about traveling for business.

wow, traveling for business, and an Iphone from the airport...way cool, dude! tell us blue collar common folk, who wouldnt know much about traveling for business, some more guru "cup runneth over" business travel stories!

so, KJR will no longer have anyone live on the air, other than rivers and crew?

perhaps CC could save even more money if they get rid of spike, and joe, and the news girl. bob rivers could patter with pre voiced, voice tracks.

so how has that "take on mass debt" corporate radio business model been going?

perhaps, the radio stations that still have live meat in the seat during other dayparts, should make it known to their listeners. "we are live, unlike brand X". most listeners are in the dark about this trend, by ommision. this is a good way for the small AM'er to beat the corporate "absentee DJ" model. even a live minimum wage, "real local air personality", is better than a voice tracked card/slogan reading, cookie cutter act.

 

[Abner Jenkins]

And once again a thread on the Seattle board decomposes into another "dreamers vs. realists" battle.

Yes, it's sad to see people lose their jobs. Got a better way? Put your money where your mouth is. Don't you think the esteemed Mr. Wolfenbarger (and other operators FTM) would LOVE to have live talent around the clock?

 

[FMSteve]

Very sad when long-time local talent get let go. Had to be a financial move. Last book, prior to Rivers, KJR-FM was number two in the market 25-54 and number one 35-64. When the April book comes out I guess we will know. Some weeklies were rolling around the office and it looks like KJR is down while KMCQ is in the upper one share range and KVI is now showing up around a one share in most 35+ demos. I think the full April book is out sometime next week.

Way too soon to tell if the Rivers move works on an Oldies station, but KMCQ is now showing up (maybe they weren't encoding before) and KVI is now moving up slowly too, it might have something to do with adjustments at KJR, or just PPM weeklies. I wonder if now that KMCQ has actual ratings will it help them get sold or hurt them. I guess if you are commercial free and only pull a sub-two share that could be good or bad. Nice to see a bit of life in KVI. Hope the best for Bob Rivers and the best for Heidi May and Randy.

I am not aware that KMCQ is now encoding. What is your source?

 

[Wonderfulwino]

Boyz boyz..Lets not forget one thing that will break an argument like this one into a lot of pieces: Local, live radio is Showbiz. Bottom feeders yes, but still showbiz. Being shown the exit door from a radio gig is not like getting fired or layed off from a real job. Thats a known fact.. Like Hollywood, you're not booted out (except for that Sheen guy), you're simply discontinued. The money tide that runs these operations rapidly goes in and out, sometimes way out, for a lot of reasons. Poor, inept management and ownership usually heads the list of reasons why. On-air talent is just the most visable resulting casualty, rarely the cause..

 

[WDAE-FM101]

This is extremely funny. Clear Channel flipped to oldies for one reason.
They can automate it from San Antonio. Clear Channel is still making serious cuts folks.
This is part of the cuts. This is basically a syndicated corporate dictate.
To get rid of the the "KJR" call letters is too bad. But Clear Channel is all about their deal.
They couldn't care less about people. This is exactly what they did with Gen X. Both formats
are exactly the same, with exact playlists across the country. It is as simple as that.
Clear Channel put no effort in this, why should you?

You were absolutely right!

 

[TVradioguru]

Really it comes down to employees at thousands of warehouse stores respecting their CEO vs. employees at thousands of stations hating theirs'. In both cases it's about business but the extra mile makes the difference.

Yet another attempt to diffuse the facts with off-the-cuff emotional generalizations or comparisons.

I'm sure there are plenty of employees displeased with Costco, just as I've heard many that give high praise and are happy to work at Clear Channel.

Obviously radio isn't retail, and as Bill clearly pointed out; automation used to keep expense down has been around for a long time. Even the coveted KYYX that everyone remembers so clearly used to voice track back in the 80s didn't they? Funny how nobody here ever seems to recall that detail when bashing modern uses of voice tracking. If I'm correct, I'll bet it was done even 20 years ago, to cut expense.

 

[Cumeanary]

most listeners are in the dark about this trend, by ommision.

And therein lies the answer to all of this. Sure, initially there will be the calls "where's Heidi?" but in time listeners, who likely never left, will get used to the new voices, love the music and have likely been ricocheted from the morning show into other dayparts.

Though you may think the move lacks heart the preeminent fact remains, business, yes even CC, should be allowed to operate their business how they see fit.

You don't see actors crying foul because they didn't get the part, it's the nature of showbiz. Whoever said that here was right on.

 

[vivalamusica]

Comparing Randy's tenure to Heidi May is ridiculous. Randy has only been at KJR-FM for a couple of years, taking over for Nick Reynolds. Heidi's been there far longer, and as a female will be missed.

 

[dunno]

Both are pro's and have delivered the goods for Clear Cut. This company is clearly run by the anit-christ. Firing Jay just before Christmas, now Heidi and Randy on Friday the 13th. Heartless poeple, you're time is coming.

 

[Lonely Summer]

Both are pro's and have delivered the goods for Clear Cut. This company is clearly run by the anit-christ. Firing Jay just before Christmas, now Heidi and Randy on Friday the 13th. Heartless poeple, you're time is coming.

Amen!

 

[Goldilocks94941]

The real crying shame in all this, as I see it, is for a market the size of Seattle - listeners expect, and deserve, a little something more than in the small towns. But, despite the higher ad rates and commercial load, we're actually getting a lot less from many of the big market big signals.

Sure, it's a business. But that doesn't mean CC is doing a good job of running a business, since they can't seem to make enough money to make the big bosses happy - ever. Anywhere. So why should they be allowed to hog so many of the best frequencies around the country, when someone else could come in with a different corporate culture and be satisfied with a long term modest profit, AND respect their employees at least as much as they respect their equipment. This so-called "free market" approach to issuing nearly unlimited amounts of licenses to the highest bidder, and to "investment speculators" is ruining our industry. And for what? Solely for the benefit of a handful of no-talents and "bankers" who seem to think the public are all a bunch of rubes who won't notice or care that all they can get is 50,000 watts of wallpaper.

And, yes Virginia, I too travel -- sometimes for business, and sometimes for pleasure! And find it less and less worth the bother to monitor local radio where I travel domestically, since the only thing different I'd hear might be some of the commercials.

 

[radioguy123]

"are you sure KMCQ is encoding, what is your source?"

Source is Arbitron weeklies which now lists them in weekly data available to most stations and agencies. They started showing up in the first April weekly. You don't have to purchase the book to encode. Full book will tell the tale later this week. Expect KJR-FM to drop a bit, KMCQ to show up around a 1.5-2.5 and KVI to go from zeros to one shares 35+ demos.

 

[FMSteve]

"are you sure KMCQ is encoding, what is your source?"

Source is Arbitron weeklies which now lists them in weekly data available to most stations and agencies. They started showing up in the first April weekly. You don't have to purchase the book to encode. Full book will tell the tale later this week. Expect KJR-FM to drop a bit, KMCQ to show up around a 1.5-2.5 and KVI to go from zeros to one shares 35+ demos.

Hmm. Sounds like at the consumation of the assignment about a month and a half ago they ordered encoders and put them in the airchain. It's also very interesting that the April ratings are coming out on Tuesday, 5/17 at 2pm PST and that the timing of the firings were as a result of looking at the Arb weeklies. I guess we'll see.

I said on this board last year that KMCQ would get as much as a 2.0 AQH share and everybody thought I was completely nuts. Let's reconvene tomorrow night to see who was right.

 

[casual observer]

Clear Channel dismisses people the way you discard junk mail. You're expendable unless you're a big name like Bob Rivers and even he will be held accountable, albeit with a more generous severance package in the event he's released. Bob has a personal services contract. Heidi and Randy had employment agreements. These accountability decisions are made in San Antonio and handed down to the local Market Manager by the Regional EVPs who visit the market once or twice a year. Such moves are ultimately driven by how well the Seattle Sales Department hits their projections. If they come up short, operations feels the pinch. The bottom line: you can't pay for Bob and his ensemble without finding that money from somewhere else in the budget.

 

[searadiofreak]

Comparing Randy's tenure to Heidi May is ridiculous. Randy has only been at KJR-FM for a couple of years, taking over for Nick Reynolds. Heidi's been there far longer, and as a female will be missed.

I've been fortunate to work with both Randy and Heidi. This isn't a competition, especially at this time. Randy may have been at KJR-FM for a short time, but he has been a pro in the market since the late 80's. Heidi likewise. However, male vs. female doesn't make one hill of beans in my mind. Why not judge talent on just that, not "as a female". Knowing Heidi, I'm sure she would "amen" that.

 

[WKomm]

Some facts as I see them:

GooRoo comes off as the broadcast equivalent of Willie Lohman. No doubt a middle-level functionary who deems himself a mover because his Men's Wearhouse suit was just dry cleaned, he demands that attention will be paid! I think most of us, whether frequent or infrequent posters, can see through the bluster. The fact that my kid's 12 yr old friend drops IMs from his iphone while on a plane to Disneyland should, in no way, demean the important bidness GooRoo is attending to. And don't forget - the online world is like Halloween every day; you can be and do whatever you'd like. For example - I'm sending this from the ipad Steve Jobs just gave me after dinner at his house. We're enjoying apres-dinner drinks at Skybar in LA!!! Tres chic, bon amie!

More to the point:

Jim Sinegal of Costco has publicly stated they will NOT sacrifice treatment of employees for more profit. He has said they could pay less but he wants to show he can compete with Walmart/Sam's Club while treating employees substantially better and still make a profit - and he has. Before Goo jumps in with another "you can't compare retail to radio" reset ... of course you can. They're both business and (unfortunately) CC operates very much like a Sam's Club. But the bigger issue is business in general:

Should you fire as many people as possible, pay as little as you can get away with - all in the pursuit of not just profit but MORE PROFIT? Or is it possible to be in a business because you are passionate about it and as long as you make a reasonable profit, you treat people with respect and kindness?

As the movie "Inside Job" makes crystal clear, once companies reach the size of CC, it's really no longer about profit. Even greed takes a back seat. The real driving force is a "mine is bigger than yours' mentality. Making $10 million isn't enough when a competitor makes $50 million. It means you need to make $100 million. It's a pissing match on a huge corporate level. And when that starts, it does indeed trickle down ... on good people like Randy and Heidi and many of us. Yet there are those like GooRoo who would have us believe that it's only raining.

 

[Abner Jenkins]

One of the other radio trades is reporting Lori Bradley will do middays (the trade says she's still here in Seattle and is already VTing for CC) and OM John Peake is taking applications for PM Drive.

Best line from Mr. Peake: "We're going with local Seattle talent to fill middays..."