Herald: Greater Media's Mills signing off

[raccoonradio]

Had read in a radio blog that Matt Mills of Greater Media/Boston is retiring, and here's more from Greg Gatlin of the Herald's business section.

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=120981

“It is with mixed emotions that I share with you Matt Mills’ decision to retire from Greater Media Boston,” Smyth wrote in an e-mail to employees yesterday. “Matt has been a major force in the growth of the Boston stations and will be sorely missed.”

While WTKK still broadcasts Severin’s syndicated evening show, it lost the host as a Greater Media talent. And Severin’s future on WTKK beyond this year is foggy, even in syndication. Industry insiders suggest that Mills got caught up in a game of take-it-or-leave-it chicken during the negotiations — and lost. <P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[BoredOp]

Now if....

...they can Sh*&can Borenacles keeper Pawla mabey they can clean house and send the pipe artist and Jimbo Braude to Minsk! See Ya! p.s Good luck in retirement Bob Grant! GET OFF MY PHONE!

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: Now if....

> ...they can Sh*&can Borenacles keeper Pawla mabey they can
> clean house and send the pipe artist and Jimbo Braude to
> Minsk! See Ya! p.s Good luck in retirement Bob Grant!
> GET OFF MY PHONE!

(by the way, WABC's Mark Levin, now also heard in DC, Dallas, and Detroit,
"borrows" Grant's line. There's a soundboard that has Levin saying
"Get Off the Phone you big jerk" and other stuff at link below:

http://marklevinfan.com/MarkLevinBoard.htm


Yeah, Radio Equalizer was speculating that maybe there could be some
changes at 96.9 once someone is brought in to replace Mills
(maybe Jerry's former prod, Paula O'C). Imus is locked in for three
years, Graham for two, and Severin for one (would WBZ try to get him
for 2007 and beyond?). I could see WTKK as:

--6-10 am Imus (I _guess_ so, as they have him under contract, but if they
could bring in local talent for a morning show. Move Eagan and Braude there
if you have to)

10 am-1 pm Laura Ingraham (which is how WVMT up in Ben-and-Jerry-land does)
1-3 pm Bill "I Took on Letterman" O'Reilly

3-7 Grahamcrackers (I _guess_ so, as he's under contract)

7-10 The pride of Poughkeepsie, the sage of Sag Harbor

10-mid Put Hannity on here, or pick up Phil Hendrie if you must. Or even,
gasp, local stuff
etc

But that's just me.

 

[JustinT]

> “It is with mixed emotions that I share with you Matt Mills’
> decision to retire from Greater Media Boston,” Smyth wrote
> in an e-mail to employees yesterday. “Matt has been a major
> force in the growth of the Boston stations and will be
> sorely missed.”

His departure date of April 14th is also worth noting, as Mills likely will remain through the transfer of WCRB, which all fingers currently seem to be pointing at April 1st. By February 1st, we should have information regarding purchase price and possibly future plans.

 

[EWF]

Re: Now if....

Graham Crackers is locked in for 2 YEARS ??????????
There will be only crumbs left at 96.9 if he stays his contract.
Maybe they will Josh Binswanger him in 6 months. He is a turn off at 3 and a switch on to Howie Carr at 3. Watch as the ratings prove me out.

As to Paula O'Connor. Hope she gets Mills job and Eric Caldwell [also one of Jerry's later producers at RKO becomes PD; one of the good guys in the business]


> > ...they can Sh*&can Borenacles keeper Pawla mabey they can
>
> > clean house and send the pipe artist and Jimbo Braude to
> > Minsk! See Ya! p.s Good luck in retirement Bob Grant!
>
> > GET OFF MY PHONE!
>
> (by the way, WABC's Mark Levin, now also heard in DC,
> Dallas, and Detroit,
> "borrows" Grant's line. There's a soundboard that has Levin
> saying
> "Get Off the Phone you big jerk" and other stuff at link
> below:
>
> http://marklevinfan.com/MarkLevinBoard.htm
>
>
> Yeah, Radio Equalizer was speculating that maybe there could
> be some
> changes at 96.9 once someone is brought in to replace Mills
> (maybe Jerry's former prod, Paula O'C). Imus is locked in
> for three
> years, Graham for two, and Severin for one (would WBZ try to
> get him
> for 2007 and beyond?). I could see WTKK as:
>
> --6-10 am Imus (I _guess_ so, as they have him under
> contract, but if they
> could bring in local talent for a morning show. Move Eagan
> and Braude there
> if you have to)
>
> 10 am-1 pm Laura Ingraham (which is how WVMT up in
> Ben-and-Jerry-land does)
> 1-3 pm Bill "I Took on Letterman" O'Reilly
>
> 3-7 Grahamcrackers (I _guess_ so, as he's under contract)
>
> 7-10 The pride of Poughkeepsie, the sage of Sag Harbor
>
> 10-mid Put Hannity on here, or pick up Phil Hendrie if you
> must. Or even,
> gasp, local stuff
> etc
>
> But that's just me.
>

 

[morescrapple]

Re: Now if....

> Graham Crackers is locked in for 2 YEARS ??????????
> There will be only crumbs left at 96.9 if he stays his
> contract.
nobody's ever really locked in on these things, except maybe in Boston Howie Carr

 

[toejammer]

Not Quite

Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no one other than Tony Berardini. The new GM will come from sales or is already a GM somewhere else in the Greater Media empire.

Surprising that no one mentions Buzz Knight and his recent bump up in the ranks at Greater Media. Although I wonder why he's been given an opportunity to hire and develop talent. I can not think of a single jock he is responsible for in the market, let alone anyone he's hired recently that has made any impact.

Buzz sure has done a good job firing people at Greater Media, while sitting at the helm of two very non discript stations. WROR has no revenue and WBOS has no listeners. But I suppose as long you're in the good graces of Peter Smythe...


> Graham Crackers is locked in for 2 YEARS ??????????
> There will be only crumbs left at 96.9 if he stays his
> contract.
> Maybe they will Josh Binswanger him in 6 months. He is a
> turn off at 3 and a switch on to Howie Carr at 3. Watch as
> the ratings prove me out.
>
> As to Paula O'Connor. Hope she gets Mills job and Eric
> Caldwell [also one of Jerry's later producers at RKO becomes
> PD; one of the good guys in the business]
>
>
> > > ...they can Sh*&can Borenacles keeper Pawla mabey they
> can
> >
> > > clean house and send the pipe artist and Jimbo Braude to
>
> > > Minsk! See Ya! p.s Good luck in retirement Bob
> Grant!
> >
> > > GET OFF MY PHONE!
> >
> > (by the way, WABC's Mark Levin, now also heard in DC,
> > Dallas, and Detroit,
> > "borrows" Grant's line. There's a soundboard that has
> Levin
> > saying
> > "Get Off the Phone you big jerk" and other stuff at link
> > below:
> >
> > http://marklevinfan.com/MarkLevinBoard.htm
> >
> >
> > Yeah, Radio Equalizer was speculating that maybe there
> could
> > be some
> > changes at 96.9 once someone is brought in to replace
> Mills
> > (maybe Jerry's former prod, Paula O'C). Imus is locked in
> > for three
> > years, Graham for two, and Severin for one (would WBZ try
> to
> > get him
> > for 2007 and beyond?). I could see WTKK as:
> >
> > --6-10 am Imus (I _guess_ so, as they have him under
> > contract, but if they
> > could bring in local talent for a morning show. Move Eagan
>
> > and Braude there
> > if you have to)
> >
> > 10 am-1 pm Laura Ingraham (which is how WVMT up in
> > Ben-and-Jerry-land does)
> > 1-3 pm Bill "I Took on Letterman" O'Reilly
> >
> > 3-7 Grahamcrackers (I _guess_ so, as he's under contract)
> >
> > 7-10 The pride of Poughkeepsie, the sage of Sag Harbor
> >
> > 10-mid Put Hannity on here, or pick up Phil Hendrie if you
>
> > must. Or even,
> > gasp, local stuff
> > etc
> >
> > But that's just me.
> >
>

 

[spilot113]

Re: Not Quite

> Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no one
> other than Tony Berardini.

Oh Really?

There have been a few.

Carey Pahigian....was GM of 105.7 after being a PD.

I forget the dude at the old WEEI-FM....(David Austin?) who went from being PD to GM. (CBS had a better record of doing that than most stations.)

Al Brady Law.....PD of WHDH then he worked across the hall to GM chair of WZOU.

Ed Cochran....from WRKO news to GM of WEZE.

Also, Mario Mazza is PD of WCRB.....GM of sister station WFCC.

...and you mentioned Berardini at WBCN.

Also, Speaking of Greater Media, before his passing, Tom Milewski went from being a Jock on GMI's Detroit station(s) to CEO of the company! (With stops in law school along the way.)

I believe their current DTW GM, Tom Bender was also a jock/PD....

So it isn't unprescedented.

 

[HELLOWILBUR]

Re: Not Quite

> Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no one
> other than Tony Berardini. The new GM will come from sales
> or is already a GM somewhere else in the Greater Media
> empire.
>
> Surprising that no one mentions Buzz Knight and his recent
> bump up in the ranks at Greater Media. Although I wonder
> why he's been given an opportunity to hire and develop
> talent. I can not think of a single jock he is responsible
> for in the market, let alone anyone he's hired recently that
> has made any impact.
>
> Buzz sure has done a good job firing people at Greater
> Media, while sitting at the helm of two very non discript
> stations. WROR has no revenue and WBOS has no listeners.
> But I suppose as long you're in the good graces of Peter
> Smythe...
>
>
Yeah...sure is a lot of blood in those carpets on Morrissey Boulevard. How long can 'BOS stay (well) below a 2 share? A 50K stick on the Pru tied with WPLM in the last trend! Buzz has supposedly been in charge of that wreck for better than 40 months and it keeps flirting with all-time lows. Right now it just sounds utterly pointless. You'd think Smythe would have to care at some point. Go figure.

 

[NotoriousN-I-K]

Re: Not Quite

> > Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no
> one
> > other than Tony Berardini. The new GM will come from
> sales
> > or is already a GM somewhere else in the Greater Media
> > empire.
> >
> > Surprising that no one mentions Buzz Knight and his recent
>
> > bump up in the ranks at Greater Media. Although I wonder
> > why he's been given an opportunity to hire and develop
> > talent. I can not think of a single jock he is
> responsible
> > for in the market, let alone anyone he's hired recently
> that
> > has made any impact.
> >
> > Buzz sure has done a good job firing people at Greater
> > Media, while sitting at the helm of two very non discript
> > stations. WROR has no revenue and WBOS has no listeners.
> > But I suppose as long you're in the good graces of Peter
> > Smythe...
> >
> >
> Yeah...sure is a lot of blood in those carpets on Morrissey
> Boulevard. How long can 'BOS stay (well) below a 2 share?
> A 50K stick on the Pru tied with WPLM in the last trend!
> Buzz has supposedly been in charge of that wreck for better
> than 40 months and it keeps flirting with all-time lows.
> Right now it just sounds utterly pointless. You'd think
> Smythe would have to care at some point. Go figure.
>
Bos, yeah not a ratings juggernaut but apparantly a cash cow. Think about it: If you want to reach the volvo driving soccer mom, or an audi driving pseudo hipster, or the guy in the range rover who still wants to pretend to be musically aware (they probably still think Allanis Morrisette is relevent too) that's the station to go to and advertisers do. They generate cash regardless of their ratings and that is a pretty good trick.

 

[EWF]

Re: Not Quite

And from my experience that is what is wrong with Boston radio. Some booze hound and time salesman who can bed the newest ad agency AE to get the sale become the general manager of a radio station. That is sort of like making a used car salesman president of GM or Ford or Toyota.


> Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no one
> other than Tony Berardini. The new GM will come from sales
> or is already a GM somewhere else in the Greater Media
> empire.
>
> Surprising that no one mentions Buzz Knight and his recent
> bump up in the ranks at Greater Media. Although I wonder
> why he's been given an opportunity to hire and develop
> talent. I can not think of a single jock he is responsible
> for in the market, let alone anyone he's hired recently that
> has made any impact.
>
> Buzz sure has done a good job firing people at Greater
> Media, while sitting at the helm of two very non discript
> stations. WROR has no revenue and WBOS has no listeners.
> But I suppose as long you're in the good graces of Peter
> Smythe...
>
>
> > Graham Crackers is locked in for 2 YEARS ??????????
> > There will be only crumbs left at 96.9 if he stays his
> > contract.
> > Maybe they will Josh Binswanger him in 6 months. He is a
> > turn off at 3 and a switch on to Howie Carr at 3. Watch as
>
> > the ratings prove me out.
> >
> > As to Paula O'Connor. Hope she gets Mills job and Eric
> > Caldwell [also one of Jerry's later producers at RKO
> becomes
> > PD; one of the good guys in the business]
> >
> >
> > > > ...they can Sh*&can Borenacles keeper Pawla mabey they
>
> > can
> > >
> > > > clean house and send the pipe artist and Jimbo Braude
> to
> >
> > > > Minsk! See Ya! p.s Good luck in retirement Bob
> > Grant!
> > >
> > > > GET OFF MY PHONE!
> > >
> > > (by the way, WABC's Mark Levin, now also heard in DC,
> > > Dallas, and Detroit,
> > > "borrows" Grant's line. There's a soundboard that has
> > Levin
> > > saying
> > > "Get Off the Phone you big jerk" and other stuff at link
>
> > > below:
> > >
> > > http://marklevinfan.com/MarkLevinBoard.htm
> > >
> > >
> > > Yeah, Radio Equalizer was speculating that maybe there
> > could
> > > be some
> > > changes at 96.9 once someone is brought in to replace
> > Mills
> > > (maybe Jerry's former prod, Paula O'C). Imus is locked
> in
> > > for three
> > > years, Graham for two, and Severin for one (would WBZ
> try
> > to
> > > get him
> > > for 2007 and beyond?). I could see WTKK as:
> > >
> > > --6-10 am Imus (I _guess_ so, as they have him under
> > > contract, but if they
> > > could bring in local talent for a morning show. Move
> Eagan
> >
> > > and Braude there
> > > if you have to)
> > >
> > > 10 am-1 pm Laura Ingraham (which is how WVMT up in
> > > Ben-and-Jerry-land does)
> > > 1-3 pm Bill "I Took on Letterman" O'Reilly
> > >
> > > 3-7 Grahamcrackers (I _guess_ so, as he's under
> contract)
> > >
> > > 7-10 The pride of Poughkeepsie, the sage of Sag Harbor
> > >
> > > 10-mid Put Hannity on here, or pick up Phil Hendrie if
> you
> >
> > > must. Or even,
> > > gasp, local stuff
> > > etc
> > >
> > > But that's just me.
> > >
> >
>

 

[raccoonradio]

Re: Now if....

> > Graham Crackers is locked in for 2 YEARS ??????????
> > There will be only crumbs left at 96.9 if he stays his
> > contract.
> nobody's ever really locked in on these things, except maybe
> in Boston Howie Carr
>

True. Was pretty sure I read somewhere that Graham had been signed for
"two years" so I knew it wouldn't just be a temp. fix for WTKK. It may have been
on Graham's site itself...think he mentioned being signed for more than what
he was making at WMAL.<P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[radiodouble]

Re: Not Quite

> > Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no
> one
> > other than Tony Berardini. The new GM will come from
> sales
> > or is already a GM somewhere else in the Greater Media
> > empire.
> >
> > Surprising that no one mentions Buzz Knight and his recent
>
> > bump up in the ranks at Greater Media. Although I wonder
> > why he's been given an opportunity to hire and develop
> > talent. I can not think of a single jock he is
> responsible
> > for in the market, let alone anyone he's hired recently
> that
> > has made any impact.
> >
> > Buzz sure has done a good job firing people at Greater
> > Media, while sitting at the helm of two very non discript
> > stations. WROR has no revenue and WBOS has no listeners.
> > But I suppose as long you're in the good graces of Peter
> > Smythe...
> >
> >
> Yeah...sure is a lot of blood in those carpets on Morrissey
> Boulevard. How long can 'BOS stay (well) below a 2 share?
> A 50K stick on the Pru tied with WPLM in the last trend!
> Buzz has supposedly been in charge of that wreck for better
> than 40 months and it keeps flirting with all-time lows.
> Right now it just sounds utterly pointless. You'd think
> Smythe would have to care at some point. Go figure.
>

It's a privately-held shop. The corporate pressure to answer and
accountability to shareholders just doesn't exist over there. Neither does competitive programming, apparently.

 

[toejammer]

Re: Not Quite

Judging from your examples, I'll restate...

It hasn't happened in a generation!

The old EEI -FM? ZOU? These stations or their personnel have not been relevent in 20 years!

> > Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no
> one
> > other than Tony Berardini.
>
> Oh Really?
>
> There have been a few.
>
> Carey Pahigian....was GM of 105.7 after being a PD.
>
> I forget the dude at the old WEEI-FM....(David Austin?) who
> went from being PD to GM. (CBS had a better record of doing
> that than most stations.)
>
> Al Brady Law.....PD of WHDH then he worked across the hall
> to GM chair of WZOU.
>
> Ed Cochran....from WRKO news to GM of WEZE.
>
> Also, Mario Mazza is PD of WCRB.....GM of sister station
> WFCC.
>
> ...and you mentioned Berardini at WBCN.
>
> Also, Speaking of Greater Media, before his passing, Tom
> Milewski went from being a Jock on GMI's Detroit station(s)
> to CEO of the company! (With stops in law school along the
> way.)
>
> I believe their current DTW GM, Tom Bender was also a
> jock/PD....
>
> So it isn't unprescedented.
>

 

[spilot113]

Re: Not Quite

> Judging from your examples, I'll restate...
>
> It hasn't happened in a generation!

Judging by the original comment "Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no one other than Tony Berardini"

I'll restate:

It is rare....but it isn't unprescedented.


> >
> > There have been a few.
> >
> > Carey Pahigian....was GM of 105.7 after being a PD.
> >
> > I forget the dude at the old WEEI-FM....(David Austin?)
> who
> > went from being PD to GM. (CBS had a better record of
> doing
> > that than most stations.)
> >
> > Al Brady Law.....PD of WHDH then he worked across the hall
>
> > to GM chair of WZOU.
> >
> > Ed Cochran....from WRKO news to GM of WEZE.
> >
> > Also, Mario Mazza is PD of WCRB.....GM of sister station
> > WFCC.
> >
> > ...and you mentioned Berardini at WBCN.
> >
> > Also, Speaking of Greater Media, before his passing, Tom
> > Milewski went from being a Jock on GMI's Detroit
> station(s)
> > to CEO of the company! (With stops in law school along
> the
> > way.)
> >
> > I believe their current DTW GM, Tom Bender was also a
> > jock/PD....
> >
> > So it isn't unprescedented.
> >
>

 

[LA_Guy]

Really? How about Dan Griffin?

Hmmm...I can think of a couple.. Dan Griffin (legendary GM who made WRKO the force it's been the past 20 years).

How about Randy Michaels (you remember him - right? The former President of Clear Channel Radio?



> Sorry, but PD's do not make the Jump to GM - at least no one
> other than Tony Berardini. The new GM will come from sales
> or is already a GM somewhere else in the Greater Media
> empire.
>
> Surprising that no one mentions Buzz Knight and his recent
> bump up in the ranks at Greater Media. Although I wonder
> why he's been given an opportunity to hire and develop
> talent. I can not think of a single jock he is responsible
> for in the market, let alone anyone he's hired recently that
> has made any impact.
>
> Buzz sure has done a good job firing people at Greater
> Media, while sitting at the helm of two very non discript
> stations. WROR has no revenue and WBOS has no listeners.
> But I suppose as long you're in the good graces of Peter
> Smythe...
>
>
> > Graham Crackers is locked in for 2 YEARS ??????????
> > There will be only crumbs left at 96.9 if he stays his
> > contract.
> > Maybe they will Josh Binswanger him in 6 months. He is a
> > turn off at 3 and a switch on to Howie Carr at 3. Watch as
>
> > the ratings prove me out.
> >
> > As to Paula O'Connor. Hope she gets Mills job and Eric
> > Caldwell [also one of Jerry's later producers at RKO
> becomes
> > PD; one of the good guys in the business]
> >
> >
> > > > ...they can Sh*&can Borenacles keeper Pawla mabey they
>
> > can
> > >
> > > > clean house and send the pipe artist and Jimbo Braude
> to
> >
> > > > Minsk! See Ya! p.s Good luck in retirement Bob
> > Grant!
> > >
> > > > GET OFF MY PHONE!
> > >
> > > (by the way, WABC's Mark Levin, now also heard in DC,
> > > Dallas, and Detroit,
> > > "borrows" Grant's line. There's a soundboard that has
> > Levin
> > > saying
> > > "Get Off the Phone you big jerk" and other stuff at link
>
> > > below:
> > >
> > > http://marklevinfan.com/MarkLevinBoard.htm
> > >
> > >
> > > Yeah, Radio Equalizer was speculating that maybe there
> > could
> > > be some
> > > changes at 96.9 once someone is brought in to replace
> > Mills
> > > (maybe Jerry's former prod, Paula O'C). Imus is locked
> in
> > > for three
> > > years, Graham for two, and Severin for one (would WBZ
> try
> > to
> > > get him
> > > for 2007 and beyond?). I could see WTKK as:
> > >
> > > --6-10 am Imus (I _guess_ so, as they have him under
> > > contract, but if they
> > > could bring in local talent for a morning show. Move
> Eagan
> >
> > > and Braude there
> > > if you have to)
> > >
> > > 10 am-1 pm Laura Ingraham (which is how WVMT up in
> > > Ben-and-Jerry-land does)
> > > 1-3 pm Bill "I Took on Letterman" O'Reilly
> > >
> > > 3-7 Grahamcrackers (I _guess_ so, as he's under
> contract)
> > >
> > > 7-10 The pride of Poughkeepsie, the sage of Sag Harbor
> > >
> > > 10-mid Put Hannity on here, or pick up Phil Hendrie if
> you
> >
> > > must. Or even,
> > > gasp, local stuff
> > > etc
> > >
> > > But that's just me.
> > >
> >
>