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Cowhead spills the beans about WXTB termination
Dear Readers: On March 20, Radio Babe reported the termination of the entire WXTB (97.9 FM 98 Rock) morning crew, which then consisted of "The Cowhead Show" regulars (Cowhead, Phatty and Amy), plus the station's longtime program director, Brian Medlin.
At the time, "Cowhead," whose real name is Mike Calta, made only limited statements about why. WXTB was mute.
Speculation involved an on-air harsh-language incident.
Last week, Calta contacted Radio Babe to, as he frankly put it, "spill (his) guts," about the ordeal at the station where he'd once been a sidekick to Bubba the Love Sponge.
Bubba, of course, was the "shock-jock" booted from Clear Channel's WXTB following a $750,000 Federal Communications Commission fine for obscenity-related talk.
He currently can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio under Howard Stern's channel, Howard 101, daily from 4 to 8 p.m. replayed from 2 to 6 a.m.
Calta wrote how, during his not-quite-two-month run, "I saw Brad Hardin at least three times a week," referring to Clear Channel Tampa's regional vice president of programming.
"I practically had to beg him for some input for the show. Each time, I would ask him if we were doing OK, or if anything needed to change and each time, he said we were doing 'great.' We had a very similar conversation on Friday, March 10, as we were both leaving the building ... "
On March 11, Calta said, Hardin wanted copies of "The Cowhead Show" from particular dates.
"I called Phatty to see if he knew why, and he said that someone had written letters of complaint about our show to both the FCC and CC's (president and CEO) John Hogan," Calta wrote. "They sent in audio and a transcript from eight supposed indecent moments from three days of our show."
The accusation was that he had said the "f-word"; Calta countered: "Clearly the word I used was 'lucky' ... "
The other seven allegations, Calta said, referred to him using a word or words relating to sex acts and/or body parts, although not necessarily being explicit.
Calta admitted that, while perhaps neither erudite nor mature, WXTB is typically the biggest hit with 18-to-34-year-old (and younger) males: Cowhead spoke their language.
He also said: "I have not been fined by the FCC nor has the FCC acknowledged receiving any complaint about me or my show."
"On Monday (March 13), they (station management) presented us with the CD audio and transcripts and
told us we would be suspended indefinitely," he wrote.
"That Thursday, my agent was called and we were asked to come in the next morning (March 17). That morning, general manager Dan Diloreto explained that I was being terminated 'with cause,'" Calta wrote.
The station offered a settlement, but Calta had signed a contract for 27 more months' pay. He said he plans to take his grievance to court.
Repeated phone calls to WXTB and Clear Channel Tampa, were not returned.
No matter what happens job-wise, "Phatty and Amy and I will work together in our new project. Amy has been with me for five years and Phatty and I have worked together for eight on and off, so we are all hoping to stay together," Calta wrote.
"My non-compete (clause in his contract) ends April 17, 2006," he wrote, adding, "I am happy with the interest from both XM and Sirius (satellite radio), but we also had some unexpected conversations in the Tampa market that we are feeling out right now."
Not only that, but Calta said he left WXTB knowing that "The Cowhead Show" had been a success. "We killed in the ratings," Calta wrote.
Indeed. During February, the show jumped from fifth place to second (behind WFLZ's "MJ Morning Show") in the 18-to-34-year-old group, and for ages 25 to 54, it rose to a 6.8 from a 3.3 rating.
Any word on Medlin?
"I heard Brian is in South Florida riding his new Harley."
Direct queries and comments to Radio Babe c/o the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, P.O. Drawer 1719, Sarasota, FL 34230; or e-mail [email protected]. Answers will appear in this forum only. Radio station listings appear in the Herald-Tribune's Sunday Click publication.
Cowhead spills the beans about WXTB termination
Dear Readers: On March 20, Radio Babe reported the termination of the entire WXTB (97.9 FM 98 Rock) morning crew, which then consisted of "The Cowhead Show" regulars (Cowhead, Phatty and Amy), plus the station's longtime program director, Brian Medlin.
At the time, "Cowhead," whose real name is Mike Calta, made only limited statements about why. WXTB was mute.
Speculation involved an on-air harsh-language incident.
Last week, Calta contacted Radio Babe to, as he frankly put it, "spill (his) guts," about the ordeal at the station where he'd once been a sidekick to Bubba the Love Sponge.
Bubba, of course, was the "shock-jock" booted from Clear Channel's WXTB following a $750,000 Federal Communications Commission fine for obscenity-related talk.
He currently can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio under Howard Stern's channel, Howard 101, daily from 4 to 8 p.m. replayed from 2 to 6 a.m.
Calta wrote how, during his not-quite-two-month run, "I saw Brad Hardin at least three times a week," referring to Clear Channel Tampa's regional vice president of programming.
"I practically had to beg him for some input for the show. Each time, I would ask him if we were doing OK, or if anything needed to change and each time, he said we were doing 'great.' We had a very similar conversation on Friday, March 10, as we were both leaving the building ... "
On March 11, Calta said, Hardin wanted copies of "The Cowhead Show" from particular dates.
"I called Phatty to see if he knew why, and he said that someone had written letters of complaint about our show to both the FCC and CC's (president and CEO) John Hogan," Calta wrote. "They sent in audio and a transcript from eight supposed indecent moments from three days of our show."
The accusation was that he had said the "f-word"; Calta countered: "Clearly the word I used was 'lucky' ... "
The other seven allegations, Calta said, referred to him using a word or words relating to sex acts and/or body parts, although not necessarily being explicit.
Calta admitted that, while perhaps neither erudite nor mature, WXTB is typically the biggest hit with 18-to-34-year-old (and younger) males: Cowhead spoke their language.
He also said: "I have not been fined by the FCC nor has the FCC acknowledged receiving any complaint about me or my show."
"On Monday (March 13), they (station management) presented us with the CD audio and transcripts and
told us we would be suspended indefinitely," he wrote.
"That Thursday, my agent was called and we were asked to come in the next morning (March 17). That morning, general manager Dan Diloreto explained that I was being terminated 'with cause,'" Calta wrote.
The station offered a settlement, but Calta had signed a contract for 27 more months' pay. He said he plans to take his grievance to court.
Repeated phone calls to WXTB and Clear Channel Tampa, were not returned.
No matter what happens job-wise, "Phatty and Amy and I will work together in our new project. Amy has been with me for five years and Phatty and I have worked together for eight on and off, so we are all hoping to stay together," Calta wrote.
"My non-compete (clause in his contract) ends April 17, 2006," he wrote, adding, "I am happy with the interest from both XM and Sirius (satellite radio), but we also had some unexpected conversations in the Tampa market that we are feeling out right now."
Not only that, but Calta said he left WXTB knowing that "The Cowhead Show" had been a success. "We killed in the ratings," Calta wrote.
Indeed. During February, the show jumped from fifth place to second (behind WFLZ's "MJ Morning Show") in the 18-to-34-year-old group, and for ages 25 to 54, it rose to a 6.8 from a 3.3 rating.
Any word on Medlin?
"I heard Brian is in South Florida riding his new Harley."
Direct queries and comments to Radio Babe c/o the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, P.O. Drawer 1719, Sarasota, FL 34230; or e-mail [email protected]. Answers will appear in this forum only. Radio station listings appear in the Herald-Tribune's Sunday Click publication.
