iHeart Seattle layoffs

[seatownmedia]

Focusing on the silver lining (if one could even be found in such a bad situation):

KZOK morning show is still live, as is the afternoon show (with Scott V. moving to afternoons). Also, "The Jet" is still live and local in the morning and afternoon as well. It looks like they moved Matt Case to the afternoon drive, replacing a female host (Christina) who was voice tracking out of market. She was very talented, but it appears that her primary station is a CHR station in Portland, so a format like "The Jet" probably was not the optimal format for her.

I saw Marty Riemer (The Jet) on a list of those being let go. From Radio Insight:

"Seattle
Marty Reimer exits mornings at Classic Hits “95.7 The Jet” KJR-FM.

Morning show producer/co-host Jenna exits Rhythmic CHR 93.3 KUBE.

Morning show producer Amanda Duryee departs Classic Rock 102.5 KZOK.

Rob ‘Rockfish’ Oxford exits weekends at KZOK.

Cliff Avril exits as midday co-host at Sports 950 KJR."

 

[ksradiogeek]

They usually don't do it like that with producers. Hell, they don't even do it with their best loved air talent. The only hope comes when people (and namely advertisers) launch a massive revolt, like in Des Moines, IA (not only is KXNO getting their talent back, they comped by giving KXNO an FM frequency. But in that exchange, they lost an alternative station. So the alternative staff is let go.)

She was also third mic on the AM show, right alongside Strawberry and Lizzette. She very much had air time, not just some producer hiding in the other room.

(Oh, I think All Access had Gordon, the AM producer on Kiss, cut as well):

https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/192865/iheartmedia-revamp-costs-jobs-here-s-who-we-know-i

 

[TheBigA]

She was also third mic on the AM show, right alongside Strawberry and Lizzette. She very much had air time, not just some producer hiding in the other room.

That goes along with eliminating morning show co-hosts. Too many voices. Looks like they're eliminating all the specific morning show producers and streamlining the functions into a central place. That puts more emphasis on the remaining morning show host to contribute to the content of the show, rather than depending on the producer. I know a lot of morning shows who just came in and everything was set up for them. All the guests booked, the topics planned out, and the music pre-programmed. Their lives will now change.

 

[boombox4]

That goes along with eliminating morning show co-hosts. Too many voices. Looks like they're eliminating all the specific morning show producers and streamlining the functions into a central place. That puts more emphasis on the remaining morning show host to contribute to the content of the show, rather than depending on the producer. I know a lot of morning shows who just came in and everything was set up for them. All the guests booked, the topics planned out, and the music pre-programmed. Their lives will now change.

To quote a panel from the old cartoon Dilbert, they'll have to all "work smarter, not harder!" [sarcasm button off]

 

[bobdavcav]

I understand Dilbert hits the nail on the head pretty often.

 

[AQH]

That goes along with eliminating morning show co-hosts. Too many voices. Looks like they're eliminating all the specific morning show producers and streamlining the functions into a central place. That puts more emphasis on the remaining morning show host to contribute to the content of the show, rather than depending on the producer. I know a lot of morning shows who just came in and everything was set up for them. All the guests booked, the topics planned out, and the music pre-programmed. Their lives will now change.

The music wasn't "pre-programmed" before?

 

[TheBigA]

The music wasn't "pre-programmed" before?

Yes that's what I was saying.

 

[AQH]

Yes that's what I was saying.

What are you talking about?

 

[CarAgencyGuy]

https://www.cleveland.com/entertain...be-the-beginning-of-local-radios-endgame.html

 

[Kelly A]

https://www.cleveland.com/entertain...be-the-beginning-of-local-radios-endgame.html

Interesting take. I was thinking this reinvention by iHeart has all the earmarks of something that Liberty Media would like to see. What came to my mind was: 'automated streaming programming to terrestrial transmitter sites'. But as the writer infers, it's actually more like 'SiriusXM with terrestrial transmitters' instead of satellites.

From what I've heard, this right-sizing is being rolled-out to all markets #30 and higher, but may include other lesser performing markets soon after this first round.

The CEO of SiriusXM 'Diamond Jim' Meyer once said at a staff meeting: "I hate terrestrial radio". Wouldn't it be ironic if SXM's parent company ended up with both?

 

[TheBigA]

The CEO of SiriusXM 'Diamond Jim' Meyer once said at a staff meeting: "I hate terrestrial radio".

The context of that statement is he hates the fact that he has to pay a digital royalty and they don't.

 

[Kelly A]

The context of that statement is he hates the fact that he has to pay a digital royalty and they don't.

That, and I got the impression that SXM never getting more than 2% of the radio listening pie and iHeart having done well with streaming were also factors.