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Infinity CEO Won't Apologize

T

topsound

From All Access Net News (opens in new window, account required):

INFINITY Chairman/CEO JOEL HOLLANDER defended his decision to dump Oldies on WJMK/CHICAGO in favor of the "JACK-FM" Adult Hits format in an interview with the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES' ROBERT FEDER running in WEDNESDAY's editions (6/29).

HOLLANDER, speaking during a break in meetings in CHICAGO, offered no regrets for the move, saying "(w)e love the people that listen to our radio stations, but there weren't enough of them [at WJMK]. The radio station was bleeding. I stopped the bleeding. Only time will tell if we're right about it. We made a change. And I don't apologize for that." Sounding a defensive tone, HOLLANDER told FEDER "(p)eople want to put their goddamn foot on your neck whenever you make a change. The problem is that there's a lot of people who don't have the balls to make a change. OK? We're on the offense. We're not on the defense. OK? We might have made a mistake. Right now, I don't think we made a mistake."


HOLLANDER denied any ill intent in keeping the format flip from most of the staff and fans until the last moment, asking "(d)o you think that I woke up in the morning and said, 'Let me enrage the people of CHICAGO'? Do you think that's what I'm about? If we could have done it a different way, we would have. But we couldn't."


HOLLANDER told FEDER he made the flip in secret for fear that another station might jump the gun and launch the format first, and criticized listeners and employees for "mixing business and emotion," adding that "(l)oss is when you lose a child. (HOLLANDER and his wife lost a child to SIDS in 1993 and are co-founders of the CJ FOUNDATION FOR SIDS in NEW JERSEY.) Loss is somebody dying. I'm not trying to come across as cold and callous. I do as much for charity and as much for people as anybody in this industry. If you want to portray me as a cold and calculating person, that's fine. That's your prerogative. But you're doing total misjustice because that's not who I am."
 
> HOLLANDER, speaking during a break in meetings in CHICAGO,
> offered no regrets for the move, saying "(w)e love the
> people that listen to our radio stations, but there weren't
> enough of them [at WJMK]. The radio station was bleeding. I
> stopped the bleeding. Only time will tell if we're right
> about it. We made a change. And I don't apologize for that."
> Sounding a defensive tone, HOLLANDER told FEDER "(p)eople
> want to put their goddamn foot on your neck whenever you
> make a change. The problem is that there's a lot of people
> who don't have the balls to make a change. OK? We're on the
> offense. We're not on the defense. OK? We might have made a
> mistake. Right now, I don't think we made a mistake."

This is the 1st time I've seen the CEO of a major company use the word 'balls' during an interview.

The word he is searching for is 'chutzpah', not balls. I hope that he is right about making the correct move with WJMK. Cause if he isnt, theyre going ho hang him by the you know what at Wrigly Field if Jack fails....<P ID="signature">______________

AOL IM: wnjoldies or jamminoldies105
CBS-FM lives at http://67.83.115.5:8010
Oldies Board co-moderator</P>
 
> > Sounding a defensive tone, HOLLANDER told FEDER "(p)eople
> > want to put their goddamn foot on your neck whenever you
> > make a change. The problem is that there's a lot of people
>
> > who don't have the balls to make a change. OK? We're on
> the
> > offense. We're not on the defense. OK? We might have made
> a
> > mistake. Right now, I don't think we made a mistake."

Hollander's comments obviously are of very little comfort, if any, to many angry oldies fans that are still going without their favorite music.
 
Infinity CEO

if u read the full interview, he makes some reference to losing a child being a bad thing (unfortunately, he and his wife have lost a child). Feel bad for him that it happened to him personally, but it was a bit over-the-top to play that in the interview.

That being said, he really doesn't have anything to apologize for. Any major decisions generate negative responses by SOMEBODY, including loyal listeners and the press (as their TV arm CBS takes heat for cancelling popular TV shows).

It goes with the territory- you just have to have the cool to handle it with taste and class.



> > HOLLANDER, speaking during a break in meetings in CHICAGO,
> > offered no regrets for the move, saying "(w)e love the
> > people that listen to our radio stations, but there
> weren't enough of them [at WJMK]. The radio station was bleeding.
> I stopped the bleeding. Only time will tell if we're right
> > about it. We made a change. And I don't apologize for
> that."
> > Sounding a defensive tone, HOLLANDER told FEDER "(p)eople
> > want to put their goddamn foot on your neck whenever you
> > make a change. The problem is that there's a lot of people
> > who don't have the balls to make a change. OK? We're on
> the offense. We're not on the defense. OK? We might have made
> a mistake. Right now, I don't think we made a mistake."
>
> This is the 1st time I've seen the CEO of a major company
> use the word 'balls' during an interview.
>
> The word he is searching for is 'chutzpah', not balls. I
> hope that he is right about making the correct move with
> WJMK. Cause if he isnt, theyre going ho hang him by the you
> know what at Wrigly Field if Jack fails....
>
 
It sounds like this guy is feeling some heat from former listeners. Mr. Corporate was somewhat less than calm, cool and DISinterested. Good! I hope he loses one hour from every night's sleep.

I defend his right to change formats, but I don't like the decision.<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
This is not defense, it's offense. And I don't mean he's trying to offend people, but the point is to not let the company become in a defensive position, and the best way to avoid that is a good offense (Look at any major sport for example).

As far as comfort, he's not trying to comfort people... He's stating they are a business and they have business objectives to meet, like getting the biggest share of the pie with the most money. They do not owe you anything... Where are they to show they are actually in debt to you? You don't have to like their decisions, but anyone how goes out any actually makes hard decisions is going to make some people mad. If they become afraid a change will make someone mad or offend them, they are not doing their job at all.

> > > Sounding a defensive tone, HOLLANDER told FEDER
> "(p)eople
> > > want to put their goddamn foot on your neck whenever you
>
> > > make a change. The problem is that there's a lot of
> people
> >
> > > who don't have the balls to make a change. OK? We're on
> > the
> > > offense. We're not on the defense. OK? We might have
> made
> > a
> > > mistake. Right now, I don't think we made a mistake."
>
> Hollander's comments obviously are of very little comfort,
> if any, to many angry oldies fans that are still going
> without their favorite music.
>
 
Do people really think they need the company CEO to hold their hand? It reminds me off all the people on this board who were incensed when one of the Mays' dared say that Clear Channel was in the advertising business, not the news or radio business. Mays told the truth, everybody who gave platitudes about "Serving the public interest" oer the years were being less than truthful.<P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>
 
Well put.

> Do people really think they need the company CEO to hold
> their hand? It reminds me off all the people on this board
> who were incensed when one of the Mays' dared say that Clear
> Channel was in the advertising business, not the news or
> radio business. Mays told the truth, everybody who gave
> platitudes about "Serving the public interest" oer the years
> were being less than truthful.
>
 
Remember that Infinity CEO Joel Hollander was the person who ordered the format changes at WJMK (and New York's legendary WCBS-FM) from oldies to "Jack".

Corporate decisions that not too many years ago would be made by "mid-level" management on the local level are now being made by the CEO.

This is the era of the "Super CEO"---executives who make as many decisions in as many "nooks and crannies" of their companies as possible. While there have always been some "Super CEO"'s in corporate America, there are a lot more of them now. In fact, "Super CEO"'s are the rule, not the exception.

Call it micromanagement if you will, but it's the way things are now done in big business.
 
Re: Infinity CEO

> if u read the full interview, he makes some reference to
> losing a child being a bad thing (unfortunately, he and his
> wife have lost a child). Feel bad for him that it happened
> to him personally, but it was a bit over-the-top to play
> that in the interview.
>
> That being said, he really doesn't have anything to
> apologize for. Any major decisions generate negative
> responses by SOMEBODY, including loyal listeners and the
> press (as their TV arm CBS takes heat for cancelling popular
> TV shows).
>
> It goes with the territory- you just have to have the cool
> to handle it with taste and class.
>
In his interview, it seems to me that "taste and class" are definately missing. He sounds like an arrogant guy, who could care less about his listeners. I haven't listened to Jack at all, and I encourage others who don't like this guy's decision to do the same. While he is free to do what he wants with "his" stations, he doesn't need to be irratating former listeners with an interview like the one he gave.
>
> > > HOLLANDER, speaking during a break in meetings in
> CHICAGO,
> > > offered no regrets for the move, saying "(w)e love the
> > > people that listen to our radio stations, but there
> > weren't enough of them [at WJMK]. The radio station was
> bleeding.
> > I stopped the bleeding. Only time will tell if we're right
>
> > > about it. We made a change. And I don't apologize for
> > that."
> > > Sounding a defensive tone, HOLLANDER told FEDER
> "(p)eople
> > > want to put their goddamn foot on your neck whenever you
>
> > > make a change. The problem is that there's a lot of
> people
> > > who don't have the balls to make a change. OK? We're on
> > the offense. We're not on the defense. OK? We might have
> made
> > a mistake. Right now, I don't think we made a mistake."
> >
> > This is the 1st time I've seen the CEO of a major company
> > use the word 'balls' during an interview.
> >
> > The word he is searching for is 'chutzpah', not balls. I
> > hope that he is right about making the correct move with
> > WJMK. Cause if he isnt, theyre going ho hang him by the
> you
> > know what at Wrigly Field if Jack fails....
> >
>
 
> Well put.
>
> > Do people really think they need the company CEO to hold
> > their hand? It reminds me off all the people on this board
>
> > who were incensed when one of the Mays' dared say that
> Clear
> > Channel was in the advertising business, not the news or
> > radio business. Mays told the truth, everybody who gave
> > platitudes about "Serving the public interest" oer the
> years
> > were being less than truthful.
> >

It's attitudes like that of the top management at Clear Channel (i.e., being in the advertising business) that has radio in the bad position it's in now, at least partly. It's no wonder why some people are turning to satellite radio, internet radio, I Pod's, etc. to get their music fix.
 
Re: Infinity CEO

> In his interview, it seems to me that "taste and class" are
> definately missing. He sounds like an arrogant guy, who
> could care less about his listeners. I haven't listened to
> Jack at all, and I encourage others who don't like this
> guy's decision to do the same. While he is free to do what
> he wants with "his" stations, he doesn't need to be
> irratating former listeners with an interview like the one
> he gave.

Agreed, there is no "taste and class" in his interview. In fact, if I were an advertiser on an Infinity station, seeing that interview in print would make me reconsider. Saying that the listener - the advertiser's prize - does not matter is a serious no-no.
 
The arrogance and greed of public media ownership in this country is beyond apology. Terrestrial radio and TV broadcasting channels are, by Federal law, public property, although they haven't been treated that way for years. Perhaps things are changing. Congress is beginning to involve itself in a rewrite of the 1996 Telecom Act. Some on this site have suggested that its time for government-owned media (like a US BBC) to return the airwaves to the people.

> It's attitudes like that of the top management at Clear
> Channel (i.e., being in the advertising business) that has
> radio in the bad position it's in now, at least partly.
> It's no wonder why some people are turning to satellite
> radio, internet radio, I Pod's, etc. to get their music fix.
>
 
How would a government-owned media "return the airwaves to the people"? Even a U.S. BBC wouldn't run every super-niche format regardless of listenership. XM/Sirius and other media are the answwer to that, not a government entity running an all-bagpipe music station in your hometown. I'm not aware of anything in any proposed Telecom '96 rewrite that would prevent a station from cnahnging format, and if there were, why would anyone take on a new format knowing they'd be stuck with it for years after the demand faded?<P ID="signature">______________
I'll get back to you when I think of a cute quote</P>
 
He has every right to do what he did!!!!!

Radio is a business medium and always has been. Society has changed. People's tasts have changed.

The baby-boomers are not God's gift to this earth. If a twenty or thirty something cried about their format being taken off, they would get the standard "You don't always get what you want, you young people have horrible music..." bla-bla-bla. But oh boy, we take off an oldies station and it's as if someone murdered someone.

Calling for an apology!!!!!!! I can't even believe I heard that!
Insane!!!!

The stench of hypocrisy is overwhelming here!!!
 
Re: He has every right to do what he did!!!!!

> Radio is a business medium and always has been. Society has
> changed. People's tasts have changed.
>
> The baby-boomers are not God's gift to this earth. If a
> twenty or thirty something cried about their format being
> taken off, they would get the standard "You don't always get
> what you want, you young people have horrible music..."
> bla-bla-bla. But oh boy, we take off an oldies station and
> it's as if someone murdered someone.
>
> Calling for an apology!!!!!!! I can't even believe I heard
> that!
> Insane!!!!
>
> The stench of hypocrisy is overwhelming here!!!

But that doesn't mean people have to like it.
 
Re: He has every right to do what he did!!!!!

I have the right to yell out anything I want thanks to the 1st Amendment - but does it mean I should?

As far as generations go, comparing them is for Off The Air, not Oldies.

The Beatles and Temptations will still be on the radio long after Britany has gone back to Louisiana......<P ID="signature">______________

AOL IM: wnjoldies or jamminoldies105
CBS-FM lives at http://67.83.115.5:8010
Oldies Board co-moderator</P>
 
I assume that you are an employee and not a business owner. Do you not take that last penny that you can possibly take in salary/pay that you are able to get? Why are you not feeling sorry for the consumers who have to pay more, because you get top dollar? You are greedy and should give back, say ten percent of your salary so that prices will be lower. Your high priced wages are costing consumers money. That is as greedy and arrogant as you accuse owners of radio stations. You are just as arrogant to work for the top dollar that you can squeeze out of your employer as the industry that accuse as being arrogant.

Yes, they are by federal law public property. There is a name for that system, it is SOCIALISM. Socialism has not worked anywhere and it will not work. That is one problem that is bringing the quality of radio down. There are other problems as well but here I am talking about the Socialist problem.

"Give the airwaves to the people." Why don't you just preach Communism so the people will have everything and there will be no more greed? It is done in Cuba, but few other places, unless you count North Korea. Face reality, Communism and Socialism are a total, 100% complete failure and the further this country gets away from any vestiges of Socialism left over from the New Deal, The New Frontier, The New Society and all the other alphabet soup programs of past Socialist leaning do-gooder Democrat and Republican Presidents, the better all of us will be. That includes rich and poor Americans. All will be better off.

Making the airwaves private will be the single best policy for revitalizing radio.

Steven Green, a proud Capitalist and
Member of The Libertarian Party


> The arrogance and greed of public media ownership in this
> country is beyond apology. Terrestrial radio and TV
> broadcasting channels are, by Federal law, public property,
> although they haven't been treated that way for years.
> Perhaps things are changing. Congress is beginning to
> involve itself in a rewrite of the 1996 Telecom Act. Some on
> this site have suggested that its time for government-owned
> media (like a US BBC) to return the airwaves to the people.
>
>
> > It's attitudes like that of the top management at Clear
> > Channel (i.e., being in the advertising business) that has
>
> > radio in the bad position it's in now, at least partly.
> > It's no wonder why some people are turning to satellite
> > radio, internet radio, I Pod's, etc. to get their music
> fix.
> >
>
<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>
 
Re: He has every right to do what he did!!!!!

> Radio is a business medium and always has been. Society has
> changed. People's tasts have changed.
>
> The baby-boomers are not God's gift to this earth. If a
> twenty or thirty something cried about their format being
> taken off, they would get the standard "You don't always get
> what you want, you young people have horrible music..."
> bla-bla-bla. But oh boy, we take off an oldies station and
> it's as if someone murdered someone.
>
> Calling for an apology!!!!!!! I can't even believe I heard
> that!
> Insane!!!!
>
> The stench of hypocrisy is overwhelming here!!!
>

You are so correct. Infinity owns the stations. They can do whatever they want!<P ID="signature">______________
Kevin</P>
 
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