JAY KELLY OUT AT KJR-FM

[TVradioguru]

Thanks for posting this, notalent. Maybe that will shut the "guru" up. :'(

[quote/]

Indeed! After all, why let the facts get in the way of a juicy assumption?

 

[tubessoundbetter]

correction: jay was given his RUNNING papers. like all before him, surely he sprinted out of that hellhole

 

[searadiofreak]

Guru, as far as facts go...I agree a report on Radio-Info is not always a confirmation. However, as any reporter will tell you, a confirmation of an original report is usually enough to go with the story.

Wild speculation is usually NOT wild, depending on who is doing the speculating. Yes, it is still speculation, but there are many professionals on this board who have the intelligence to atleast offer legitimate outcomes. Could we be wrong? Of course! But there is no reason to bash those who offer opinions. Isn't that what this board is about?

I think you offer some intelligent opinions at times, but your bashing of others is not necessary.

 

[radioguy123]

Sad day at Clear Channel with so many let go in the last month. CBS did the same thing in October. In both cases I highly doubt it signals a change of format. It just signals a reduction in cost of operation. KZOK will continue, but with reduced cost of operation. KJR-FM will stay Classic Hits, but Clear Channel reduced cost of their overall operation letting go five to six people,one of them Jay Kelly. Like Rivers in mornings, Jay is a pro in programming. Jay is a top notch programmer who led KBSG to big numbers, when he left they declined, when he came back they grew, when he went to KJR-FM they grew. When Rivers was at KISW they grew, when he left they declined and KZOK grew, when he left KZOK this Fall they declined.

KJR-FM will not do as well without Jay Kelly, but national programming may be good enough to keep ratings and sales strong, with no PD and Voicetracked Talent. Clear Channel is taking the low risk option. KZOK will not rate as well without Bob Rivers, but CBS is betting they can keep ratings and sales strong enough and bank the couple million they would spend with Rivers.

In short: radio did not recover from the last two years with sales in Seattle flat year to year when you take out political. That means having to adjust costs for a non-political year coming up. That, I believe, is the real reason you are seeing all of these layoffs in the last three months. Clear Channel and CBS had the most layoffs, because they are the most public traded of the local broadcasters. Entercom also made cuts this Fall. Bonneville, Sandusky and Fisher are more closely held companies and may have more latitude with budgets. I would bet cost cutting is going on at these three as well. Sign of the economy, not strategic format change or anything else. Still sad for those who are let go. It is one thing to lose your job when you are not performing well, this layoff has to be tough to take for Jay, Bob Rivers and all the rest who did their jobs well!

 

[mightymoose]

....and so it goes. Bet this makes Heidi May and Kevin Ebi pissed.

 

[SRP]

Bet this makes Heidi May and Kevin Ebi pissed.

Pissed? I doubt it.

Grateful they still have jobs? You betcha.

 

[scott salvatori]

Classic Rock? Bob Rivers?

yep, as the music stops, and some are left standing in the game of corporate musical chairs, one could easily see the puzzle pieces become clear, for bob rivers and crew to take an open seat at seattles classic call letter station KJR. clear channel could then syndicate it out, like they do for dozens of their other shows, and even bring the bob rivers broadcast to one of the CC XM channel outlets.
no, i dont have any insider information here, just some deep thinking during a night on the road.......

 

[AQH]

Think if it this way, this is an opportunity for all the experts on this board to sign up for the PD job at KJR-FM.

 

[TVradioguru]

I think you offer some intelligent opinions at times, but your bashing of others is not necessary.

Thanks but I fail to see where I 'bashed' anyone.

I'm sure you'd agree that with the typical post as this, whether starting out as rumor, begins to spiral out of control with non-industry folks (an example who's initials are SS or BW); starting the usual 'evil station management' or 'evil corporate entity'-anti radio chatter like they somehow have insider knowledge of what went on, when clearly they don't.

I can't count the number of times many of these same individuals end up wiping virtual egg off their face after the facts present themselves or events unfold. I will admit that I find it rather childish or even inhumane to spread unsubstantiated rumors that affect personal or professional lives.

My albeit rather snide remarks, were to interpose a moment of forethought before others jumped to unsubstantiated conclusions about what may or may not have occurred. To me if the parties involved wanted to set the record straight, they're certainly able to do so. We as adults, need to respect their privacy if they would rather not comment by not jumping on rumors or making conclusions. Being dismissed from a position is tough enough, but how do we know the decision wasn't mutual? The point is we may never know, and that's okay too because it's none of our business.

 

[dunno]

FYI,

I knew it was a fact before posting. You can ask him yourself about the mutual decision, it's not mine to say. Jay's a good guy and excellent programmer.

KJR FM X'mas programming has seen a huge ratings spike up.

I've never heard the story about radio staff being taken out of town for a X'mas party
then mass fired. Where and when did this happen. This story along with the Clear Cut group
belong in the book of Scrooge!!

Merry ####### Christmas!

 

[airchair]

Nailed it Guru...as you usually do. Sometimes I think it's hard for non-industry folks to truly understand what it's like to survive in this business/trade. To rely on this business for money that supports your family. What kind of crap REALLY trickles down the corporate gutter behind closed doors. Should never assume.

Opinions are great, but very entertaining here on this board...especially when you know the truth about the topic/post. Many tend to jump on-board the most insane suggestions or guesses. Things that make NO sense at all. Things that NO half intelligent corporation or broadcast business owner would EVER make in this industry.

Watching 'em try to decipher corporate let-go's, corporate format changes, oh! And lets not forget about that oldies station down there in Covington. It's the next KBSG...didn't you know that? VERY entertaining. Thank you for the laughs.

Jay Kelly, if you read this board, know that you're one of the best there is. You've proven that for MANY years now. Wish you the best. Guru, please keep the reality checks coming, saves others like me from having to break it down.

Merry Christmas all!

 

[radiobootie]

Shellie Hart was demoted from the Operations Manager position at CC Seattle at the same time Kelly was let go. CC Seattle is looking for an Ops Manager for the cluster who will also serve as PD for KJR-FM. Change is in the air!

 

[mightymoose]

Pretty soon Michelle Grosnick will be running the whole place by herself.

 

[radioguy123]

KJR-FM for the year ranked:
#2 in 12+ cume. Number one, just before they flipped to Christmas Music
#3 35-64
#6 25-54

Pretty damn good resume for Jay Kelly. I can think of 30 other stations in town that would love these numbers. Clear Channel will save money and go with the national version of Classic Hits, which is tight playlist late 60's/70's based Oldies and few 80's. Good format but how does going older, get you more 25-54 numbers? Shellie is a long-time pro too and has a brilliant track record. What is going on with CC?

I could see Smooth Jazz going to Oldies or maybe kmtt, I even get kvi on the AM dial trying it when they are in 32nd place 25-54. These stations rank in the bottom, not the top five. Very weird move.

 

[notalent]

I've heard the CC national "oldies" format...

It is on KJR FM HD2 for those who would like to hear it.

Sounds very "east coast" and female, like maybe whoever is in charge is from Philly.

I can see how Jay Kelly kept KJR FM very "west coast" in sound... Like any PD who knows the Seattle market well would do...

If indeed the corporate plan is to go with the national format then Jay would not be needed...

This would be the maximum profit for minimum investment model.

As for Shelly Hart, Sandusky should have grabbed her for the morning show at Movin.

It is now open season on CC talent. Any operator in town with any kind of budget has the pick of the litter as CC Seattle purges the payroll.

You can bet EVERYONE at CC Seattle has just updated their resume and is suddenly "interested in talking options."

Let the poaching begin!!! Who will be next to leave or be stolen?

 

[scott salvatori]

I think you offer some intelligent opinions at times, but your bashing of others is not necessary.

Thanks but I fail to see where I 'bashed' anyone.

I'm sure you'd agree that with the typical post as this, whether starting out as rumor, begins to spiral out of control with non-industry folks (an example who's initials are SS or BW); starting the usual 'evil station management' or 'evil corporate entity'-anti radio chatter like they somehow have insider knowledge of what went on, when clearly they don't.

I can't count the number of times many of these same individuals end up wiping virtual egg off their face after the facts present themselves or events unfold. I will admit that I find it rather childish or even inhumane to spread unsubstantiated rumors that affect personal or professional lives.

My albeit rather snide remarks, were to interpose a moment of forethought before others jumped to unsubstantiated conclusions about what may or may not have occurred. To me if the parties involved wanted to set the record straight, they're certainly able to do so. We as adults, need to respect their privacy if they would rather not comment by not jumping on rumors or making conclusions. Being dismissed from a position is tough enough, but how do we know the decision wasn't mutual? The point is we may never know, and that's okay too because it's none of our business.

who cares, who or what you bash. it makes for good reading. perhaps you should use your clout to get radio -info.com to get an industry only board, which would weed out the non-industry folks like ss, who clearly agitate you. then you can "interpose your moment of forethought" amongst your elite corporate industry brethren. where did you learn how to communicate with them words? charles emerson winchester, from M*A*S*H. you dont need ss to bash corporate radio. you all do it pretty good amongst yourselves, and you have every right to. just look at where your industry is heading. soon there will be one guy left in new york on the payroll with a voice track machine for all 500 stations, and a computer for the 400 song playlists. ss is not the lone wolf here who points fingers at the vanilla wafer corporate radio behemouths. just read the posts..........looks like im part of the majority opinionation, boy guru.

happy quansaw -ss

 

[AQH]

you dont need ss to bash corporate radio. you all do it pretty good amongst yourselves, and you have every right to. just look at where your industry is heading. soon there will be one guy left in new york on the payroll with a voice track machine for all 500 stations, and a computer for the 400 song playlists. ss is not the lone wolf here who points fingers at the vanilla wafer corporate radio behemouths. just read the posts..........looks like im part of the majority opinionation, boy guru.

I'm not going to speak on anyone's behalf here, only myself.

There's nothing wrong with posting feelings on the state of today's radio, even I agree that radio today isn't as good as it could be. However, carpet-bombing an internet bulletin board day after day with the same things about playlists and voicetracking gets old. Really, everybody gets it.

You, and some others on this board, possess exemplary skills at saying the same thing over and over and over and over again. The discord is that you (or the others) don't bring any solutions to the table.

There are a few people on this board who don't like the state of today's radio who do manage to suggest ways of making things better. Isn't that the way it should be? Isn't that the way to having a lively, meaningful discussion about radio should be?

 

[TVradioguru]

The true irony is the fact that SS frequently holds out satellite radio as being the benchmark for quality in radio. Satellite radio, which I may add from the beginning and still, relies on playlists and voicetracking from a single location.

 

[scott salvatori]

yes, a good share of the shows are voice tracked. but not all. satellite radio is far from perfect and i could fill several pages of gripage on it. but, lets talk about the good XM stuff, and i wont even talk about country programming. XM 40 DEEP TRACKS/XM 50 THE LOFT, has dan neer, and meg griffin. some of the best on air talents my ears ever come across in the AAA, or album rock dept, and ive heard my share in the last 4 decades.

also mr guru, ss has never said anything negative about a station having a playlist. in fact, any station without a playlist, is radio anarchy, like non com's KEXP, or KBCS. it is VITAL to have a computer based rotation system for the gold, the new, the recurrent, etc. duh! a smart programmer, who knows the music with a passion, knows just the right carburetor adjustments here, and how to daypart for the listenership. the problem has been that most commercial radio playlists are tight and cookie cutter by design, dictated by the hired on radio consultants from somewheres else. these consultants many times have little knowledge about the music politics or the music broadcast history of a certain region. case in point: compare KMTT now, to what KMTT was in the early/mid/ late 90's. then: a seattle based programmed triple A hybrid that carried on many of the KEZX/KZAM AAA musical styles, and traditions. now: a consulted cookie cutter mix of classic rock hits/modern rock hits ( do we even call this stuff adult album alternative?). hows the ratings then, and hows the ratings now? worse, i reckon.

 

[TVradioguru]

a smart programmer, who knows the music with a passion, knows just the right carburetor adjustments here, and how to daypart for the listenership. the problem has been that most commercial radio playlists are tight and cookie cutter by design, dictated by the hired on radio consultants from somewheres else. these consultants many times have little knowledge about the music politics or the music broadcast history of a certain region. case in point: compare KMTT now, to what KMTT was in the early/mid/ late 90's. then: a seattle based programmed triple A hybrid that carried on many of the KEZX/KZAM AAA musical styles, and traditions. now: a consulted cookie cutter mix of classic rock hits/modern rock hits ( do we even call this stuff adult album alternative?). hows the ratings then, and hows the ratings now? worse, i reckon.

Once again you "recon"(sp) wrong. I'm not in the office right now, but last I looked, the numbers for KMTT never have been all the stellar, mainly leaning 25-54F. 25-54F haven't gone down I believe, if anything maybe up a bit. Any overall losses since the 90's, is due to the new measurement methods of PPM. In reality free-form AAA stations never did all that well. That's why several of them evolved and tightened up the playlists or changed completely over the years.

So how do you explain the success of stations that run fairly tight playlists? According to Scott's world, those stations shouldn't be popular. I guess your theory is fairly well disproved isn't it?