KAGM PD out

[bigwoody]

Allacces reporting PD Doc Thompson has "exited". Didn't he just get there a few months ago? Was it an "exit" (fired) or did he leave?

 

[Ed_Walker]

Whether he quit or was forced out....is ANYONE surprised??



> Allacces reporting PD Doc Thompson has "exited". Didn't he
> just get there a few months ago? Was it an "exit" (fired) or
> did he leave?
>

 

[bigwoody]

> Whether he quit or was forced out....is ANYONE surprised??
>
>
>
> > Allacces reporting PD Doc Thompson has "exited". Didn't he
>
> > just get there a few months ago? Was it an "exit" (fired)
> or
> > did he leave?
> >
>

Why's that? What's the 4-1-1?

 

[o1600985]

From what I hear he just up and left, what a pro NOT.

KAGM as it sounds right now, with it's young girls doing news reads. The Boring Larry in the AM (The King is showing what KOB knew It's The station as a whole and never was all about Larry) The "I have to learn to have an opinion" Diane in Middays and then theres maude I mean the compelling clowns in PM drive who in the last few days have talked about going to the bathroom and the compelling do you pick up pennies. I tune in hear these stupid topics and I go back to KOB. Today Chris said our producer is in the Bathroom doing number 2

 

[Gnarlodious]

> ....is ANYONE surprised??
Not I. Some of those shenanigans were positively headscratchers. Add to that the arrogant and inappropriate statements by Chris you can see where their good idea is going.

Maybe they'll get some professionalism in there. Maybe they'll dump Glen Beck and Rusty Humphries, those guys have all the appeal of emery cloth.

Just my opinion, of course.<P ID="signature">______________
• K5ZN</P>

 

[bigwoody]

> > ....is ANYONE surprised??
> Not I. Some of those shenanigans were positively
> headscratchers. Add to that the arrogant and inappropriate
> statements by Chris you can see where their good idea is
> going.
>
> Maybe they'll get some professionalism in there. Maybe
> they'll dump Glen Beck and Rusty Humphries, those guys have
> all the appeal of emery cloth.
>
> Just my opinion, of course.
>

Shenanigans? From the PD? Was it his mgmt style? Was there a rift somewhere?

 

[collinsradio]

Re: KAGM PD out/What went down?

How does the station sound. WHat happened
with the PD getting blown out so quick.
Seems like a murky targeted station...is
it a talk station that just happens to be
on FM or an FM Talker designed to cume off
music stations? Any consultant involved?

 

[tazman]

Re: KAGM PD out/What went down?

> How does the station sound. WHat happened
> with the PD getting blown out so quick.
> Seems like a murky targeted station...is
> it a talk station that just happens to be
> on FM or an FM Talker designed to cume off
> music stations? Any consultant involved?
>
Dude..it is AGM. They do have some stable stations..but to
expect them to put together a talk station, based on Larry as the kingpin is an exercise in futility. As a previous poster noted, Larry will know that KKOB is a jaugernaut, and with it's heritage reputation and solid, consistent programming, it was more than his morning show driving the ship. Less than 20 minutes mic time introing news, weather, business, etc, is not a strong personality for mornings. I'm less than five years in Albuquerque, and he sounded tired, aloof and out-of-touch with the audience when I first came and listened to it. I know that seems like a harsh criticism of Larry, but that's what I percieved. KKOB is strong in most all times of day and night that matter. Pat is doing well, and the station will continue as the leader. AGM is to be commended with the idea, but their history with starting a new format, staying with it seems to be very weak. I don't know the GM personally. But only hear and read comments about him. Is he the problem, or just bad decisions by the now departed PD? Or did Larry weild whatever perceived power to the GM and get him out? Lot's of possibilities. Time will tell what happens, but with sales managers fired, top seller quitting etc..something smells internally.
Interesting radio landscape in Albuquerque.

 

[Ed_Walker]

Re: KAGM PD out/What went down?

One can't forget Larry's attempt at political office as well as his (very) short sint as station owner. If I recall correctly, back in the mid to late 70s, Larry was the principal in the purchase of KSRC, 1290, Socorro, NM. I really don't want to suggest anything, as I didn't know the circumstances - but let's just say that KSRC didn't last too long and went dark and its license returned to the FCC.

 

[collinsradio]

Re: KAGM PD out/What went down?

Nothing worse than an over the hill morning talent,
conspiring with an inept GM. The mistake is in hiring
AM 35-64 talent, on an FM Talker, they have an opportunity
to reach a bigger and younger cume on FM without going the
obvious Stern, O&A route. AGM has a terrible reputation,
so this is no suprise.


> > How does the station sound. WHat happened
> > with the PD getting blown out so quick.
> > Seems like a murky targeted station...is
> > it a talk station that just happens to be
> > on FM or an FM Talker designed to cume off
> > music stations? Any consultant involved?
> >
> Dude..it is AGM. They do have some stable stations..but to
> expect them to put together a talk station, based on Larry
> as the kingpin is an exercise in futility. As a previous
> poster noted, Larry will know that KKOB is a jaugernaut, and
> with it's heritage reputation and solid, consistent
> programming, it was more than his morning show driving the
> ship. Less than 20 minutes mic time introing news, weather,
> business, etc, is not a strong personality for mornings. I'm
> less than five years in Albuquerque, and he sounded tired,
> aloof and out-of-touch with the audience when I first came
> and listened to it. I know that seems like a harsh criticism
> of Larry, but that's what I percieved. KKOB is strong in
> most all times of day and night that matter. Pat is doing
> well, and the station will continue as the leader. AGM is to
> be commended with the idea, but their history with starting
> a new format, staying with it seems to be very weak. I
> don't know the GM personally. But only hear and read
> comments about him. Is he the problem, or just bad decisions
> by the now departed PD? Or did Larry weild whatever
> perceived power to the GM and get him out? Lot's of
> possibilities. Time will tell what happens, but with sales
> managers fired, top seller quitting etc..something smells
> internally.
> Interesting radio landscape in Albuquerque.
>

 

[Gnarlodious]

Management staff on air...

> Nothing worse than an over the hill morning talent,
> conspiring with an inept GM.
It's even worse than that, one regularly hears management staff on air as though the station were a cult of personality. Hint to AGM Corporate: Those management types don't have on-air stuff, knock off the boring interviews. Hehe, you're almost sounding as boring as KKOB, where management is doing the morning show. The things you get away with in Albuquerque!<P ID="signature">______________
• K5ZN</P>

 

[rexthemixxer]

> > Whether he quit or was forced out....is ANYONE surprised??
>
> >
> >
> >
> > > Allacces reporting PD Doc Thompson has "exited". Didn't
> he
> >
> > > just get there a few months ago? Was it an "exit"
> (fired)
> > or
> > > did he leave?
> > >
> >
>
> Why's that? What's the 4-1-1?

Well from what I've heard about the GM, it doesnt seem to surprize a whole lot of people. But Look at these angles; the station in sales is no where near paying for Larry's $160+ salary, Dianas $? salary, All the operating costs, promotion costs, and any improvements they made without using trade. So what I hear from an inside source is that the PD never had any past experience in programing in the talk format, and with the Big Oldies PD taking Interim duties it can save them a lot of money (plus I hear Big Oldies PD is a demanding person, and knows exactly what to do and what needs to be done). Who Knows maybe the BIG PD will take a fraction of what Doc made to be the official pd of KAGM (& KABG) and save them money, and maybe he can turn that station into REAL COMPELLING TALK RADIO. Only time will tell!

 

[Kent]

Re: KAGM PD out/What went down?

> Nothing worse than an over the hill morning talent,
> conspiring with an inept GM. The mistake is in hiring
> AM 35-64 talent, on an FM Talker, they have an opportunity
> to reach a bigger and younger cume on FM without going the
> obvious Stern, O&A route. AGM has a terrible reputation,
> so this is no suprise.

Regardless of what you think about AGM's decision to go talk on 106.3, the only way anyone is going to even have a chance compete with KKOB is on FM. If you look at the AM signals in the market, the only one that can cover the market nearly as well is 610, and Citadel isn't going to let that station go. In fact, I think Citadel was looking toward the future and bought 610 to keep a competitor from running talk on that signal. It was only a matter of time before that happened.

Also, speaking realistically, it's going to take at least a year to get any results on an upstart talk station. That's yet another reason why talk radio costs so much to do. However, I would think KAGM will bill significantly better than Wild 106.3 even with lower ratings. The last time I hosted a talk show, my show had slots for 30 minutes of spots. Given that the audience is more desirable than Wild's was and the greater number of avails, KAGM is all but certain to outbill KYLZ. Of course, there's plenty of outgo that may keep net profits lower at least for awhile. Yes, AGM has made some mistakes with KAGM, and, although disappointing, you're correct that it's not really surprising. As we discussed a number of months ago, there is plenty of good syndicated talent available in spite of Citadel's best efforts to snatch it all, and there's plenty of quality local talent in smaller markets that would love to come to New Mexico. Although I had high hopes AGM would pursue some of this talent, I can't say it's surprising they didn't.

 

[bigwoody]

> >
> > Why's that? What's the 4-1-1?
>
> Well from what I've heard about the GM, it doesnt seem to
> surprize a whole lot of people. But Look at these angles;
> the station in sales is no where near paying for Larry's
> $160+ salary, Dianas $? salary, All the operating costs,
> promotion costs, and any improvements they made without
> using trade. So what I hear from an inside source is that
> the PD never had any past experience in programing in the
> talk format, and with the Big Oldies PD taking Interim
> duties it can save them a lot of money (plus I hear Big
> Oldies PD is a demanding person, and knows exactly what to
> do and what needs to be done). Who Knows maybe the BIG PD
> will take a fraction of what Doc made to be the official pd
> of KAGM (& KABG) and save them money, and maybe he can turn
> that station into REAL COMPELLING TALK RADIO. Only time will
> tell!
>

I just find it hard to believe that budgets weren't in line. The PD just got there (March). Who can't budget for a PD, regardless of experience???

And does the BIG PD have talk experience? Most likely not. He might be cheaper, but no better of a TALK PD.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by bigwoody on 07/05/05 01:46 AM.</FONT></P>

 

[tazman]

Re: KAGM PD out/What went down?

> How does the station sound. WHat happened
> with the PD getting blown out so quick.
> Seems like a murky targeted station...is
> it a talk station that just happens to be
> on FM or an FM Talker designed to cume off
> music stations? Any consultant involved?
>
With AGM..all is possible.