KFI Technical Director rescued from burning car by Good Samaritans

[TheBigA]

What planet are you living on? Maybe try opening up a news website and read about the American job landscape for a dose of much needed reality.

Once again, that's why you join a union. That's why you spend time in school, building qualifications so that you don't have to take any job available.

No, you can't just "waltz into" a big job. But we're talking about working in Los Angeles. Put the time in, go to school, get some experience, and then companies will see some value in what you do. If they don't, maybe this isn't the job for you.

 

[michael hagerty]

That's why you join a union. But the person in the OP was not some newbie. He's 37 years old.

And from the date on the Instagram post of the day he got his iHeart ID for the Burbank building, they hired him at 34.

So again---and for God's sake, listen to yourself before you reply, because you sound like the PR boss for robber barons all through this thread:

A major market radio station that bills in excess of $20 million a year hired a 34-year-old man to be the last human before the transmitter, to tech produce for Tim Conway, Junior---and paid him so poorly that he has to drive Uber to supplement his income.

That's just f***ing shameful.

 

[michael hagerty]

Once again, that's why you join a union. That's why you spend time in school, building qualifications so that you don't have to take any job available.

Being a union member buys you nothing if the station isn't a union shop.

And if KFI is NABET, then NABET's doing it wrong.

 

[TheBigA]

A major market radio station that bills in excess of $20 million a year hired a 34-year-old man to be the last human before the transmitter, to tech produce for Tim Conway, Junior---and paid him so poorly that he has to drive Uber to supplement his income.

That's just f***ing shameful.

What I'm saying is I wouldn't accept that job under those conditions. OK, that's just me. But I'm the one writing.

I also think you're overstating his job description. In my world a tech producer is another name for a board operator.

Saying radio employment practices are "shameful" to me is like saying the sky is blue. That's how they roll. I remember some people got fed up with the working conditions at one place I worked at in DC. They quit and took jobs at VOA. Great pay, great benefits, great working conditions. Everything was wonderful until 8 months ago. Then they all got fired by Kari Lake. Shameful. You would think the richest country in the free world would treat people better. They don't. What can you do about it? What some people are doing now is becoming self-employed.

 

[michael hagerty]

What I'm saying is I wouldn't accept that job under those conditions.

Yeah. You've said that every day since the post went up.

OK, that's just me. But I'm the one writing.

Yeah---but you're not the person we're talking about.

I also think you're overstating his job description. In my world a tech producer is another name for a board operator.

For Tim Conway, Junior.

On a 50,000-watt, top ten, market #2 radio station that bills $20 million a year.

Again, if they don't want to pay a living Los Angeles wage with benefits, the KFI talents could run their own boards. And in the first few weeks of that, you'd hear all the things that the people being underpaid and not provided benefits prevented from happening that allowed you to think you were listening to a professional major market radio station.

 

[TheBigA]

Yeah---but you're not the person we're talking about.

Seems rather obvious, doesn't it? I already said that I've worked part time jobs to support my radio addiction. So I have no sympathy.

On a 50,000-watt, top ten, market #2 radio station that bills $20 million a year.

Owned by a company that hasn't made a profit in 20 years.

Again, if they don't want to pay a living Los Angeles wage with benefits, the KFI talents could run their own boards.

A lot of big name talents we all grew up on ran their own boards. It's not brain surgery.

Once again, I give my VOA example. Owned by the richest country in the world. They treat their staff like crap. Welcome to the world.

If you search this story online, you'll find that it was picked up by an accident lawyer, who's using it as an example of what they do, suing employers when employees get injured like this.

 

[radiofan2023]

And from the date on the Instagram post of the day he got his iHeart ID for the Burbank building, they hired him at 34.

So again---and for God's sake, listen to yourself before you reply, because you sound like the PR boss for robber barons all through this thread:

A major market radio station that bills in excess of $20 million a year hired a 34-year-old man to be the last human before the transmitter, to tech produce for Tim Conway, Junior---and paid him so poorly that he has to drive Uber to supplement his income.

That's just f***ing shameful.

I don't know what Fox Sports Radio bills, but a guy who used to be a technical producer for the Ben Maller Show got out of radio and got a job driving a school bus for LA Unified because he hadn't gotten a raise in 5 years, he said so on a podcast. He also might get better retirement benefits from CalPERS.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't know what Fox Sports Radio bills, but a guy who used to be a technical producer for the Ben Maller Show got out of radio and got a job driving a school bus for LA Unified because he hadn't gotten a raise in 5 years, he said so on a podcast. He also might get better retirement benefits from CalPERS.

I realized that I was grossly underpaid when I saw a story how much toll takers make at the Holland Tunnel.

But it didn't matter, because I didn't want to do that job.

 

[radiofan2023]

I realized that I was grossly underpaid when I saw a story how much toll takers make at the Holland Tunnel.

But it didn't matter, because I didn't want to do that job.

You're still missing the point

 

[michael hagerty]

Seems rather obvious, doesn't it? I already said that I've worked part time jobs to support my radio addiction. So I have no sympathy.

Clearly.

Owned by a company that hasn't made a profit in 20 years.

I have no sympathy.

Also:

iHeart Sees Signs of Broadcast Comeback.

iHeartMedia’s Q2 2025 results show solid momentum, with revenue edging up to $934 million and earnings rising nearly 4% to $156 million. Digital audio led the way, with podcast revenue

www.insideradio.com

A lot of big name talents we all grew up on ran their own boards. It's not brain surgery.

No, it's not. So if iHeart isn't willing to pay people enough money to live doing that job, then let's just add that to the duties of the talent with the six-figure salaries and benefits.

You may be okay with multi-million dollar businesses operating like something out of a Dickens novel, but a lot of us aren't.

My position: If you're going to use a government-issued license to serve the public to make millions of dollars, you should at minimum provide jobs that strengthen the communities you serve.

I get that the business is in decline and that you don't need 200 employees anymore, but those you have should be paid well and given benefits.

That shouldn't be controversial.

 

[TheBigA]

My position: If you're going to use a government-issued license to serve the public to make millions of dollars, you should at minimum provide jobs that strengthen the communities you serve.

So you want THIS government to enforce that? Or do you want profit making companies that lose money to spend more on staff?

Look, I get it. You had great work experiences and you can't believe there are others who don't. But there are. This guy is one of them.

So if iHeart isn't willing to pay people enough money to live doing that job, then let's just add that to the duties of the talent with the six-figure salaries and benefits.

Who do you tell this to? The minister of radio? We don't have one. The FCC? The NLRB? In this government? They side with employers.

You also have to ask yourself: How did the talent end up making those 6 figure salaries?

I get that the business is in decline and that you don't need 200 employees anymore, but those you have should be paid well and given benefits.

That shouldn't be controversial.

You should run for political office. That's the only way this changes. Until then, what I'm saying is the real world.

Because the companies aren't going to change out of their own benevolence.

 

[michael hagerty]

So you want THIS government to enforce that?

Want, yes. Expect, no.

Or do you want profit making companies that lose money to spend more on staff?

Again, what they're not paying these people is not what determines whether they're in the black. It's about protecting margins of profit and executive bonuses.

Look, I get it. You had great work experiences and you can't believe there are others who don't. But there are. This guy is one of them.

Every time I think it's safe to un-ignore you, you say something staggeringly dumb like that. If I couldn't believe there are others who didn't have great work experiences, I wouldn't be arguing this with you. It's abundantly clear that these situations exist---and I've said---IN THIS THREAD---that it's something that I have seen over the decades in this industry.

That doesn't mean it's okay, and it doesn't mean that we shouldn't speak up against it.

Who do you tell this to? The minister of radio? We don't have one. The FCC? The NLRB? In this government? They side with employers.

For context, that was your response to "So if iHeart isn't willing to pay people enough money to live doing that job, then let's just add that to the duties of the talent with the six-figure salaries and benefits."

The FCC and NLRB have nothing to do with that. That would be iHeart. Either the person making sure the show sounds smooth and professional is worth a salary and benefits or they're not. If they're not, then, as you said, it's not brain surgery and the KFI hosts, who are paid well and get benefits, can run their own damn board.

You should run for political office. That's the only way this changes. Until then, what I'm saying is the real world.

I liked you better on "ignore".

Going back to that now.

 

[TheBigA]

Want, yes. Expect, no.

Then we agree. You may not see it that way, but we do.

Again, what they're not paying these people is not what determines whether they're in the black. It's about protecting margins of profit and executive bonuses.

That's their job. What do you expect them to do?

The money congress cut from public broadcasting isn't going to be rebated to the tax payers either. It will instead be redirected to things the party in power wants. That's how things are. Whom do we look to as an example here? Anyone in this country? I don't know one.

That doesn't mean it's okay, and it doesn't mean that we shouldn't speak up against it.

Sure. Go ahead. Knock yourself out. Maybe this is what retired people do. I wouldn't know.

What I've learned is that nothing changes by us talking about it here. The way I got to sharing in the profits of the radio company I worked for was to become a stockholder. I was able to buy my first house that way. No way could I have done it on my salary. Unfortunately that option doesn't exist anymore. But that's how I solve my problems.

I liked you better on "ignore". Going back to that now.

Give my regards to Don Quixote.

 

[TheBigA]

You're still missing the point

Here's what I've learned: When my toilet backs up, I'll pay any amount to fix it. But I wouldn't want to do that job.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

As for work expieriences, ive mostly stayed away from corporate radio, except for a quick dive into it with Cherry Creek Radio befor they accquirred the Fisher stations

Mom and pop stations have been some of the biggest dumpster fires for various reasons not always only related to pay, but often including that.

There have been a few mom and pop place ive worked that have been pretty decent to good

Pay has never been terribly great great.. a few times its been good.. and quite often its not been great but ive gotten to the point in my career i wont work for peanuts or someone who treats me poorly.

Have i come close to having to find something other than radio to do full time? Yup.

I dont have the magical answer to making radio pay better, id like to think in many cases it can be..... but what none of us on this side of the transmitter know is .. why its so bad. We can all come up with some pretty good, educated guesses but unless we hear directly from owners, its just that.. guesses. No, im not defending corporate radio in the slightest.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

Again, what they're not paying these people is not what determines whether they're in the black. It's about protecting margins of profit and executive bonuses.

Keep in mind too, the less they pay the staff and the more people they lay off, the more they have left in the budget to pay consultants to come in and stroke their egos, tell them what they want to hear, and encourage more of the same behavior out of their own self-interest. So consider the source of all the gaslighting on this site.

 

[TheBigA]

So consider the source of all the gaslighting on this site.

It's OK. The radio business is being bought by religious companies who love everyone, don't have any stockholders, and just worry about praise and worship. You're gonna love what they do with all the stations once they own them. It's all very positive and fulfilling. If you don't like what's on the radio, or how much you're making as an employee, the solution is to pray. Pray for more money, better working conditions, and better programming.

 

[RayydioLA]

So the $27-$34/hr quoted in the anchor/reporter position I posted on page one is probably not for a KFI staffer, but for an iHeart 24-7 employee.



Are they still NABET?

Hm. Not personally acquainted with any engineers there and don't have access to their contracts, so...you'd have to ask a NABET member.
Any SAG-AFTRA member can email the office to ask for info about their covered contracts. Have not seen anything distinguishing the 24-7 News operation from the terrestrial anchors and reporters covered in the contract. You'd have to ask one of the IHR 24-7 News employees if they're covered. They probably are, somehow--those that originate out of the same shop. But 24-7 is a regional network; they provide news in other markets as well. If the anchors are based at KFI and provide services in other parts of the country, ideally the contract should address that and pay them accordingly. (Hopefully the local anchors who feed for that network know enough to seek contract advice from their union, if they're offered extra IHR money for out-of-market airing. If anchors are originating their reporting and transmissions, based in a market without a SAG-AFTRA contract, they likely would not be paid the same rates.)