KOIT Changes...

[BossRadioDJ]

According to posts on their respective Facebook pages, both Julie Deppish and Larry Ickes have been let go by KOIT.

 

[BossRadioDJ]

Larry's last shift on KOIT is today (Tuesday) until 3 PM.

http://www.koit.com/

 

[LKellerIII]

Larry was a customer in a business I owned in the early 1980s. He worked for KOIT then. That's quite a run.

 

[Madmansam]

Larry was a customer in a business I owned in the early 1980s. He worked for KOIT then. That's quite a run.

And I remember when Larry was on KSFO-560 before its sale to King Broadcasting in 1983.

 

[Ronn]

What'?s the word on Bill Conway? Is he still with KOIT or Entercom

 

[dgendvil]

Could we see KOIT go to Christmas music at this time?

 

[1069_KIFR]

Making FRESH moves?

 

[onairb]

Larry was a customer in a business I owned in the early 1980s. He worked for KOIT then. That's quite a run.

And I remember when Larry was on KSFO-560 before its sale to King Broadcasting in 1983.

I first heard him, as 'Larry George', as a weekend guy on KNBR in early-mid '87; he left for KOIT shortly afterwards.

 

[sfpd1]

Unfortunately, staff changes happen when a new company takes over and the accounting folks start bean-counting. When Entercom put its own PD in place of a 14 year veteran, who had a solid track record, it appears they are looking to cut costs. Think about how much the decades-old veteran jocks on an AC is costing the company. On top of the money issue, KOIT finds itself in a vulnerable position since KKSF flipped to Oldies. KOIT has seen its shares drop nearly a point since the change and the coveted 25-54 numbers are not what they used to be. Don't expect too much change in positioning but more music tweaking in the short term. Time and time again, research has shown people don't come to a music station for the jocks, they come for the music and that's especially true with a station that boasts, "Lite Rock. Less Talk." The advantage with PPM can show whether something works immediately. The disadvantage is that knee-jerk reactions, even good ones, are not always a long-term fix. The next 3 months will be interesting.

Making FRESH moves?

 

[davideduardo]

Unfortunately, staff changes happen when a new company takes over and the accounting folks start bean-counting. When Entercom put its own PD in place of a 14 year veteran, who had a solid track record, it appears they are looking to cut costs. Think about how much the decades-old veteran jocks on an AC is costing the company. On top of the money issue, KOIT finds itself in a vulnerable position since KKSF flipped to Oldies. KOIT has seen its shares drop nearly a point since the change and the coveted 25-54 numbers are not what they used to be.

KOIT has seen quite a few 4 share books since late 2008 in the PPM, so the change from the more dominant diary position is mostly due to the measurement system and less to do with indirect competitors.

 

[recto101]

Larry was a customer in a business I owned in the early 1980s. He worked for KOIT then. That's quite a run.

And I remember when Larry was on KSFO-560 before its sale to King Broadcasting in 1983.

THere's a 1978 clip on youtube where Larry worked for Koit according to this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66ObiJqIfVE

I know in the Bay Area Radio museum theres one post saing that Larry worked with Bobby Ocean at KKIS 990 AM in the 1960's when the station had its studio's in Vallejo and Larry Ickes had his start at KNBA 1190 AM in Vallejo back in the 1950's.

 

[LKellerIII]

Larry was a customer in a business I owned in the early 1980s. He worked for KOIT then. That's quite a run.

And I remember when Larry was on KSFO-560 before its sale to King Broadcasting in 1983.

THere's a 1978 clip on youtube where Larry worked for Koit according to this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66ObiJqIfVE

I know in the Bay Area Radio museum theres one post saing that Larry worked with Bobby Ocean at KKIS 990 AM in the 1960's when the station had its studio's in Vallejo and Larry Ickes had his start at KNBA 1190 AM in Vallejo back in the 1950's.

It's kind of hard to believe given the Larry we know - speaking with those deep dulcet tones and a kind of syrupy delivery, but I've heard he also worked on the early AOR ("underground") rock stations - perhaps KSAN or KMPX.

 

[geek-orama]

Larry Ickes is a legend and I'm sure someone will snatch him up.
David is right about an obvious cost cutting pattern leading to firings.
Probabbly the reason for recent ratings dip as KOIT stayed near the top despite cuts. You used to see them on TV year round. I can't recall the last time they were advertising on TV.

 

[calguy]

Larry Ickes is a legend and I'm sure someone will snatch him up.
David is right about an obvious cost cutting pattern leading to firings.
Probabbly the reason for recent ratings dip as KOIT stayed near the top despite cuts. You used to see them on TV year round. I can't recall the last time they were advertising on TV.

Longtime air talent seem to be getting the ax a lot lately in the name of saving a buck. A few weeks ago, people said the same thing about KOST's afternoon talent. He had been at the station for almost 30 years and all were saying that he would be snatched up fast. Well, I haven't heard him on the air anywhere, unless you count commercials that are still running with his voice at his old company. It's a different playing field now, jocks don't always have another place to go to, and in many cases even if they do, there are no openings or they pass them over thinking they'll have to pay them too much. This is due in part to the fact that there are so many stations owned by the same company. It's cut down the places one can go after leaving a station especially as these people age. Most companies hire trhe young because they come cheap and their new enough to not know how badly companies are running their stations or treating their employees.

 

[NoMoreLurking]

It's cut down the places one can go after leaving a station especially as these people age. Most companies hire trhe young because they come cheap and their new enough to not know how badly companies are running their stations or treating their employees.

If it wasn't so difficult to prove age discrimination in court, a lot of out-of-work radio people could sue and be set for life. That could apply to a lot of out-of-work people, period. I'm convinced that age discrimination, though forbidden by law, is rampant. But now one has to prove that age was the SOLE REASON a person was fired or passed over in order to win a claim.

 

[DavidKaye]

It's a different playing field now, jocks don't always have another place to go to, and in many cases even if they do, there are no openings or they pass them over thinking they'll have to pay them too much. This is due in part to the fact that there are so many stations owned by the same company. It's cut down the places one can go after leaving a station especially as these people age. Most companies hire trhe young because they come cheap and their new enough to not know how badly companies are running their stations or treating their employees.

For someone who has never run a business, the decision seems like a no-brainer, hire the experienced professional over the green kid. But for someone who HAS run a business, it's often a choice between these:

(1) Experienced professional wants to work only daytime in order to be home with family at night. They won't drop what they're doing to go to work, they won't work for low wages, they want a health plan, and they know the local industry well enough to know where all the skeletons are buried, and they might be inclined to use that information against a younger PD who crosses them.

(2) Green kid who can be trained in the station's ways, is willing to take any shift at any time, will work for whatever money there is, isn't particularly concerned about getting a health plan, doesn't know the local dirt and couldn't care less.

The green kid looks very enticing.

Unfair? Yes, of course. But to quote the famous line from "Mommie Dearest", "Nobody said that life is fair."

 

[calguy]

It's a different playing field now, jocks don't always have another place to go to, and in many cases even if they do, there are no openings or they pass them over thinking they'll have to pay them too much. This is due in part to the fact that there are so many stations owned by the same company. It's cut down the places one can go after leaving a station especially as these people age. Most companies hire trhe young because they come cheap and their new enough to not know how badly companies are running their stations or treating their employees.

For someone who has never run a business, the decision seems like a no-brainer, hire the experienced professional over the green kid. But for someone who HAS run a business, it's often a choice between these:

(1) Experienced professional wants to work only daytime in order to be home with family at night. They won't drop what they're doing to go to work, they won't work for low wages, they want a health plan, and they know the local industry well enough to know where all the skeletons are buried, and they might be inclined to use that information against a younger PD who crosses them.

(2) Green kid who can be trained in the station's ways, is willing to take any shift at any time, will work for whatever money there is, isn't particularly concerned about getting a health plan, doesn't know the local dirt and couldn't care less.

The green kid looks very enticing.

Unfair? Yes, of course. But to quote the famous line from "Mommie Dearest", "Nobody said that life is fair."

Sadly David, you are correct. This is the way most employers work in today's world. But I would add that many experienced workers will work nights and will work for lower pay because it beats being unemployed. Problem is, a lot of employers won't even ask. They just assume that the experienced won't do it, when in fact many will. But there are a lot of insecure bosses who don't want ANY type of perceived threat. Instead of hiring talented, experienced people, they'll opt for someone that doesn't threaten them, and are easily molded into the worker they want.

Life isn't fair, just turn on the TV news any day and you'll see. You have teens making millions in the music and TV world while many people that are much more talented sit on the sidelines without a chance to even make a livable wage... It's who you know...

 

[sfradio]

now they can stop running that promo that is like " when other stations are changing formats, you can count on KOIT for lite rock with less talk" because they are changing and their music has started to get more hot ac, like we need more of those

 

[JEREMIAH]

It was KMPX where Larry worked way back when. I worked with him at KSFO in the 80's, he talked about the wild days at KMPX.

Has KOIT gone to voice tracking middays or has he been replaced by a live body.

Jerry Gordon

 

[LKellerIII]

It's a different playing field now, jocks don't always have another place to go to, and in many cases even if they do, there are no openings or they pass them over thinking they'll have to pay them too much. This is due in part to the fact that there are so many stations owned by the same company. It's cut down the places one can go after leaving a station especially as these people age. Most companies hire trhe young because they come cheap and their new enough to not know how badly companies are running their stations or treating their employees.

For someone who has never run a business, the decision seems like a no-brainer, hire the experienced professional over the green kid. But for someone who HAS run a business, it's often a choice between these:

(1) Experienced professional wants to work only daytime in order to be home with family at night. They won't drop what they're doing to go to work, they won't work for low wages, they want a health plan, and they know the local industry well enough to know where all the skeletons are buried, and they might be inclined to use that information against a younger PD who crosses them.

(2) Green kid who can be trained in the station's ways, is willing to take any shift at any time, will work for whatever money there is, isn't particularly concerned about getting a health plan, doesn't know the local dirt and couldn't care less.

The green kid looks very enticing.

Unfair? Yes, of course. But to quote the famous line from "Mommie Dearest", "Nobody said that life is fair."

Sadly David, you are correct. This is the way most employers work in today's world. But I would add that many experienced workers will work nights and will work for lower pay because it beats being unemployed. Problem is, a lot of employers won't even ask. They just assume that the experienced won't do it, when in fact many will. But there are a lot of insecure bosses who don't want ANY type of perceived threat. Instead of hiring talented, experienced people, they'll opt for someone that doesn't threaten them, and are easily molded into the worker they want.

Life isn't fair, just turn on the TV news any day and you'll see. You have teens making millions in the music and TV world while many people that are much more talented sit on the sidelines without a chance to even make a livable wage... It's who you know...

What sent me back to college for a graduate degree and a new career in the early 90s was exactly this. I was in management for a large retail chain. At their annual "retreat" (held at some middle-tier hotel conference room), one of the big-wigs got up to make a rah-rah speech for the corporation, but actually let slip that they were actively discouraging "veteran" managers from staying with the company, because much younger people were willing to take our jobs and work even longer hours for $10,000 less per year. Given that I was working 60 hours a week for nothing more than decent money, this shocked me.

I put in my college application and quit a few months later. In this current economy, I might have had to stay, but thankfully, that was a better time.