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Make $300,000 a year in DFW Radio!

J

JRZFM100

Just in passing, I caught Mark Davis on "BAP" talking about typical salaries for various professional careers.

Mark said a bank manager would make about $80k per year. Mark proceeded to say that someone working in "Medium Market Radio" would make a salary around $100k per year, AND, that someone working in "Major Market Radio" would make a salary about $300k per year.

So I throw this discussion open to the DFW board and to the Radio-Info community in general...

Is this realistic?

(1)--In today's consolidated radio marketplace, and considering the cloud which has enveloped "BAP", are there real people in Medium Markets making $100,000 a year and actual folks in DFW who make $300,000 per year.

(2)--And, if so, how typical (how many employee's in each market cluster) make anything near this salary range.

(3)--Finally, what positions in DFW clusters have this salary potential? ... Are these salaries limited to the sales side, GM, DOS, GSM, or do talk show hosts and local (non voice tracked) jocks talent make $300k in DFW or in any other Top-10 market??

Please realize my point here is not to criticize Mr. Davis, but I am dumbfounded and in shock to think the average salary for any person, in any radio market, is in the $100k - $300k range in the year 2011.


I await feedback from radio pro's in the know.

Kindest regards.
 
And THAT is exactly what I was afraid of, specifically that Mark was voicing HIS personal salary, speaking from his limited paradigm of frame blindness which ignores the plight of other radio professionals across the country, especially ones whom have been forced out due to an era of consolidation.

I feel the comment especially calloused and in poor taste in light of the recent and very involuntary departure of the GM, GSM, and Promo Director whom have left 2221 E. Lamar at the invitation of the cloud.

If the $300k were a reference to Dan Bennett on the other hand, with all of the pressures, stresses and responsibility involved in leading a giant DFW cluster, then I would better understand and not feel so strongly about this. Dan is unquestionably the overall consummate professional market manager in DFW - whom I think deserves way better than to have to work for the Dickey's.

However, if this comment is about Mark's personal salary, then I feel I need to blow 'BAP off my presets, at least 8:30-10a, because Mark is so far away from personal psychographics -- I can't relate to him and certainly can not allow someone with whom I share so little commonality to serve as my opinion leader.
 
I'm sure Mark is in $300K+ club. So are the Musers, Rhyner, Terry Dorsey, Jody Dean, Hal Jay & Russ Martin. Bob & Dan & Norm Hitzges are probably in the $200K club---other local on-air talent? Try about $75K.
 
Thank you for your perspective longtimelistener. Your point raises the question, can an industry undergoing continuous consolidation afford to continue these practices.

It's not a question of affording, but will the corporate entities continue to allow and pay these giant salaries as they cut the quality of their services across the board?

Also disappointing to see such disparity in salary between talent.
 
longtimelistener said:
I'm sure Mark is in $300K+ club. So are the Musers, Rhyner, Terry Dorsey, Jody Dean, Hal Jay & Russ Martin. Bob & Dan & Norm Hitzges are probably in the $200K club---other local on-air talent? Try about $75K.
Click to expand...


When those talents are responsible for $1-2 Million a year worth of endorsements, appearances and good ratings for their stations, they should be paid well when they bring that type of coin to the table. I realize there has been a lot of bloodshed across the country and I feel for those people. But in this day and age, unless you are bringing it financially and represent significant advertising revenue with your name or reputation, you'd better have a backup plan.
 
I'm sure Mark is in $300K+ club. So are the Musers, Rhyner, Terry Dorsey, Jody Dean, Hal Jay & Russ Martin. Bob & Dan & Norm Hitzges are probably in the $200K club---other local on-air talent? Try about $75K.

I only listen to radio, I don't work in it, but are these numbers realistic?

The Commander, Junes, and Gordo dragging down $300k apiece? Bud and Dan making the same as Norman Elizabeth? Really? If Rhyner's making 300-large is the Cobra as well?
 
Dunham & Miller are in the $300K club. Gordo? I'd just have to guess that he's right around $200K. I think Norm would be in the high end of the $200K club with Bob & Dan at the low end. The Cobra? Probably around $125? Longevity + high profits = compensation at levels that are unique for the boys at The Ticket.
 
longtimelistener said:
I'm sure Mark is in $300K+ club. So are the Musers, Rhyner, Terry Dorsey, Jody Dean, Hal Jay & Russ Martin. Bob & Dan & Norm Hitzges are probably in the $200K club---other local on-air talent? Try about $75K.
Click to expand...

And many of these guys have 20-40 years of experience to get there as well. Not only have their salaries and endorsement values increased over the years but they have also invested in other projects than just the 401k's. When I was at WBAP, I got $1500 a quarter for endorsements. I think Davis was at $2500 or more. And that was per deal. I'm sure he is over $5000 per quarter now. And God knows how much he gets for those TV spots. If he is basing those numbers on his and others salaries he is sadly mistaken. And lets not forget they all had a head start. They all started before the Telecommunications Act of 1996! ;D

-BGH
 
The other verse of all this is the big boys anymore are cutting high-paid talent right and left. 200k a year now might be 0 after the contract runs out. The uncertainty is certainly there.
 
I read in the big Greggo exposé in the Observer that he was pulling a half-mil a year before he was fired. I was blown away by that.
 
Those numbers could be nearly right...IF...Mark is talking about a morning drive show in a top rated station in, let's say...a top 50 market.

Outside of morning drive...no way.
 
I think you guys are grossly undercutting the salaries of Mark Davis, Musers, etc. Mark is pulling in way way over $300K. He's closer to $1M than he is to $300K. Guys who make $300/year don't drive Bentley's...

Same goes for Terry Dorsey, at least about 5 years ago he was in that range. Rhyner over $500, Corby at about $300, Musers, Gordo included, all above $400.

This is the 5th largest market, not some small town. WBAP, Ticket are long lasting stations where talent gets paid accordingly. Think Mark Davis would have stayed here so long if he wasn't constantly getting raises? Hell no. He'd be off to Chicago, NYC, LA, syndication etc where ALL talk show host talents with decent ratings are raking in the dough.

So, if you boil down what he was saying, about actual hosts in DFW, factoring in his salary, Musers, Hardline, etc, he's probably pretty close to being right. $300k doesn't seem that far off if it is at all.
 
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