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More Layoffs At WNYC

That's how free-market capitalism works. The big fast-food chains all kept jacking up their prices, at 2 to 3 times the rate of inflation, until consumers got fed up and started eating out less often, and their sales and profits dropped. Then they finally lowered some prices and introduced limited-time offers to lure people back in.
I don't eat at McDonalds, but I occasionally drop in for a soda to go, or a small shake. The small size shakes used to cost about $2.50 here in NorCal, but the last time I dropped in, the price had risen to almost $4, plus tax, for that same little (11 oz, down from 12 oz not that long ago) cup. I canceled the order and walked out. Extrapolate that experience to millions of customers and you'd quickly see a change in corporate attitude. The problem is that people grumble and then just accept it, as if they had no other option.
 
I don't eat at McDonalds, but I occasionally drop in for a soda to go, or a small shake. The small size shakes used to cost about $2.50 here in NorCal, but the last time I dropped in, the price had risen to almost $4, plus tax, for that same little (11 oz, down from 12 oz not that long ago) cup. I canceled the order and walked out. Extrapolate that experience to millions of customers and you'd quickly see a change in corporate attitude. The problem is that people grumble and then just accept it, as if they had no other option.
They don't, if they like a particular fast food item. The shake and Coke will cost them just as much, if not more, at Wendy's. The cheeseburger will cost about the same at Burger King. The chicken sandwich will cost more at Popeyes.
 
I don't eat at McDonalds, but I occasionally drop in for a soda to go, or a small shake. The small size shakes used to cost about $2.50 here in NorCal, but the last time I dropped in, the price had risen to almost $4, plus tax, for that same little (11 oz, down from 12 oz not that long ago) cup. I canceled the order and walked out. Extrapolate that experience to millions of customers and you'd quickly see a change in corporate attitude. The problem is that people grumble and then just accept it, as if they had no other option.
McDonald's or another chain in the Bay Area used to give out free small fries using their apps on Fridays after a Warriors win during the season, do you know if they still do? At the time I think they were around $2, so it was a good deal. The year they won the Finals I must have had about $50 worth of free fries during the season! They also used to have surveys on the back of their receipts where you could get a half price Quarter Pounder or Big Mac or something like that if you filled out the online survey and wrote down the code you received after filling it out. It was a good deal.
 
They also used to have surveys on the back of their receipts where you could get a half price Quarter Pounder or Big Mac or something like that if you filled out the online survey and wrote down the code you received after filling it out. It was a good deal.
Only if you give them an excellent review, regardless of whether your food was actually edible or you got hospitalized for Salmonella. :rolleyes:🤮
 
Post-pandemic inflation and cost of living increase is a global problem. Inflation has been much higher in Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia than in the USA:

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Your chart is not an inflation chart. It's a survey result chart, of whether the people in those countries think inflation will increase or not.

And if you live in the US and Canada, inflation in Zimbabwe is not something you have to deal with. It's inflation inside the US and Canada, and inflation inside the US and Canada is part of what is socking it to radio in the US and Canada -- not the inflation rate in Zimbabwe.
 
Only if you give them an excellent review, regardless of whether your food was actually edible or you got hospitalized for Salmonella. :rolleyes:🤮
Nope, they don't care what your review says. I've tried going negative on the back of McD, BK and Wendy's receipts over the years and still got the treasured code I need to claim my freebie or BOGO. Which fast food chain wouldn't accept your bad review?
 
That's how free-market capitalism works. The big fast-food chains all kept jacking up their prices, at 2 to 3 times the rate of inflation, until consumers got fed up and started eating out less often, and their sales and profits dropped. Then they finally lowered some prices and introduced limited-time offers to lure people back in.
Yet in California, we have a literal wave of closing restaurants and fast food establishments. Some are closing individual stores, others closing entirely. The problem here is accentuated by the $20 an hour fast food minimum wage, of course.

The result is that those fast food places that were common advertisers on local radio and OTA TV have cut way back.
 
The result is that those fast food places that were common advertisers on local radio and OTA TV have cut way back.

Maybe in California, but not nationally. Media Monitors lists Wendy's and McDonalds among the top radio advertisers.


However. neither typically do public radio sponsorships. That's not the audience they target.
 
Maybe in California, but not nationally. Media Monitors lists Wendy's and McDonalds among the top radio advertisers.
But if you look at the dollar amounts, the spend is considerably less.
 
Yet in California, we have a literal wave of closing restaurants and fast food establishments. Some are closing individual stores, others closing entirely. The problem here is accentuated by the $20 an hour fast food minimum wage, of course.
If minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since 1968, it's be $24 an hour today.

This panic will blow over, just like the big-box store CEOs claiming "we're closing all our stores in California due to shoplifting!!!" a few years ago, but are now literally admitting "maybe we cried too much":

 
To put this story in context, I just saw this story about layoffs at WTOP in DC. This is the highest billing station in the country, and they still are laying off staff:

 
WQXR being classical, can get away with dropping news. Of the locally operated classical non-comms I have spoken with indicate the classical music listener considers their station an "oasis" and news and traffic are like the outside world encroaching. A fast 12-18 hour weather forecast and current temperature is okay.

That being said, I realize every market is different.
Yes, It’s very disappointing that my home city San Diego, along with Houston and Miami don’t have traditional classical radio anymore. I donate to KUSC in Los Angeles to help keep classical music with fun personalities alive. While there are alternatives like Amazon Echo and Sirius XM, they lack great local personalities like Jeff Spurgeon on WQXR and Jennifer Miller on KUSC.
 
Yes, It’s very disappointing that my home city San Diego, along with Houston and Miami don’t have traditional classical radio anymore. I donate to KUSC in Los Angeles to help keep classical music with fun personalities alive. While there are alternatives like Amazon Echo and Sirius XM, they lack great local personalities like Jeff Spurgeon on WQXR and Jennifer Miller on KUSC.
Actually 89.5 KPBS-FM San Diego has an HD subchannel that plays "Classical 24" around the clock. It is a service of American Public Media and has hosts announcing all the music and composers, even overnight and weekends. It's a good place to listen but, of course, you do need an HD radio.

I have suggested WQXR could use Classical 24 for its overnight shift. As part of the cutbacks, long-time overnight host Nimet Habachy has retired. The station will be going from midnight to 6 a.m. with nobody announcing titles, orchestras or composers. I think it should plug in Classical 24 for those hours, which has hosts around the clock.
 
Actually 89.5 KPBS-FM San Diego has an HD subchannel that plays "Classical 24" around the clock. It is a service of American Public Media and has hosts announcing all the music and composers, even overnight and weekends. It's a good place to listen but, of course, you do need an HD radio.
Similar situation in Houston, where KUHF runs Classical 24 on its HD-2. They do break away for Performance Today 10am-noon, and there are a few special programs on weekends.

KUHF did have a sister FM, KUHA, that ran the Classical format 2011-16, but was sold due to fundraising shortfalls. It originally was locally hosted 6am-Midnight, with Classical 24 only on overnights. The local air staff was laid off in 2013 with Classical 24 then filling most of the schedule. The current KUHF HD-2 is a continuation of that.
 
Actually 89.5 KPBS-FM San Diego has an HD subchannel that plays "Classical 24" around the clock. It is a service of American Public Media and has hosts announcing all the music and composers, even overnight and weekends. It's a good place to listen but, of course, you do need an HD radio.

I have suggested WQXR could use Classical 24 for its overnight shift. As part of the cutbacks, long-time overnight host Nimet Habachy has retired. The station will be going from midnight to 6 a.m. with nobody announcing titles, orchestras or composers. I think it should plug in Classical 24 for those hours, which has hosts around the clock.
I think Lauren Rico hosts most nights on WQXR. Classical 24 as you state requires HD Radio and lacks local hosts.
 
I think Lauren Rico hosts most nights on WQXR. Classical 24 as you state requires HD Radio and lacks local hosts.
When you write "hosts most nights", do you really mean "most evenings?" Because I had WQXR streaming one late evening last week (Pacific Time, so it was middle-of-the-night on the East Coast). And I do not recall hearing any human voice between cuts, other than the pre-recorded legal ID once an hour. No forward announcing of pieces to be played, no back-announcing, no promos, nada.
 
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