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Moremorningsickness

C

canyouhearmenow

So some of the out-of-town, ex-radio people came down on me for being so down on the Mikey show. I explained that the reason was that KBZT committed to a highly overpaid ($500,000 annually) show that is horrible. It has none of the juice that the Mikey show had at KIOZ. All the new sidekicks fawn over Mikey and they laugh hysterically at nothing. I pointed out that recent ratings for KBZT (1.9) were the worst in the eight years that 949 has been in that format. I said that if the Mikey show turns out to be a big turd in the punchbowl, that those who were responsible for bringing this mistake on board would be responsible, BUT the big crime in all this is that it may bring down this whole once-great station. Sure enough, there was a bloodbath at Lincoln Financial today (just as the new ratings show that KBZT continues to tank). I hope someone who knows can tell us the list of everyone who was let go today. One of the Mikey show members was even tossed overboard, which tells me Mikey is the only one with a contract. That means this whole thing could be blown up (including the remaining three sidekicks) and all they'd have to do is pay off the rest of Esparza's $300,000 annual salary. He has less than a year and half left. And that is only if he has a no-cut contract. If he doesn't, such facts as a format change could render his contract void and they would not have to pay him off. Mr. Carmichael, could you please give us the list of all those who were fired today. KIFM's Kelly Cole, who maybe was the best broadcaster in that building, was tossed after 20 quality years. Good going guys! Get rid of the best people so you can keep this blood-sucking loser on board.

Now let us pray while we tell stories about b---jobs and make d---jokes.
 
The ripple effect is very wide. More to come.
 
Kelly Cole and others; I'm posting at SDRadio.
 
Well that stinks! Kelly won national acclaim for her abilities as Music Director multiple times. As goes the format, so go the people. A real shame.
 
KIOZ and XTRA-FM are pretty low in their ratings too. Perhaps Rock music is not PPM friendly in San Diego or people are just tired of the over-saturation in this market.
 
Sad when good hard working people are thrown out, and a fat cat with no talent is kept! You know CYHMN if they were paying him 30k a year that's still too much for the show hes putting on.

Lets start a Throw Mikey out petition....Just in case he has a no cut clause maybe it will help LF's case in court (LOL joking).
 
Kelly Cole is a total class act that has been doing her thing for close to 30 years for KiFM. How they made the decision to let her go is beyond me.

It's the reality of radio today that people are less important to the bottom line than computers, which are a cap-x and require no benefits other than the occasional reboot. I got out of this stinking business at just about the right time.
 
I smell a sell. 15 folks shown the door.
 
They got rid of the people that would probably have cost the most in severence ? Humm it sounds like Cumulus or Randy Micheals is coming to town....Or maybe worse the dreaded John Lynch??
 
Re: More morning sickness

I tuned in for just a few minutes today to The Mikey Show. Did they address Sienna's absence at all or what happened? I remember DSC was very explicit about Clear Channel's first round of layoffs in 2009 but then got a stern lecture by execs so when round 2 came they didn't mention it what-so-ever. Then round 3 hit and there was no one to mention it.
 
It was interesting to hear Mikey lie on the air today about his transition from KIOZ to 94/9. He represented himself as THE MIKEY SHOW, which also included 2 men and 2 women when he was on KIOZ. He told Lincoln Financial that he represented that package (which by the way was often Number 1 18-34), and that he could pick up and move that whole top-rated team over to 94/9. The fact was, ALL FOUR detested him, and they were never going to follow him.On the air today he said he "assumed" they would follow him. There was no reasonable assumption since they could not stand him. He was hoping to get a fat offer from Lincoln Financial (which he did...I'm told it was $1.2 million for the whole team). He went back to his old showmates hoping to get them to jump with ship him. He misrepresented his position with his co-workers to Lincoln Financial. Lincoln Financial ended up paying less but they still committed to a lot. Now 18 months later, both 94/9 and Esparza are getting their just desserts. The Mikey show is not even in the Top 10 25-54, and 94/9 has its worst ratings in its history, and things are so bad that they just had to fire 15 quality people. Mikey also lied on the air today saying that his ratings are good. I repeat, he's not in the Top 10 and a solo DJ on 91X is beating him. Yet John Dimmick and Rick Jackson are still there! I'm starting to feel bad for Garrett Michaels. He had to turn his back on his friends Mike Halloran and Tommy Hough, to either make way for Mikey (Halloran) or react to his giant money-suck (Hough). I was concerned that this Mikey show disaster may end up bringing down 94/9. I was wrong. It's bringing down all THREE stations. I just don't think Garrett is a strong enough personality to sort through all this. He means well, but it's clear he's getting bullied by his marquee loss leader, money suck Mike Esparza. Did anyone else hear Mikey say that he brought his lawyer in yesterday to see about fighting the station over Sienna's firing?
Podcast it. It was in the first hour.

Amanda who hosted Big Sonic Chill was also fired with Hough. That means 2/3's of the fulltime DJ staff was fired. And they still have the gall to say "it's About The Music."

I don't think this means that the stations are facing an imminent sale. This mass firing only makes these properties look shaky. I think the insurance company owner simply decided that this huge money suck that is 94/9 is no longer tolerable. The fact is, these stations have been on the market for over three years.

It is clear with Sienna's firing that the other three current Mikey sidekicks don't have contracts. The only hope I can see for 94/9 is that KIOZ, which also has a five-person morning show that isn't doing well either, would dump rock for news or sports. Then, 94/9 would be in a much better position to refocus as a music station again. But this is all conjecture.

Of course it is sad that Sienna was fired along with the other 14 people. This was her first radio job but it was clear she was sweet, wonderful person. They kept Steve Woods who still will laugh hysterically at nothing. It's a nervous, unnatural laugh. Very annoying.

Epic fail.
 
Years ago a Bible teacher I had told me that the top 10% of employees at a company are Christians and the bottom 10% are Christians. He was right! The sad thing is that CYHMN you are right Mikey is a hypocrit and a liar. And I am sure that his huge salary is the primary reason to cut all of those people. This proves that he has a no-out contract!! I am actually amazed that LF had that many live people on the air. CC has what? One live show per station? maybe 2?
 
[EDIT] there are too many "rock" stations. If you look at the Rock formats (in all their variations)

KGB-FM (Classic Rock)
KFMB-FM/Jack-FM (Classic Rock/MIX)
KIOZ (rock 105.3)
KPRI (Alternative-ish Rock)
KBZT (Alternative Rock)
XETRA-FM (Alternative Rock)

All those stations slicing away at the "Rock" pie, and only KFMB-FM has good numbers, even in the non-morning dayparts.

6 Rock stations can someone say OVER KILL


[EDIT-reference to deleted material]
 
600KOGO, you are pretty right on with stuff and I like your humor., you DO like to spar that is for sure. But I think i disagree on Jack having the only good numbers for a rock station (can't say a "real" rock station). Yes, they are doing fine, and from what my friends and I have discussed, we have seen a couple of things. Walrus apparently has big teen, 18-34 numbers for swome reason, which is why they jumped this period. What good does that do them though? That doesn't make them money right? Isn't everyone wanting 25-54 especially MEN? But that is unless you are Rock, 949, 91X. Then you flat out want to own 18-34. KGB seems to be building in the 25-54 arena especially with men. Teaming up a market veteran like Coe with Brian I think was a GREAT idea. It was a solid choice, and it seems like it is paying off. They are building and I hear the station everywhere now. You have to give them props because they have come a long way after the DSC disaster. And when you see all the ego madness as we have seen in the Mikey situation, which seems to be a complete disaster, and then you have Dave regularly bashing all in his path, and further reminding all of us how money HAS indeed changed him. Shows like Jagger and Kristie, AJ, Frankie and Gina, C & B they all have steered clear of that stuff. Can you imagine how everyone is looking at the Mikey show now that all those layoffs have happened? Bet he feels like dead man walking. No doubt most of the layoffswere to float that monstrosity. Yeah, I can't think Mikey is making tons of friends. 600Kogo, have you worked with him...do you know firsthand? 102 unfortunately will never be known. They have a great playlist, but are small fish in a huge pond. But I like what their program director has done. It's a shame. But again, my humble opinion. Wow, mornings are really interesting to us radio fans and followers. Would love to hear thoughts from KOGO and others. Appreciate the time.
 
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