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My take on WIFE

I

iisajesusfreak

I cannot let Randy and Triple T have all the fun. I want to spew my worthless venom on this subject of the greatness that is WIFE--did I say greatness? I chuckle! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ok now, now that I am composed. Hi, Jerri Pruet. May your class and humanity rest in peace. What spell do you have over Rodgers that allows you to retain your position? Either you are a good pucker-upper, or Rodgers is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Which is it, Jer?

For those giving Randy and T a hard time for posting such negativity, sometimes negativity is rooted in a lot of truth. I am happy that the Rushville deal went through, and I will be equally happy to watch it fail. Who will be at fault when it fails, ole, queen of denial?--that is a reference to you, Jerri. Will it be, Bob? Probably so.

Take care all, and thanks for allowing me a brief moment of fun.
 
iisajesusfreak said:
I cannot let Randy and Triple T have all the fun. I want to spew my worthless venom on this subject of the greatness that is WIFE--did I say greatness? I chuckle! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Ok now, now that I am composed. Hi, Jerri Pruet. May your class and humanity rest in peace. What spell do you have over Rodgers that allows you to retain your position? Either you are a good pucker-upper, or Rodgers is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Which is it, Jer?

For those giving Randy and T a hard time for posting such negativity, sometimes negativity is rooted in a lot of truth. I am happy that the Rushville deal went through, and I will be equally happy to watch it fail. Who will be at fault when it fails, ole, queen of denial?--that is a reference to you, Jerri. Will it be, Bob? Probably so.

Take care all, and thanks for allowing me a brief moment of fun.
Click to expand...

What a pathetic, sour attitude. Former employees always come off as childish on this board. I'm sure jesusfreak was one of MANY former radio employees, whom, on the way out the door for NOT doing their job as well as it should be performed, says "this station will NEVER survive without ME!"

After reviewing many threads on this board, it's no wonder Indiana radio is in the sad state it is - look at all the disgusting words from the people involved in it and were/are responsible for it.

When we are incapable of performing our jobs, we don't blame ourselves for not being better, we blame owners for properly observing, then disposing of the waste. I'm referring to the poisonous, cancerous "venom" that so many radio employees "spew" about their bosses and co-workers while on the job.

How many people here have worked with these people and wished they could go to work and NOT hear that everyday, wondering why these people weren't fired long ago?
 
Having been gone from WIFE myself for over two years, now, for the most part, with a couple of exceptions, I have stayed out of the WIFE discussion. However, after reading remarks made by some on the the other strain, as well as Mr. Gall's, here, I feel the need to set the record straight. Since January, 2005, myself, Ranger Dave Lee, Annie Russell, Terry Turley, and now, apparently Jacob Thomas have all been either terminated or basically forced to leave (the sales staff left on their own). It should be noted that this core group (along with Allen Berry, who left on his own to go into politics) gave WIFE radio the highest audience share it had ever enjoyed in it's history. So much for people not doing their jobs, eh? I personally have no idea who Jesusfreak is, whether he's one of my co-workers or not (if you are, drop me an email and let's catch up!), however, there IS much truth to what he says. Most everyone I've talked to have a similar opinion of Ms. Pruet, based on their experiences with her. If it were one or two former employees, then, Mr. Gall, you've got a good point about a sour attitude. However, it's like Arie Luyendyk said once of Eddie Cheever who was complaining about all the different drivers he had hired and hadn't worked out; "Maybe they're not the problem."
Fact is, prior to her becoming GM, WIFE had become a great place to work; we had worked hard to build a really great atmosphere to work in. Overall listenership was up in Fayette County, plus we were getting increased response from listeners in places like Muncie, Greenfield, Richmond, New Castle, even the east side of Indianapolis. We did something that was a little bit different from everyone else and it worked. The problems started when Wally Leavitt was let go as GM (a move that I still have yet to here why it was made) and Jerri was promoted. Jerri NEVER bought into the All American country format, despite it's success. She wanted an oldies station, a fact that she expressed to me on more than one occasion. Allen Berry had a popular bluegrass show and when he left, Ranger Dave was all set to take it over, but Jerri killed the show instead, because SHE didn't like bluegrass. We started playing top 40 oldies on Saturday nights (despite my objection and mostly negative audience reaction) because SHE wanted it. She singlehandedly eliminated everything that helped make the station a success. That's not sour grapes, that's the truth. There are other things I could add, but won't, out of respect to others.
As for Rogers himself, no, he's not the greatest owner there ever was. Myself, though, I never had any major problems with him. And as far as what he did to the FM, I don't blame him so much as I do the FCC for letting it happen. Let's be honest...most of us, if we owned the station and someone came to us and said that they would give us $18 million for the station if we can get it approved to be moved, would have done the same thing. I don't care what anyone says, most of us are not going to pass up that kind of money. Where I do fault Rogers, is, at least when I was there, is that he did not come down to the station very often to see how things were going. He pretty much took all his info on what was happening from Jerri; to the best of my knowledge, never talked to the other employees about anything, station-wise. If he had, perhaps things for at least some people would have worked out differently. Plus, he tended to favor the sales side of the hall and ignore the on-air side (which granted, is done at too many stations). When the station found out about it's audience numbers, he celebrated by buying the airstaff pizza, and making it clear that the sales staff played a part in it, too. And when the revenues then hit an alltime high, no mention of the airstaff, but the salestaff (along with Jerri) got to spend a few days in Vegas. Okay, that did cause a few sour grapes on the air side.
Anyway, for anyone who wonders why so many are so down on them, that's why, right there. And that's exactly how it happened.
One more thing for the other ex-WIFE'ers, was anyone else surprised that Jerri was so quick to put Bob in the PD position, considering that A: he was a weekend jock B: only several months before, Jerri had started even talking to Bob, after ignoring him for almost a year, over something he allegedly did or didn't do right on the talent show.
 
So, basically, you're saying the board ops (who did not program the music) are the ones upset with the way things were? Sales staff was celebrated for selling, without which there'd be no pay for board ops, and the board ops were upset because they didn't like the music they were told to play?

When the ratings went up, was it due to the personalities on air? Or the music they were told to play? Not many people are loyal to a station because of their favorite DJ/board op, other than Bob & Tom, etc., it's usually the format, which is not usually picked by the DJ/board op.
 
McDonalds spent roughly $20 million back in the mid nineties marketing a sandwich called the Arch Deluxe. It was the sandwich with the grown up taste. At the station I worked at at the time, we would get free coupons to try to sandwich. The sandwich was horrible, a flop. Now McDonalds is one of the most successful businesses in the history of the world, yet they could not sell a sandwich. Why? The product sucked.

I have two questions for you Gall. Why is it okay for the sales staff to be treated to such luxury for selling, while the product--those on the air delivering the goods--gets barely a knod? Also, what does the sales staff sell? Is it air time?

My beef with the management of WIFE has nothing to do with the music that is/was formated. My job as an on air-personality is to entertain regardless of what music I play. My beef is with the way Mrs. Pruet treats people--and I would say all of the WIFE employees posting would agree 100%. She is a terrible, sad human being. She is rude and two-faced. With regards to the sales staff that was flown to Vegas for a few days--she single-handedly ran them out. She treated them with such disrespect that after lunch one day, they all got together and left, and Dave Rodgers did nothing to stop it. These were the ladies who sold more than any other sales staff in the history of WIFE, yet Jeri forced them out like her natural hair color. These ladies were/are some of the sweetest ladies I had/have ever met, and they were very good at what they did.

Be well--:)
 
iisajesusfreak said:
I have two questions for you Gall. Why is it okay for the sales staff to be treated to such luxury for selling, while the product--those on the air delivering the goods--gets barely a knod? Also, what does the sales staff sell? Is it air time?
Click to expand...

I consider board ops for what they are - button pushers. And I was one also. IF you have more than 90-seconds every other song, then you may be considered an ON AIR TALENT.

Back in the day, people tuned in to hear their favorite DJ. People don't do that today, or in recent history. Again, unless you have, as Howard told Robin "carte blanche" to say what you want, add your own humor, or play your own music selections, then you are simply an extention of the Program Director. You push the buttons and say something you consider witty within a 60- to 90-second window. People aren't tuning in for that, it's the music/format.

Sales is not a given. Good salespeople can be the difference between a station surviving, or the above mentioned death of several stations. Treating a salesperson right means keeping him/her there to continue selling (thus paying the bills). Treating them like cattle causes them to look elsewhere (if they are truly good, they will always find work), causing a loss in revenue, cuts, and automation.

Replacing a board op, on the other hand, makes little difference to the listener, or the station's future.

My point isn't to dump on On Air talent, the stations don't allow time to develop talent. But for this argument, facts are facts.

Anyone who use to have to do the "old school" on air/sales positions will relate to the difficulty of selling air time even on a "popular" station. I'm sure there are several out there who had to wear both hats - and we all dreaded the sales hat!
 
wd45 said:
As for Rogers... as far as what he did to the FM, I don't blame him so much as I do the FCC for letting it happen.
Click to expand...

THANK-YOU wd45! I stated this back when the WIFE [FM] move was a “current-event”... Then, the herd of apologists for corporate radio here quickly countered with the justification: “It’s happening all over – [quiet down] that’s just the way it is these days!” At any high-school-level debate team match, that rationalization would be considered PATHETIC. Unfortunately [for the communities losing reliable service] this IS happening TOO often in other places, but there are few examples that are more outrageous than the one that hustled Connersville’s 58-year FM service over 60-miles to the “non-urbanized and under-served community of Norwood, Ohio” [ :D :D :D ] The mere fact that the FCC casually-characterized Norwood [surrounded on four sides by CINCINNATI] in that way is emblematic of the problem. This FCC has been woefully-derelict in their responsibility to regulate an industry that begs careful regulation.

The current radio industry is like Vegas on a Friday night with a healthy amount of horse-trading – and those playing their chips could care-less about the world outside the casino! Sadly, the FCC remains copasetic despite its duty to protect the people’s property and public interest. It’s a MESS... At this point so much so - it probably can’t be “fixed” [not by the FCC and certainly-not by those “chosen few” who have squandered it for their own enrichment], but David Rodgers [content to operate in small markets and occasionally be acquired] is FAAAR from the reason why! Regardless of who courted whom [and at what price], it is simply unfair to cast Rodgers as the villain. My mention of this earlier, attracted sharp and personal attack from the predictable culprits - one even called me a "Rooster" ::) They were disgruntled former WIFE employees who [interestingly] have not moved on to new opportunities in radio. In fairness, I’m inclined to appreciate their frustration and future career choices.

What I don’t appreciate is the personal attacks on employees who remain and are charged with the very-difficult task of making a stand-alone 250-watt AM station [that slumbered for over 20-years in simulcast] somehow re-emerge and aspire to some level of success in a community that needs and deserves good radio service. Ownership and management often harbor “unpopularity” as an unintended bedfellow – this is nothing new in radio [or most businesses for that matter]. Those who choose to lead usually understand this... Those less-suited shouldn’t cast themselves as Emeril if they dislike a hot kitchen. I have NO social or professional acquaintance with David Rodgers or Ms. Pruet, so my personal commentary would be inappropriate. My only impression comes from an era centered in the “good times” described here by wd45. Rodgers was widely-regarded as WCNB/WIFE’s most-committed operator across its long three-owner history.

As a radio vet and experienced listener, it IS appropriate for me to comment on WIFE’s format and its presentation. Frankly, given the circumstances, the Oldies choice was PRUDENT - not just “Pruet” [pardon the pun], and it’s execution is EXCEPTIONAL! Bob Wills has managed to merge an unpleasant situation and limited resources with an adventurous pop-rock-centered playlist, fairly-good imaging, and a full-service concept [that goes beyond empty rhetoric] to create a radio station that seems to defy its small-market AM-standalone status. Prior WIFE employees invite very-little sympathy when they descend to the disrespect of calling him “the station janitor/so-called PD”, infer that he’s little-more than “Jerri’s hack”, and the weekend jock suddenly-promoted after some snafu with the Colgate Country Showdown... For goodness sake, I started my career as a weekend jock; blew a $1000 remote because I forgot to turn on a Marti receiver; and even mispatched the production room to overnight automation while I assembled an aircheck :eek: ... I survived – and I hope SuperOldies-1580 will also!






One more thing for the other ex-WIFE'ers, was anyone else surprised that Jerri was so quick to put Bob in the PD position, considering that A: he was a weekend jock B: only several months before, Jerri had started even talking to Bob, after ignoring him for almost a year, over something he allegedly did or didn't do right on the talent show.


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The best GM at WIFE/WCNB was nobody but Mr. John Trine. The best owner and operator was Mr. Dave Keister. Everything that has been posted by wd-40 is the absolute truth.
 
Jay is dead. Drove his car off the road with a heart attack.

A long time legend and a great person. He was a "Good Guy" while he was alive. (Radio reference)

Worked with him at Shirk's WGGR , the original Rebel 106.7. In the day of big ego and such a breath of fresh air.
 
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