PRATT TURNS DOWN CLEAR CHANNEL, AGAIN.

[Radio4you]

Citing no interest in management, Pratt has turned down the position of Operations Manager/Market PD. CC offered Pratt his choice of stations for mornings but included management to offset his large salary. Part of his responsibilities would have been to oversee the continuing development of John Jay and Rich.

 

[dethbabe]

I wish I could turn down jobs. Must be nice!

 

[insidethenumbers]

Chances are that Pratt doesn’t want to turn down jobs but prefers instead to accept one that is right for him. If the rest of us were in his position wouldn’t we do the same? Living in the Windy City now, I was hoping he might replace Brandmeier on WLUP. The ideal fit for Pratt would be KTAR but Bonneville is sleeping.

 

[radio-blogger]

Pratt was sooo done with Phoenix at the end, the only reason to return to Arizona would be to retire. He's got enuff in the bank to relax and pick & choose.

Red Radio hey-daze are long over, but it was fun while it lasted!

 

[insidethenumbers]

I disagree with Radio-Blogger. What Pratt constructed at KUPD is still standing. That station is still all Pratt. But he had an equal amount of success, or maybe even more with CBS at KZON and KMLE. He is still fairly young. I expect he will return on his own terms. He deserves it.

 

[OneHumporTwo]

Why would Clear Channel have any interest in

A: Turning over their programming to someone with so little (or...no?) programming experience

2: Has a show...Or, sorry HAD a show that in the world of PPM would come in at about 9th place?

Look at the morning ratings. It's all flipped upside down from the world of the diary. Number 1 in AM? Chris Parker on Mix 96.9, beating:

Tim and Willy
Ben and Brian
Tom and Maria
Beth and Bill
Everybody else

Why would Pratt be any different? He's retired, and wisely so. No one's interested in him anymore. It's a new day. Oh, and that's quoting 25-54 Persons, just so you know.

 

[insidethenumbers]

Obviously, by your name oneHumporTwo, you work at KMLE and are bitter by the stations downfall after the release of Pratt. And Chris Parker (who?) is a no name and not beating anybody. PPM is in its infancy and currently favoring middle of the road music intensive stations. Parker just happens to be the dummy in the right place at the right time, but he is really no more than a music monkey. Arbitron will soon adjust to even the format playing field. In the end, radio will always come down to content and talent. Hard to argue with 3 decades of fortune, and only Beth and Bill have come close to Pratt’s success. As for “no one interested in him anymore”, then why is he getting so many offers? Obviously, you speak for the minority. And although Pratt doesn’t have programming experience by title, in all reality, he programmed both KUPD and KZON combined for many years. Look at the current crop of incapable PD’s and try to convince us that experience is important. What a joke! Phoenix probably has the poorest PD’s in the nation, but after living here for 4 months, Chicago may be running a close second now. This place used to have great radio. If you don’t want Pratt, we will be happy to take him!

 

[johndavis]

Arbitron will soon adjust to even the format playing field.

And how can Arbitron do that?

 

[KOHS]

Look at the current crop of incapable PD’s and try to convince us that experience is important. What a joke! Phoenix probably has the poorest PD’s in the nation, but after living here for 4 months, Chicago may be running a close second now. This place used to have great radio. If you don’t want Pratt, we will be happy to take him!

The problem goes beyond PD's, but exists with SeeBS, Cheap Channel and other low-budget operations who don't see radio as an investment, but as a quick and easy way to make a buck with automation and minimum wage board ops.

As for Pratt, I hope he is investing his money wisely and planning for a long and comfortable retirement from radio. He has earned it.

 

[Chuck Roast]

Wow insidethenumbers (who offered to reveal himself a few months back), nice slam! Chris Parker is a very talented dude who works his butt off meeting his listeners, marketing himself, and playing in a great band (from what I've been told). Tune monkey? Harsh coming from someone with as much experience and insight as you must have. And I didn't realize that Pratt was programming KZON. Major input? Yes. But I'm pretty sure Tim Maranville was calling the tunes. Oh wait, that would make Tim a tune monkey, right?

 

[KOHS]

Wow insidethenumbers (who offered to reveal himself a few months back), nice slam! Chris Parker is a very talented dude who works his butt off meeting his listeners, marketing himself, and playing in a great band (from what I've been told). Tune monkey? Harsh coming from someone with as much experience and insight as you must have. And I didn't realize that Pratt was programming KZON. Major input? Yes. But I'm pretty sure Tim Maranville was calling the tunes. Oh wait, that would make Tim a tune monkey, right?

Now that's what I call putting your foot down! And no one does it better than Big Shoe Stu! Well done, sir. ;D

 

[OneHumporTwo]

Very well said, Stu!

insidethenumbers, despite his pretending to be a bigtime PD in Chicago now, is still very much in the Valley. Saw him at either Safeway or Frys last week. Can't remember which.

He was in the produce section.

 

[KMGX]

Citing no interest in management, Pratt has turned down the position of Operations Manager/Market PD. CC offered Pratt his choice of stations for mornings but included management to offset his large salary. Part of his responsibilities would have been to oversee the continuing development of John Jay and Rich.

This just doesn't even seem plausible, ClearChannel never offered Pratt anything to begin with let alone "again". Pratt himself would admit to this. Sometimes I wonder how/why people decide to plant things on this board that are just patently absurd.

 

[Dave Pratt]

Todd Wallace informed me that my name was being bantered around on this board. I have never posted here nor do I understand why anybody would be afraid to use their real name. It is valuable for our industry to have this board to share insight and opinions. However, it will never carry credibility if posters continue to use pseudonyms. Like many others in our industry, the use of pseudonyms are the main reason I only check this board about once every 6 months or so. I would like to start a trend. For now on, if anybody positing under their real name asks a question of me, I will be happy to answer it. Deal? This will curb heresay and out of control rumors. I hope others choose to do the same. Once again, this board could be a valuable resource if used honestly and openly.

As for the current topic, any offer to any personality is a compliment and should be treated with respect, gratitude and confidentiality. Keep in mind that as one offer is extended, anothers job is at risk. At some point, we need to pull for each other.

As for insidethenumbers, I appreciate the loyalty but in all fairness, there is no reason to bag on Chris Parker or anybody else trying their best.

As for KUPD, I am very thankful for 20 great years. Although John Holmberg has not been kind to my heritage, I respect his efforts and would be glad to buy him lunch or invite him to my home for a beer at anytime. I am still proud when I see the KUPD logo.

As for CBS, it was strictly a budget decision. Tim and Willy are nice guys, and like the rest of us, are just trying to do their best. Ben and Matt are also good guys, and I congratulate them on their success.

Any of you are welcome to contact me personally at anytime through my email at [email protected], and I will be glad to meet any of you for coffee or a few laughs. After all, what do I have to do these days? Believe me, my golf game is improving......

All my best,

Dave

 

[Chuck Roast]

Rock it Dave! We owe each other a beer - I'll catch you on the 19th hole. My karaoke skills are improving interesting painful - not as good as your golf game...
And to all a good night. Stu

 

[tanneritekid]

Todd Wallace informed me that my name was being bantered around on this board. I have never posted here nor do I understand why anybody would be afraid to use their real name. It is valuable for our industry to have this board to share insight and opinions. However, it will never carry credibility if posters continue to use pseudonyms. Like many others in our industry, the use of pseudonyms are the main reason I only check this board about once every 6 months or so. I would like to start a trend. For now on, if anybody positing under their real name asks a question of me, I will be happy to answer it. Deal? This will curb heresay and out of control rumors. I hope others choose to do the same. Once again, this board could be a valuable resource if used honestly and openly.

As for the current topic, any offer to any personality is a compliment and should be treated with respect, gratitude and confidentiality. Keep in mind that as one offer is extended, anothers job is at risk. At some point, we need to pull for each other.

As for insidethenumbers, I appreciate the loyalty but in all fairness, there is no reason to bag on Chris Parker or anybody else trying their best.

As for KUPD, I am very thankful for 20 great years. Although John Holmberg has not been kind to my heritage, I respect his efforts and would be glad to buy him lunch or invite him to my home for a beer at anytime. I am still proud when I see the KUPD logo.

As for CBS, it was strictly a budget decision. Tim and Willy are nice guys, and like the rest of us, are just trying to do their best. Ben and Matt are also good guys, and I congratulate them on their success.

Any of you are welcome to contact me personally at anytime through my email at [email protected], and I will be glad to meet any of you for coffee or a few laughs. After all, what do I have to do these days? Believe me, my golf game is improving......

All my best,

Dave

Glad to see you decided to post!

This post by Dave, is proof positive why his "Listener's" are so damn loyal!

Dave tells how it is with no BS!

Dave Tell Paula that we miss her EMAILS, and we want you back on the air just as bad as she does. ;D

Thanks

Mike Rowley, Mesa

 

[Nik]

I think the 2002 "Best Of" issue of the New Times said it best when naming John Holmberg "Best Radio Personality"

"Luckily for listeners, KUPD's management got bored with Dave Pratt too. In early September, they replaced him with the relatively young, inexperienced DJ from the floundering sort-of-alt-rock station The Zone."

Although I haven't asked a question, Nik really is my real name. For reals. :

 

[Russ Bliss]

Intelligent, informed, and genuine with nary a bad word to say about anybody. That's the Dave Pratt I worked with for such a short time so long ago at KUPD and it's good to see he's still the same way. Dave is so right about job offerings and how the reverse side is that others in this industry are losing what are becoming all too few jobs.

Dave was always a pleasure to work with, although I can't say I worked with him much. He made me feel welcome in the studio and always asking about my family despite the fact he was the top talent in the market and I was just a fill in overnighter, weekend talent, and sometime producer (although I was not very good at that job; and who knows? Perhaps I wasn't very good at those other jobs either!). Talking football with Dave was always a good time.

I post rarely, but read often. And for all the speculation about what Dave has going on, or will have going on, or can have going on if he wanted to, I just hope for nothing but the best for him and that he is able to do whatever he wants. Anyone who has had the type of success he's had and still managed to stay grounded in reality deserves to enjoy the luxury of being able to prioritize his career and family life in the way he chooses. And if he ever came out to see me at Santisi Brothers one night while I'm broadcasting, I'd be glad to buy him a beer.

 

[insidethenumbers]

Nik is not your real name. You must either work with Holmberg or be a VERY good friend. NOBODY else could recall a meaningless New Times mention from 7 years ago. LOL. Besides, your point is negated since Pratt has won that same award about 20 times plus several times since 2002. Programming wise, KUPD is in a can’t lose position right now. They have zero direct competition. Keep in mind that Pratt competed against Stern for at least 10 years with great success. When Holmgren was forced to do the same, he got hammered….hard.

 

[KOHS]

Nik is not your real name. You must either work with Holmberg or be a VERY good friend. NOBODY else could recall a meaningless New Times mention from 7 years ago. LOL. Besides, your point is negated since Pratt has won that same award about 20 times plus several times since 2002. Programming wise, KUPD is in a can’t lose position right now. They have zero direct competition. Keep in mind that Pratt competed against Stern for at least 10 years with great success. When Holmgren was forced to do the same, he got hammered….hard.

I remember that meaningless New Times mention from 7 years ago and my only connection to Holmberg is through a friend who attended high school with him.

Here is another meaningless quote from 7 years ago, compliments of the New Times:

Now Holmberg and crew are the second-highest-rated morning show in Phoenix behind Howard Stern. And their numbers have been just as good as, and sometimes better than, Pratt's, who had 20 years to build his audience.

Now Holmberg just needs to overcome Stern. It should happen. Day in, day out, Holmberg puts on a much better show.

Pratt is an Arizona icon and I loved listening to him on KUPD, KZON and KMLE. Holmberg is fast becoming an icon in Arizona and I enjoyed listening to him on KZON and now on KUPD. Both men are talented DJ's who know how to give good radio.