Ralph Barbieri's Comments at SFGate

[TheBigA]

Tell me, are radio people any different from anyone else when it comes to trying to stay employed?

How many plumbers get this much publicity? Radio people are celebrities. That's how they're different.

 

[calguy]

Tell me, are radio people any different from anyone else when it comes to trying to stay employed?

How many plumbers get this much publicity? Radio people are celebrities. That's how they're different.

How many advertise on the radio or television? A plumber can buy his or her way to being a celebrity. Just ask Mike Diamond, or Steven Matthew David. Nothing that special about radio people. We all put our pants on one leg at a time. Some just have better pants...

 

[TheBigA]

The plumbers who advertise are employers, not employees. This guy has a contract, so he's a lot higher up the food chain than the typical radio employee. He's the kind of guy who gets what he wants, while all the board ops get pay cuts. Now he's not being treated royally, and he's pissed. Too damned bad.

 

[calguy]

Your flip flopping. They're celebrities nonetheless and not radio people. Most air talent in major markets have or had contracts. I've had a personal services contract for decades. In most cases it benefits the employer, not the employee. A PS Contract doesn't always mean you make big bucks. In most cases a company will give you one to lock you in and may only pay a few grand over scale. A typical radio employee could be anything from a continuity person or sales assistant to a board-op or street teamer. We were talking about air talent, were we not? Not every air talent could be considered a celebrity and when compared to a movie or TV star, radio is barely a blip on the radar. You seem to think every guy with a contract gets what he wants. NOT in today's radio. I would argue that you only get what your employer is willing to give. Push too hard and they can find another body to take your place. Whether that replacement does as well doesn't matter to most companies now, nobody is irreplaceable.

 

[TheBigA]

In most cases it benefits the employer, not the employee. A PS Contract doesn't always mean you make big bucks.

We're talking about Ralph, not you. Not a continuity person. This guy is a celebrity...or thinks he is.

 

[calguy]

In most cases it benefits the employer, not the employee. A PS Contract doesn't always mean you make big bucks.

We're talking about Ralph, not you. Not a continuity person. This guy is a celebrity...or thinks he is.

No, we're not talking about me, nice deflection though. But I do have experience as a contract employee. Maybe Ralph had a big contract, don't know, I'm not his agent. My point is that a contract doesn't always equal mega bucks or job security. Doesn't mean he'll get another one either. But he stands a good chance of getting another good job once his contract runs out. That is of course if he finds someone willing to pay.

 

[TheBigA]

My point is that a contract doesn't always equal mega bucks or job security. Doesn't mean he'll get another one either. But he stands a good chance of getting another good job once his contract runs out. That is of course if he finds someone willing to pay.

He's 66 years old. In most businesses, it's time to retire. If he worked in broadcasting back in the day, there was a mandatory retirement age of 65 at most companies.

 

[davideduardo]

How many advertise on the radio or television? A plumber can buy his or her way to being a celebrity. Just ask Mike Diamond...

Is there a real "Mike Diamond?" I was under the impression that MD was a fictitious name used to create a chain of plumbing businesses.

Whatever the case, there is no difference between "Mike Diamond" as a brand and "H & R Block" or "Little Caesar's."

Brands seek awareness; talents seek fame.

 

[calguy]

How many advertise on the radio or television? A plumber can buy his or her way to being a celebrity. Just ask Mike Diamond...

Is there a real "Mike Diamond?" I was under the impression that MD was a fictitious name used to create a chain of plumbing businesses.

Whatever the case, there is no difference between "Mike Diamond" as a brand and "H & R Block" or "Little Caesar's."

Brands seek awareness; talents seek fame.

Honestly, if he's not real they could certainly find a vo guy who could do a better job. Unless it's on purpose, because he's sounds as horrible. Okay, nitpicking aside, there are real people who become celebrities doing they're own spots, that's all I'm saying. Pick a care dealer, that out to serve as an example... They may be a brand, but they also gain celebrity.

 

[calguy]

My point is that a contract doesn't always equal mega bucks or job security. Doesn't mean he'll get another one either. But he stands a good chance of getting another good job once his contract runs out. That is of course if he finds someone willing to pay.

He's 66 years old. In most businesses, it's time to retire. If he worked in broadcasting back in the day, there was a mandatory retirement age of 65 at most companies.

What's wrong with working over the age of 65? Are you prejudiced against older people? That's called discrimination. You sound a little bitter, are you waiting for someone to retire so you can move up? Look, Christopher Plummer just one an Oscar at 82 and I doubt too many of his peers think he should retire. If I were David Eduardo I'd be pretty peeved at you. As long as there is a role for you and you're productive and entertaining, haven't lost too much of a step and are healthy, why not work if you want to? Many of the common folk can't afford to retire in this economy, so if they can get the job I say let them have it.
Besides, they have experience and you can learn a lot from them if you have an open mind. Oh and yes, I know Ralph isn't one of the common folk, plus if he has health problems he'll need the health insurance.

 

[TheBigA]

What's wrong with working over the age of 65? Are you prejudiced against older people? That's called discrimination.

Back in the day, it was called retirement. This idea of working til you die is not the way radio used to be. Back in the 70s, radio was for young people. The DJs were in their 20s and 30s. Now it's all grey hairs. No wonder kids don't listen. So now people want to work until they die, and if they can't, they sue their employer. As I said, it's the entitlement generation. They can't afford to retire? Who's fault is that? Retirement was once not only encouraged, but required. It was the only way to bring fresh blood into an industry. Something radio could use a lot of.

 

[calguy]

What's wrong with working over the age of 65? Are you prejudiced against older people? That's called discrimination.

Back in the day, it was called retirement. This idea of working til you die is not the way radio used to be. Back in the 70s, radio was for young people. The DJs were in their 20s and 30s. Now it's all grey hairs. No wonder kids don't listen. So now people want to work until they die, and if they can't, they sue their employer. As I said, it's the entitlement generation. They can't afford to retire? Who's fault is that? Retirement was once not only encouraged, but required. It was the only way to bring fresh blood into an industry. Something radio could use a lot of.

Back in the 70s, radio was for young people? All of radio? Really? REALLY? So the guys at KSFO in the 70's were in their 20's? Perhaps at rock stations, but not everywhere. Back then Beautiful Music, MOR, and even news stations weren't totally populated by people in their 20's and 30's. I know, as a student I toured my fair share. Even at the rock stations I visited and worked at the older people outnumbered the younger ones. And back then you didn't just walk into a top station and go on the air without some seasoning. Guys used to work for years to get to the major markets. Yeah, if you were working at a small town station with the towers in the cow pasture sure, because that's where you started. You have an odd view of the world. So what would you like? Should we put them on an ice flow like an old Eskimo and wave good bye? That's harsh man, harsh. Personally I have a family to feed and I'm not getting out of the way for anyone if I don't have to.

 

[HCochet]

What's wrong with working over the age of 65? Are you prejudiced against older people? That's called discrimination.

Back in the day, it was called retirement. This idea of working til you die is not the way radio used to be. Back in the 70s, radio was for young people. The DJs were in their 20s and 30s. Now it's all grey hairs. No wonder kids don't listen. So now people want to work until they die, and if they can't, they sue their employer. As I said, it's the entitlement generation. They can't afford to retire? Who's fault is that? Retirement was once not only encouraged, but required. It was the only way to bring fresh blood into an industry. Something radio could use a lot of.

In Rock and Pop (With exceptions like Dr Don Rose), you're probably right. It has a very young audience and they like young DJ's. What about other formats? Classical, easy listening, etc. Talk radio is different. I don't consider Ralph to be a "DJ". I kind of think older people are accepted more in talk shows. I think people like news from someone older too.

 

[TheBigA]

So what would you like? Should we put them on an ice flow like an old Eskimo and wave good bye? That's harsh man, harsh.

Did I say that? No. Retirement isn't death. I think if you do a serious study of radio on air staff in the 1970s, you'll find very few people over 65. People can't understand why radio is so different from what they remember growing up, and this is part of the reason.

 

[calguy]

So what would you like? Should we put them on an ice flow like an old Eskimo and wave good bye? That's harsh man, harsh.

Did I say that? No. Retirement isn't death. I think if you do a serious study of radio on air staff in the 1970s, you'll find very few people over 65. People can't understand why radio is so different from what they remember growing up, and this is part of the reason.

As you are so fond of pointing out, things have changed. This isn't the 70's, the old days, etc... People are living longer, staying healthier and because of the economy working longer. What would KRTH sound like with a bunch of 20 year olds working it? Wanna tell a very productive staff that includes Shotgun Tom Kelly & Jim Carson that they're just too darned old to be there anymore and to make way for the younger guys? I dare say that they could mop the floor with most other jocks a third their age. Personally I'd like to be retired when I'm 65. Hell if I had the money I'd go now, who in the world wants to put up with the crap the industry throws at you today unless they have to? For many, radio is all they know how to do. We could argue about this until the moderator put's us both outside, but it'll never change the way we feel. We're not going to agree. Quite frankly your discriminatory nature ticks me off, but I can drill through rock only so long and have to stop when I've bored right through to the other side, even when the rock doesn't realize it... In closing, if we followed your current paradigm, the world would've been deprived of some great talent.

 

[EastBay]

It looks like Ralph himself feels that this was age discrimination, and is going to sue Cumulus for that reason:

http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2012/04/flash-barbieri-about-to-file-suit.html#comment-form

 

[TheBigA]

In closing, if we followed your current paradigm, the world would've been deprived of some great talent.

It's being deprived of great talent from people who will never get the chance to work at these stations because the previous generation refuses to get out of the way. The world hasn't been deprived of anything, because those people had their time. Now it's time to make room for the new kids. We want mandatory term limits on politicians, but radio people can bop til they drop.

As I said, that was easily taken care of in the old days with mandatory retirement ages. No one sued their employer for age discrimination 35 years ago. Instead of an IRA or 401k, they sue their employer, and get to retire comfortably. What a country.

 

[calguy]

In closing, if we followed your current paradigm, the world would've been deprived of some great talent.

It's being deprived of great talent from people who will never get the chance to work at these stations because the previous generation refuses to get out of the way. The world hasn't been deprived of anything, because those people had their time. Now it's time to make room for the new kids. We want mandatory term limits on politicians, but radio people can bop til they drop.

As I said, that was easily taken care of in the old days with mandatory retirement ages. No one sued their employer for age discrimination 35 years ago. Instead of an IRA or 401k, they sue their employer, and get to retire comfortably. What a country.

LOL. Thanks for the chuckle.

 

[HCochet]

[/quote]

................For many, radio is all they know how to do. ....................
[/quote]

How about get a job at a grocery store and show up sober and on time and follow orders? what's so hard about that?

 

[michael hagerty]

So what would you like? Should we put them on an ice flow like an old Eskimo and wave good bye? That's harsh man, harsh.

I think if you do a serious study of radio on air staff in the 1970s, you'll find very few people over 65. People can't understand why radio is so different from what they remember growing up, and this is part of the reason.

A big part of the reason for that, though, is that someone who was 66 in 1970 was born in 1904 and someone who was 66 in 1979 was born in 1913. Not a lot of those guys waited around for radio to start playing records in the 50s, when they were over 45, to start careers in broadcasting. Dick Whittinghill at KMPC in Los Angeles is about the only DJ I can think of who fits...born in 1913....and KMPC made him walk the plank in 1979 at age 66...replacing him with Robert W. Morgan, who was 42.

But what we have now is a situation where the first wave of guys who filled all those chairs when radio started dumping drama and comedy and network feeds and needed six or seven guys to play records 24/7 are within 5 years of 70 either direction. We've never been here before.

Truth be told, it's a brutal business...always has been and always will be. And mandatory retirement ages of 65 in broadcasting were rare, largely because talent almost never survived long enough to have to confront it.

I think some of us looked at Paul Harvey, Mike Wallace, Morley Safer and Andy Rooney and thought they showed what was possible. In fact, they were an anomaly.