Randy Michaels Is Back

[Bob1370]

This from Inside Radio online just a short time ago (9:50 AM ET on 6/21);

http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=2218662&spid=32061



"After announcing it was seeking to sell rock WRXP, New York (101.9) and its two Chicago FMs, Emmis Communications has instead found a partner in former Jacor and Clear Channel executive Randy Michaels and the private equity firm GTCR. Their newly-formed Merlin Media has struck a deal to buy a majority stake in WRXP and Emmis’ Chicago FMs: modern rock “Q-101” WKQX and classic rock “The Loop” WLUP-FM (97.9). Emmis will still own a significant minority stake..."

What we know about Randy Michaels, from those of us who've watched him since his days at WGR in Buffalo, is that he's creative, iconoclastic and unafraid to push the envelope or bust through it. He's also controversial in his management style but that can, IF properly channeled, create an exciting and groundbreaking place to do radio. Michaels has both his fans and his critics, but there's no denying that at his best, he can make radio exciting to produce and exciting to listen to.

In recent years, of course, he's been best known for his programming work in the realms of AC and news/talk programming around the country with Jacor and later with Clear Channel and Tribune. What do y'all expect him to do with rockers in NYC and Chicago? What SHOULD he do?



[Link added as a courtesy by Radio Info]

 

[Ryan Williams]

http://www.merlinmediallc.com

 

[TheBigA]

It's an interesting time. Earlier this year, former MAQ programmer Bob Pittman bought an equity stake in Clear Channel, and he's already begun reshaping the company in very exciting ways. Now this news. A lot of people who were running radio 30 years ago are back in positions of power. If radio was better than, and those people have a golden touch from their experience in that era, then perhaps radio is poised for a rebirth.

 

[Ultimajock]

...radio was better then, but Bob Pittman, both as a jock and a programmer, couldn't suck enough...

 

[Mike_Hennessy]

As someone who worked for Randy in Tampa, I have one word for all my colleagues in Chicago: INCOMING!

 

[ouuc]

Remember 3 things...

1. An equity company is backing this, so the bottom line will be "Job 1." look for a personnel blow-up & cutbacks.

2. Radio is not a growth medium.

3. Everything Michaels touches does not turn to gold. I worked for 2 stations of his, 1 pre-Jacor & 1 with CC. Neither made a dent in the market. Good signal FMs, not upper dial AM daytimers.

 

[radioaircheck]

ENERGY 97.9 !!!

 

[Rusty Muck]

Now rumors are abounding that Randy will soon flip his newly-acquired FM stick, also-ran AAA WRXP/101.9, to news/talk or some spoken word format.

If he does that and DOESN'T hire Kevin Metheny as the PD, I will be utterly shocked. This is made to order for the two of them.

 

[uncamark]

ENERGY 97.9 !!!

Not. Gonna. Happen.

The Loop is staying as is.

 

[Mike_Hennessy]

Remember 3 things...

1. An equity company is backing this, so the bottom line will be "Job 1." look for a personnel blow-up & cutbacks.

2. Radio is not a growth medium.

3. Everything Michaels touches does not turn to gold. I worked for 2 stations of his, 1 pre-Jacor & 1 with CC. Neither made a dent in the market. Good signal FMs, not upper dial AM daytimers.

Absolutely correct. Randy always goes BIG. Sometimes it's a spectacular success, sometimes it's a spectacular failure, but the operative word is "spectacular".

 

[SonoSational18]

What's the over/under on Pig Vomit making a return?

 

[uncamark]

What's the over/under on Pig Vomit making a return?

I would guess very good if they go all-talk instead of all-news.

And would anyone think that if Michaels does make Q101 all-talk, would be start a "WGN Sucks" campaign in the spirit of the Power Pig in Tamps and the Z95 debacle here?

I can just hear Jerry Agar now...

"...thank you for the call, but before you go, it's time for you to be a G-buster! I'll give you one dollar for every time you can say 'GN sucks' in 10.11 seconds..."

 

[Kent]

3. Everything Michaels touches does not turn to gold. I worked for 2 stations of his, 1 pre-Jacor & 1 with CC. Neither made a dent in the market. Good signal FMs, not upper dial AM daytimers.

As Mark Jeffries basically points out, no one who remembers Chicago radio in the late-80's/early-90's needs to be reminded of this. Randy's attempt at running B-96 out of the market was a complete and total failure. WYTZ never did much.

Love him or hate him, one thing I will give Randy credit for is that he managed to work his way up to management via programming, and that very rarely happens. In other words, he's one of the few managers who is, first and foremost, about programming. In almost every situation, management comes from sales and is focused on nothing else.

 

[SonoSational18]

True, Randy didn't hit one out of the park every time, but he did step up to the plate a lot and his batting average is pretty impressive. He's also the master of the comeback. We all remember how in Tampa The Power Pig stuck it to Q-105 in the '80's. What many do't remember is his earlier failure with Y-95.

Randy does not come without baggage. After the WGN-Tribune debacle, he should probably come to the realization that the 70's are over and that there are certain lines that are better left uncrossed. However, I look for him to shake things up quite a bit in Chicago and New York. Radio needs to have some real leadership from people who can see a future beyond this quarter's P&L sheet. We need to get some of our swagger back and Randy's a good man to lead the charge.