Rodney on the Roq Question

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I've wondered, Rodney Bingenheimer still has a "demi-G-d" status among the uber-hipsters roaming about Silverlake and Echo Park (even personal observations at Cantor's many young kids born long after Mr. Bingenheimer's legendary days at the ROQ still surround him in awe), and so I wonder, why does he choose to stay at KROQ which makes him appear as a shell of his former self?

If he had an offer at Indie 103.1 why didn't seize the moment?

For that matter, why hasn't he taken his vast record collection to KCRW or even KPFK where more time would be allotted to his show?

If the 2003 documentary Mayor of Sunset Strip is any indication it appears CBS isn't paying him a nice, hefty sum to stay at KROQ. (The film was produced by Chris Carter who Mr. Bingenheimer became later upset with for taking an offer to host a similar alternative music show on the defunct Y-107.)

Basically the question, why has Mr. Bingenheimer stayed with KROQ when in the past decade his now once-a-week show has been pushed back way into the middle of the night?

 

[105.9 The Lazer Fan]

I think it's a huge sense of loyalty, plus knowing he has a major FM station to broadcast on, and possibly feeling like another station might try to mess with what he's done for 30 years if he jumps ship. Whatever he's being paid at KROQ, I doubt he would get that amount at another station.

 

[musicfan101]

I think it's a huge sense of loyalty, plus knowing he has a major FM station to broadcast on, and possibly feeling like another station might try to mess with what he's done for 30 years if he jumps ship. Whatever he's being paid at KROQ, I doubt he would get that amount at another station.

I'm assuming that he is not getting paid much. As I said in an earlier post, according to people at Entravision (who tried hiring Rodney in the past), CBS isn't even giving him health insurance!

 

[Buckethead]

It's this. It is not true that Rodney was offered at job at Indie 103.1. He was never offered a job there because in good conscience they could not offer him the security of being around in 5 or 10 years. If Rodney had jumped to Indie he would not be on the air anywhere at this point. Out of respect, the people at Indie were looking out for his best interests, which is more than Kroq can say. Kroq is just looking for a reason to have him off their air without taking a PR beating, which would be the case if they canceled his show.

 

[musicfan101]

It's this. It is not true that Rodney was offered at job at Indie 103.1. He was never offered a job there because in good conscience they could not offer him the security of being around in 5 or 10 years. If Rodney had jumped to Indie he would not be on the air anywhere at this point. Out of respect, the people at Indie were looking out for his best interests, which is more than Kroq can say. Kroq is just looking for a reason to have him off their air without taking a PR beating, which would be the case if they canceled his show.

I'm not saying you are wrong, but I am saying that according to someone who worked at Indie - and still is, Entravision made several attempts to hire Rodney. I'm just curious, what kind of "PR beating" could KROQ take, that it hasn't taken already?

 

[EasyBakeOven]

Once, when Rodney was asked why he didn't accept an offer from another station, his reply was; "Because then I can't be 'Rodney On The Roq'."

 

[Buckethead]

Music fan,
Your source isn't accurate.

 

[RBB05]

It's this. It is not true that Rodney was offered at job at Indie 103.1. He was never offered a job there because in good conscience they could not offer him the security of being around in 5 or 10 years. If Rodney had jumped to Indie he would not be on the air anywhere at this point. Out of respect, the people at Indie were looking out for his best interests, which is more than Kroq can say. Kroq is just looking for a reason to have him off their air without taking a PR beating, which would be the case if they canceled his show.

I'm not saying you are wrong, but I am saying that according to someone who worked at Indie - and still is, Entravision made several attempts to hire Rodney. I'm just curious, what kind of "PR beating" could KROQ take, that it hasn't taken already?

I can say with 100% certainty that EVC/Indie never offered Rodney a job. Yes, the PD talked with Rodney, but it never even went as far as the president of the radio division, who would have had to sign off on it under EVC corporate guidelines.