I have been reading the posts regarding the change of leadership in Route 81, with a former boss of mine, Lloyd Roach being replaced. There's been a lot of discussion about this deal, and there's been a lot of talk about the man at the center of it, positive and negative.
As I worked for Lloyd for a time, I'll give you my perception of what I had to deal with, and how I feel that Route 81 had a chance, but could not possibly work in Lloyd's vision.
To be fair, I'm not sure what that vision really was. It seemed from the acquisitions, the string of small stations and not-so-small, case in point WHYL-960 in Carlisle (5000 watts, if I remember right) that he was planning a network of stations devoted to local radio.
For a while there it seemed that the local idea was moving forward, as there seemed to be some localized programming.
Okay, all well and good...problems here, however include the ever-shrinking dollar. To run just one radio station, let alone all of them, you need money. Money to keep everything operating, building rents, taxes, equipment, paying your employees, and so on.
That programming needs to be good, and solid and well-managed or it's not going to bring in that advertising dollar. That dollar you need to keep the flag flying. Sure you can pay out of your own pocket for a while (or at least the backers did), but after a time you start to realize it just isn't working.
The situation with Route 81 is kind of how I remember my time under Lloyd: he makes a big splash, spends a lot of money, makes a lot of noise. Things go as he wants for a few months...then when the money fails to come in, guess what happens:
Suddenly, a copywriter is fired. Then a sales exec. is fired. Then another person is fired. Then YOU'RE fired. Then the 'local' programming is replaced by satellite feeds and packaging stuff. Same old same old.
On this board (which I look at from time to time, but rarely post), I see a lot dealing with Lloyd. I personally liked the man. I never had a problem with him, professionally or personally (though if I did something he didn't like I gather it all came through the PD, who would let me know).
Around Lloyd he has always gathered people that he senses he can make his little people...people who have little experience, no self-esteem, and little confidence. He makes them think they're great, and they in turn become his cheerleaders. They take a hear no evil/see no evil/speak no evil mentality about Lloyd. Lloyd is great, Lloyd is wonderful, don't say anything bad about Lloyd. Until of course, he dumps them and they realize they've been tossed in the garbage by the one man they found God in.
The basic thing is this: each of those stations could have served its respective local area, but each one takes manpower, money, time, patience and competence in all areas. Route 81's board did not have the time or patience--they, like Lloyd did not see the forest for the trees.
I expect in the next year or two that Route 81 will cease to exist, with the stations sold off to Clear Channel, Citadel and the others, to become bug light stations in those networks. Sad, but I fear it will occur.
As I worked for Lloyd for a time, I'll give you my perception of what I had to deal with, and how I feel that Route 81 had a chance, but could not possibly work in Lloyd's vision.
To be fair, I'm not sure what that vision really was. It seemed from the acquisitions, the string of small stations and not-so-small, case in point WHYL-960 in Carlisle (5000 watts, if I remember right) that he was planning a network of stations devoted to local radio.
For a while there it seemed that the local idea was moving forward, as there seemed to be some localized programming.
Okay, all well and good...problems here, however include the ever-shrinking dollar. To run just one radio station, let alone all of them, you need money. Money to keep everything operating, building rents, taxes, equipment, paying your employees, and so on.
That programming needs to be good, and solid and well-managed or it's not going to bring in that advertising dollar. That dollar you need to keep the flag flying. Sure you can pay out of your own pocket for a while (or at least the backers did), but after a time you start to realize it just isn't working.
The situation with Route 81 is kind of how I remember my time under Lloyd: he makes a big splash, spends a lot of money, makes a lot of noise. Things go as he wants for a few months...then when the money fails to come in, guess what happens:
Suddenly, a copywriter is fired. Then a sales exec. is fired. Then another person is fired. Then YOU'RE fired. Then the 'local' programming is replaced by satellite feeds and packaging stuff. Same old same old.
On this board (which I look at from time to time, but rarely post), I see a lot dealing with Lloyd. I personally liked the man. I never had a problem with him, professionally or personally (though if I did something he didn't like I gather it all came through the PD, who would let me know).
Around Lloyd he has always gathered people that he senses he can make his little people...people who have little experience, no self-esteem, and little confidence. He makes them think they're great, and they in turn become his cheerleaders. They take a hear no evil/see no evil/speak no evil mentality about Lloyd. Lloyd is great, Lloyd is wonderful, don't say anything bad about Lloyd. Until of course, he dumps them and they realize they've been tossed in the garbage by the one man they found God in.
The basic thing is this: each of those stations could have served its respective local area, but each one takes manpower, money, time, patience and competence in all areas. Route 81's board did not have the time or patience--they, like Lloyd did not see the forest for the trees.
I expect in the next year or two that Route 81 will cease to exist, with the stations sold off to Clear Channel, Citadel and the others, to become bug light stations in those networks. Sad, but I fear it will occur.