• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Rubber checks from BIG Companies!

J

jefflaurence

RANT-ON

So it's getting old. In the last six months I have gotten bankruptcy notices, and HUGE packets of creditor applications from at least three (usually) stable broadcasting companies that I do work for. Large companies that one would not have thought would EVER have issues with money, or at very least paying thier people who make the place tick. I can see creditors like office producrts companies..and other media providers getting asked to defer legal action and arrangements being made to get some payment..but now bounced checks! Folks the broadcast economy is in rough shape, and I know that. But there is no excuse for MORAL bankrupcy.

It hurts the local client when thier parent company doesn't have the decency to at least call and tell a vendor that they are having some issues and will need to put off payment for awhile. I work with those kinds of situations all the time, but DON'T SEND OUT A LIE! A bad check speaks VOLUMES as to the little amount of respect they have for me or their stations. Then you read about CEO's and other managers publicly making it known that they are pulling MILLIONS of dollars yearly..for underperforming and cheating the very people who help keep the lights on. THEN you read of these BIG plans to syindcate BIG NAME talent..and they can't seem to make good a check for a few hundred bucks? My bank charges me for returned checks..and I am now losing money to work for companies that can't compensate me. AND these very same broadcast groups have asked many of us to take reduced rates. I do so gladly as opposed to losing a client, but c'mon at least pay the newly agreed to ratewith a check that will clear!

NO WONDER the big name voice people are shying away from radio imaging..THIS is the core problem with our beloved industry..and I know I am preaching to the choir...but the real issue is not so much the money..it's that of complete loss of pride in our business. When the future generations ask you what the hell happened to radio, we will need to tell them that it was drowned in an ocean of greed, ego and apathy.

RANT-OFF
 
Its a BUMMER of a situation, Jeff.

Many of go through life totally unaware how thin and precarious the circumstances are within the company where we work. Twice in my life I found myself out on the street with ZERO advance notice by companies that went bankrupt and shut the doors that day! (These were not broadcasting companies.)

Two other times I was "thrown overboard" by companies that were very aggressive about making sure they escaped the possibility of facing bankruptcy by slashing every expense they could. Both survived.

FOUR TIMES in twenty-five years. Makes life very messy, thank you!

What is the old cliche'? "Hindsight is 20/20" No way should radio have become so bogged down! But even with all the hindsight, there is no evidence that there is any agreement among broadcast execs on how this could have been avoided, and how the industry claws its way out of the pit.

We must not overlook the hundreds of local and regional operators who ARE SOLVENT, and seem to have a grasp on good operations. I hope you have enough of those people for a customer base to keep your own shop floating along.

Maybe this thread could result in some discussion of how voice-people can shore up their fences to soften future problems.
 
Again GRC it's not so much the money, but the pervasive stance that so many large companies that got themselves into this mess take...they take the path of least resistance, and opt to bone the smaller people who won't make much noise...and the worst of it is the higher-ups who's published salaries include performance bonuses based on NOTHING!

I have a strong company, and I am so grateful for each client, especially the honest, and straightfroward ones who, if they can't make ends meet some months should know that they can call and we'll work it all out..they don't send bad checks.

I have several clients who have not paid in several months, and I will still work with them..one was on a barter deal and it went sour. I just renewed with them on a cash basis, becasue they are good people who deserve to be helped. All I want to do is pay MY people and pay our family so we can keep wood in the fireplace and some burgers in the deep freeze. It is the small price to pay for being in business for yourself.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom