SLATON LEAVING KZOK?

[talkerdjdude]

Agree that nothing is sacred in radio anymore. Who's next, Crow? Why doesn't Rivers give up some of his 8 person staff? From listening, it can't take that many people to put a show together, even with Spike and Joe doing nothing.

 

[wizbangdoodle]

I, too, was under the impression that Steve was on a well deserved vacation. It was only after a week or 2 into January that I realized something was up. I did a bit of searching and that is how I landed here. I had to register just to express my disappoint in CBS radio. I also wanted to give my best to Steve (hope that's really you posting up buddy). You have been a long time friend on the radio and I'll follow you where ever you end up. Just a little bump in the road, you are too talented to disappear. Hope to hear you on local radio soon. Please keep us posted on these boards where you are and how you're doing (unless the lawyers have you by the balls )

 

[Cigsandcoffee]

I too want to thank Steve for some great memories, for giving me a chance to work on his show and for always putting in a good word for me with the boss man. You'll be back behind the mic in no time, Steve! Meantime, enjoy some quality time with your wonderful family and hope to see you soon.

 

[gr229]

Say what no more rock trivia? No more name that tune?
No more 3@3?
Just isn't the same without Steve. Mama is great but I want Steve back!
WTF!! Man...ok let me stop my un-edgamacated side is coming out!!!

People let CBS know how you feel!
Slam their email box!
http://www.cbsradio.com/contact/sitehelpform.html

 

[wizbangdoodle]

Good idea gr229. Here is my email to them.

"You guys really screwed the pooch out here in Seattle by letting Steve Slaton go from KZOK. What did you do, consult your magic 8 ball for this one? Fire whoever made that decision. That will make CBS more successful. Until then I won't be back to any CBS owned station."

 

[Bongwater]

Good idea gr229. Here is my email to them.

"You guys really screwed the pooch out here in Seattle by letting Steve Slaton go from KZOK. What did you do, consult your magic 8 ball for this one? Fire whoever made that decision. That will make CBS more successful. Until then I won't be back to any CBS owned station."

We have one clown on another thread who actually supports all this nonsense and on top of it, claims he doesn't know who Steve Slaton is.

This is a FLAMING example of who's in charge of radio these days. They wouldn't know SUCCESSFUL radio if it bit them in the arse.....

 

[aeronautic]

Thanks to "google", I guess I now know what happened to Steve. It's amazing what one can learn on the internet. I, for one, will miss his warmth and unique style and hope it's not absent from Seattle radio for too long. There are some things you just don't mess with. MY DRIVE IS NOT THE SAME! I would have voiced this weeks ago but thought he was on vacation or something.

 

[dcarlton]

Well, it's official - CBS has absolutely no clue. I had hoped and thought that through some form of wisdom they had concluded that Seattle had a very unique niche with the high quality on-air talent; I was wrong, they obviously have no wisdom. These large corporate owners manage strictly to the P&L and think we listen to their station and advertising because of the music. I have 80% of what KZOK plays on record, CD, MP3, etc. I think we listen to Slaton, Crow, etc. and later arrival Rivers because we grew up with these guys. Slaton used to keep me company during the solo shift pumping gas at the Lynnwood Tire-Mark, and rock me out while cruzin' around in the long-gone hot rod going back 25+ years. And it is a terrible shame too because the talent is the reason that Seattle's KZOK is (was? - if they let Crow go - god help us!) special. If you live and/or travel to many of the major radio markets in the country you will quickly realize this. This is why when I can't listen to KZOK I'm using the I-pod. Most of the rest of 'classic-rock' around this country is crap because it's been ruined by the likes of ClearChannel/CBS/Jack-FM etc. It is (was?) the reason that I listen to KZOK streaming all day long despite not having lived in Seattle for 7 some years and still buy some of the products they advertise, and contribute to the charities they have supported over the years.
We will miss you Slaton! I hope you end up somewhere better that has been somewhat less 'corrupted.' If I don't hear you for awhile, thanks so much for all the years! - I can't express enough what a class act you are.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Look at the BIG picture, folks!
CBS, a part of Viacom/Paramount, etc., is not making the decisions based on longevity of talent, importance of radio's ability to "connect", etc.
At this point, it's really about one thing:

Sumner Redstone's financial assis in a great big ol' heap-o-trouble sling. So someone that has a loyal following in market sub-10 really doesn't even MAKE the radar ... saving a few thousand here, a few thousand there is all that matters.

Let's just say there is a REASON you've never seen Redstone in a Santa suit...and probably likely he could have played the tin man in his elementary school Wizard of Oz production!!!

And I don't like any of this either...but it's the only reality.

 

[TVradioguru]

Look at the BIG picture, folks!

When it comes to some on this board, that's a stretch.

And I don't like any of this either...but it's the only reality.

Nobody does, nor does Mr. Redstone...

 

[Bongwater]

Look at the BIG picture, folks!

When it comes to some on this board, that's a stretch.

And I don't like any of this either...but it's the only reality.

Nobody does, nor does Mr. Redstone...

Hey, weren't you the guy who said "I'm not sure who this Steve Slaton is, nor why a half dozen people on this board have their underwear in a bunch about his departure, but I assure you if Mr. Slayton (sic) was making the station money through his stellar on-air performance and popularity, he wouldn't have been released during cutbacks." and "If you are KZOK, and can make the same revenue from Mr. Slaton's former slot with either automation and voice tracking, or a younger DJ at a lesser cost, then the decision is simple."

Guess you've just done walked yourself into a mosh pit......

 

[TVradioguru]

Uh, yes I did say that Sir Bong-A-Long. With all that bong resin cranial build-up, it appears you didn't understand Littleblueboy's point, nor my reply. Allow me to explain it in a way your admittedly drug addled brain can comprehend..

By your posts, its clear you DO NOT look at the "big picture" when it comes to business, especially radio. You choose to ignore the realities of economic business conditions, mainly because you haven't worked at an elevated level where you have to either finance the purchase and operation of a broadcast facility, nor have you been responsible for meeting the requirements of the company owners, aka the shareholders. Instead you choose to dumb-down the blame for the decline of traditional media by insisting that if things were never changed by corporate station owners, radio would still be in its dominant position. Look, I don't expect you to agree with my stance on how things work in the broadcast business, but there are always two sides to each point of view. If you were running a station group, you could then have a more clear perspective on the realities of business in a down economy. Instead you choose to sit there behind your keyboard and demonize the "CEO's", insisting somehow that they make programming or employee decisions down the the station level. Guess what...they don't.

To my second point... Again in simple terms for you; Acknowledge or not the success or failure of a guy like Sumner Redstone of CBS, he doesn't know Steve Slaton from Adam. That decision was made at the local station level by the local GM. I'd be willing to bet also, that Mr. Redstone gets no joy from having to RIF at any stations. CEO's are praised for GROWING the company thus pleasing Wall Street, not shrinking the companies they are charged with making money from.

 

[jupiter2]

A few points:

By your posts, its clear you DO NOT look at the "big picture" when it comes to business, especially radio.

you choose to sit there behind your keyboard and demonize the "CEO's", insisting somehow that they make programming or employee decisions down the the station level. Guess what...they don't.

Sumner Redstone of CBS, he doesn't know Steve Slaton from Adam. That decision was made at the local station level by the local GM.

Pretty thin stuff here, self proclaimed "GURU". You sound like a guy who has maybe read a Wall Street Journal, but not much more. If you really want to understand the big picture, it is that these same CEO's ripped us all off by borrowing excessively when prices were going up, mortgaging the future. Now, like most condo speculators in Florida, they are F&^@d. So they have to dump assets, which means people. This decision was NOT made at the local level at all, just about everyone in Seattle Radio knows that.

No one belives you can sit still in Entertainment and things will stay the same, despite that in your narrow thinking that's what anyone who disagrees with you must think.

Most great radio talents have been clamoring for R & D for years, because instinctively we all knew better. Some WALL STREET companies are not mortgaged to the hilt, they will be the survivors. Too bad you drink the KOOL AID.

 

[dcarlton]

I don't claim to know as much as the "Guru," bongwater or Jupiter do; I'm just a listener. But I do know a little bit about business and downsizing - I'm living the cruel realities of it now, closing small/non-performing units, cutting expenses, and the like; you start by delaying any capital projects, cut back on variable costs as much as possible, then if needed you have to look at non-essential staff (I like Arik and Mike, but does Rivers really need 9 or whatever # of people to run a show?). My point a few days ago was that these 'all knowing' CEO's are running this thing like their diminishing TV stations, where crap shows come & go with the wind (If 2 1/2 men goes off-air are any of us really going to search out Sheen's next project? - Please!). The point you don't get with Slaton is that Seattle has something special with their on-air talent, and he is a HUGE part of that 'brand.' He is a rock/classic-rock legend in Seattle and WHOEVER made the decision to let him go doesn't understand that. To me, as a loyal Seattle rock listener, who has heard a majority of the other major market rock/classic-rock stations around the country, giving away that part of the brand makes no sense to me, nor many other 'listeners.' It's like McDonalds leaving the lights to the golden arches off to save on the electric bill. Your replies, past and some to come maybe, will continue to justify how your all-knowing acumen of the radio business justifies the move. Fine, do it all day long. But I'm telling you, as listening, it is why fewer and fewer of us are tuning in.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

I don't claim to know as much as the "Guru," bongwater or Jupiter do; I'm just a listener. But I do know a little bit about business and downsizing...

dcarlton ... I'd love to invent an awards banquet JUST so we can pay homage to your comments. We're not done with January and I'll nominate you for POST-OF-THE-YEAR! Well said!!!

 

[dcarlton]

Thanks LITTLEBOYBLUE.

 

[jupiter2]

Yes it was well said.

I hear the morning show is its own entity, with Rivers staff paid by him. He is known as being very loyal to his group. I wonder if he would have traded 3 of them for Steve?

Around the country many morning shows are being chopped up as their contracts expire, so that may yet happen here.

I would add this dcarlton,

I don't think these moves are justifiable either. They are being made in a panic from a far away city, and your predictions of the long term consequences are right on the money. Anyone who thinks this is a simple downsizing is a corporate suck up.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

I hear the morning show is its own entity, with Rivers staff paid by him. He is known as being very loyal to his group. I wonder if he would have traded 3 of them for Steve?

That is correct. Morning show on KZOK is a "sunk" expense so the team can split and use however they want ... but I suspect the contract renewal (if there is one) will result in some change. For what it's worth while I agree it may be a bit of an "overpopulated" team, the one thing they do is USE the team effectively. Some busy lining up interviews with some interesting guests, others taking what has aired and getting it on web asap. It's a showcase for how the radio content + interactive model SHOULD be done. At the same time, can probably be done with slightly smaller team...not everyone needs a baseball team or a Brady Bunch to have successful market presence.

One thing I noticed about KZOK is the people there are classy...how they treat their coworkers, listeners, and advertisers. Bob no exception and your comments about his loyalty are also accurate. You really don't have to look much further than the charity work he does as his "social investment" from what the industry has given him. I can't recall Limbaugh or Stern doing many awareness causes...maybe because they are just too self-absorbed to act.

And before anyone gets defensive, Pharmaceutical experimentation is NOT a social cause. "Drug Testing" refers to something else.

 

[Sasquatch8280]

I hate it when the Bean COunters say, its progress, or its the way of the future to rape the personality out of radio. Its disgusting to hear Jack Radio when there is no history, no contact with anything but the 15 seconds of fame that people get for calling and leaving a msg. to be read later, catering to the status quo. Big money for big personalities, who the hell made that station what it is today?
Steve, Robin, Maynard, I swear as a loyal listener that I will tune to any station you guys take over and remake in the image of the 60's, and play the music we like, and give the personality back to the radio that we crave. Hell, if they can re-run Gilligan for 30 friggin years, whats another challenge like this? Go for it!!!!

 

[Bongwater]

I hate it when the Bean COunters say, its progress, or its the way of the future to rape the personality out of radio. Its disgusting to hear Jack Radio when there is no history, no contact with anything but the 15 seconds of fame that people get for calling and leaving a msg. to be read later, catering to the status quo. Big money for big personalities, who the hell made that station what it is today?
Steve, Robin, Maynard, I swear as a loyal listener that I will tune to any station you guys take over and remake in the image of the 60's, and play the music we like, and give the personality back to the radio that we crave. Hell, if they can re-run Gilligan for 30 friggin years, whats another challenge like this? Go for it!!!!

CHEERS FOR SASQUATCH!!

Actually, I'd be more focused on letting the jocks on a classic rock/hits/oldies station have more freedom in music selection (that's a MAJOR part of a GOOD radio show, y'know.) The kind people tune back again and again for.........