"John David, even though you were an "outworlder" as you
say, I fondly remember your tenure at the Mighty 590. You
showed such class and respect for WARM as an institution
as well as the people who were there working with you. I was
struck by the way you not only worked with but treated
"the originals" there both on and off the air. Too many
times, the "outworlders" come in and make change for the sake of
making change with no consideration for history or
community. You did not do that. You blended in subtle changes but
kept the essence of what WARM was while advancing the station.
The reason why WARM died is because there weren't enough JDW's
in the acquiring companies who had the vision, class and
intelligence you had in making a facility like WARM work."---Yonkstur
Thank you very much...That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about what I'm trying to do as a broadcaster. (Actually, I really hope it's true!)
To me, WARM is perhaps the best example of what happens when upper management/ownership forgets what is perhaps the single most important statement in the Communications Act of 1934:
[A licensee will]".....operate in the public interest, as a public trustee."
That statement defines radio as a service, not a business. Therefore, running that service requires a broadcaster, not a businessman.
Boscov's isn't a service. It's a business. Running Boscov's requires a businessman who is focused on what's good for the business. Is a radio program director, or on-air performer the best choice to run that department store? Of course not. Then why do we believe that a businessman the best choice to dictate the operating terms of a broadcasting service?
Because those hiring these business wonks were seduced into buying a bill of flawed goods. And the incompetent destruction of WARM is a tragic, and scabrous millstone hanging around the neck of any businessman who takes issue with that reality.
"Bottom-line Operation", "Profit and Loss Statement", "Current Stock Price", "Economy of Scale" and "Cost-Cutting" are the business terms ruling radio today. So are "XM", "Sirius", "Jack", "Programming Brain Drain" and "Golden Parachute".
Yonkstur has also (lovingly) pointed out my failure is this destructive farce....
"The reason why WARM died is because there weren't enough JDW's
in the acquiring companies who had the vision, class and
intelligence you had in making a facility like WARM work."
Exactly. Unlike most of the managment I've worked for in the last decade, I know the difference between "Service" and "Business", "Sponsors" and "Clients", "Ratings" and "Profits". Thanks to the teachings of both the greatest GM's and PD's in radio and yes the worst, I know what a great radio station is, and how to build it. So why didn't I?
Because I'm stupid.
Rather than seeing the reality and setting aside my personal plans, then shouldering aside these incomplete, anti-product destructors and to manage as a broadcaster, I chose to continue my pursuit of service...arrogantly believing that standing for my neighbors, community, and sponsors would carry the day.
I was wrong.
Now, in the Post 9-Eleven Era when my neighbors need radio more than ever, I will stand up as an On-Air Radio Broadcaster and reclaim my industry.
I will relentlessly compete against those who believe that "Talent and Ratings don't matter." (An actual quote from the last PD/Business Wonk I worked for....I fired him.)
I will either create, or find a radio station that will, without fail "operate in the public interest as a public trustee", and I will publicly name those who don't.
I will never put my career before my neighbors again.
I will learn all I can from those who are willing to teach me.
I will teach all I know to those who are willing to learn from me.
I will win, and then watch to see if my bosses notice. If they do not, I will leave.
I will require a reasonable amount of respect to be shown me, from those who demand an unreasonable amount of respect from me.
I will be a pro on-air broadcaster....every day, hour, minute, and second. And will work only with those who are as well.
And if these words disqualify me from working at my neighbor's radio station again, then it's no longer my neighbor's radio station. And that's just plain wrong.
Jon-David Wells
Fearless Broadcaster
