Susquehanna flagged caskets lining up for Black Thursday...one offed already

[johnhardy]

Dan Swensson out as Market Manager. Mojo GM Lewis gets the gig.I'm hearing so horrific are the cuts that even CC is shaking their heads in shock.Great to hear those micro market operating changes coming to a top-30 market near us.Like the upper management or not, it's a shame that a lot of good people are going to lose their gigs Thursday.

 

[Arbitorn]

When do the new owners take over? Is this a neutorn bomb (leave the building but kill the people)?

 

[WyllyWylly]

According to AllAccess, Cumulus is supposed to close as of this Friday. As far as how bloody the cuts are, I guess we'll know Monday... I would be very surprised if either Mojo or the Star doesn't change significantly along with the management.

 

[johnnyrichards]

seen on Billboard's Radio Monitor website:Susquehanna Queen City Vet Exits May 03, 2006 By Ken Tucker Another Susquehanna management veteran has exited the company. Cincinnati VP/market manager Dan Swensson has exited the company in advance of Cumulus Media Partners’ take over of the stations on May 5. Swensson, a 13-year company vet, oversaw country WYGY (96-5 the Star), AC WRRM (Warm 98) and R&B oldies WMOJ (Mojo 94.9). WMOJ VP/GM Gary Lewis has replaced Swensson as market manager. http://www.billboardradiomonitor.co...article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002462464

 

[onegreatplace]

Cumulus is not known to be a big spender and is well known to remove sales management when stations miss budgets.Not a winning formula... Less billboards, less marketing, less people = a weaker WRRM, WYGY, and WMOJ (formerly pretty damn good radio stations). Clear Channel and CBS must be smiling.

 

[CincyRed]

I hear there was quite a bit of bleeding at Susquehanna/Cumulus yesterday, anyone know what's going on?

 

[TheGrudge]

The way I'm hearing it, the exiting GM, or whatever his title, was the one to do all the firing on his way out the door. Had nothing to do with Cumulus, really. And it was people coming back from honeymoons, people 8 months pregnant...Lotta heart and soul from Mr. Swenson to do that. I'm sure.

 

[WISL4EVA]

Although I'm not in the Cincy area,I am ....was however a member of Susquehanna York, and the blood shed started at about 1pm on thursday and didn't stop until the last member was severed as of 9:30 am today that being our GM/ VP of Marketing Tina Heim.....After word got out about the cuts, it was like a real massacre. Then they had the nerve to ask all employees to stay until regular time( after they'd been cut) to fulfill any work that needs to be done. amazing!! I hope Cumulus has fun messing with a great machine that didn't need to be messed with...ALOT of good people are on the streets b/c of them.

 

[shawk-n-awe]

The way I'm hearing it, the exiting GM, or whatever his title, was the one to do all the firing on his way out the door. Had nothing to do with Cumulus, really. And it was people coming back from honeymoons, people 8 months pregnant...Lotta heart and soul from Mr. Swenson to do that. I'm sure.

Uhmm no. While I'm sure Dan did the letting go, I don't think he was given much choice on who or how many went before him.

 

[CincyRed]

There is word they let entire air staff's go here in Cincy.

 

[darksoldier]

Come now...I see posts that act like there is some surprise here. Mergers and acquisitions mean initial cuts 99.9% of the time. Most of us on this board have been around for a while, yet sometimes post like we think there is loyalty to employees in this business. If we divide the deal evenly between all acquired stations,(I know that it is not evenly divided. In fact it is probably more than the average in this market.) Cumulus has $108M invested in this market. Based upon all available traditional ad revenue within the market @$150M/yr., the #'s just don't add up in terms of recovering that investment without cuts. While it may be a sad commentary that companies value revenue over people, it is none the less a fact. Just as in any industry, we can only do our best and let the chips fall where they may. I know some of the folks who were cut, and my heart goes out to them, but I don't think that in many cases they were "surprised".....just disappointed. The good ones will land on their feet.

 

[WyllyWylly]

In today's AllAccess Net News:

Sandman Moves OnAfter 14 years at SUSQUEHANNA/CINCINNATI, Creative Services Dir. TOM SANDMAN leaves with the acquisition by CUMULUS. Reach him at (513) 481-4447, or [email protected].

There were several cuts, including one engineer, the WRRM promotions director, and Ted Morro (also of WRRM). No full time air staff - yet. As with most things in corporate America (and that's what radio is these days), follow the money trail and the answers make more sense. It looks as though Cumulus Media Partners is unloading as many high salaried vets as they can afford to. The sad fact is that it's standard operating procedure in just about any big merger... it looks good on the next quarter's bottom line.The "blame" can't all be laid on Swensson; this has been happening at nearly every Susquehanna cluster and isn't exclusive to the Cincinnati market. How directly he was involved with the layoffs is something that he and very few others will know. What does matter is that there are a lot of talented people who fell under the axe, and several more survivors who will be doing a lot more work. It's going to be sink or swim for the three stations in Cincinnati now.

 

[Radknowski]

Cumulus... small minds, small market... small dickey. My condolences to the PEOPLE who were dismissed, fired, terminated, screwed.-Mike in Buffalo

 

[radiomayor2]

i understand from inside the old SUS that there was a generous severance...TRUE ????as for the timing.......while unpleasent......according to law new owners are under no obligation to keep anybody....( don't shoot the messenger)these cumulus guys are in with the big time now ( bain capital) they have been in broadcasting before ( TV groups) and other things.....THEY WANT THEIR MONEY and they get it or they take over and jettison the partners....i sure hope the dickey boys knew what they were doing to hook up with Bain....

 

[hereinCincy]

The "blame" can't all be laid on Swensson; this has been happening at nearly every Susquehanna cluster and isn't exclusive to the Cincinnati market. How directly he was involved with the layoffs is something that he and very few others will know. What does matter is that there are a lot of talented people who fell under the axe, and several more survivors who will be doing a lot more work. It's going to be sink or swim for the three stations in Cincinnati now.

and why not... he drafted the list of cuts...even though he didn't know he was on the list himself.. Some cuts made sense, some seemed personal.

 

[gr8oldies]

Wow, that's interesting. Can format changes be far behind (especially MOJO).?

 

[WyllyWylly]

and why not... he drafted the list of cuts...even though he didn't know he was on the list himself.. Some cuts made sense, some seemed personal.

Who really knows what kind of parameters Cumulus handed down? I've never been one to assign blame, because every time I point my finger I have three pointing right back at myself. I wouldn't doubt that some cuts were personal, but it is what it is. Blaming Dan won't change anything. Keep in mind that nothing significant has changed in programming yet, other than the silly little sounders that proclaim "A Cumulus station!" that are now running on those three stations. Format and programming changes are almost certainly next...

 

[gr8oldies]

Still heard jocks on Saturday on MOJO.

 

[Nick Scott]

Cincinnati lost one of the markets most legendary and influencial voices on Thurday May 4th. I am happy to say this man has tought me everything I know and he will bring great things to the next market he works in. Best wishs to Ted Morro!

 

[keys2]

Cincinnati lost one of the markets most legendary and influencial voices on Thurday May 4th. I am happy to say this man has tought me everything I know and he will bring great things to the next market he works in. Best wishs to Ted Morro!

I agree. Ted Morro has long been one of my favorite voices in this market. A deep, smooth, mature voice, unlike so many of the young-sounding, untrained voices on the air these days. It's a shame guys like that are always the first to go in situations like this. It will be interesting to see how Cumulus maintains WARM 98. This has been one of the most consistent, well-programmed adult radio stations in the midwest. They know and understand their target audience well and program accordingly. Cumulus better be careful. I'm sure CC is watching very closely.