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The Evolution Of "The Mikey Show"

Most talent contracts particularly for morning shows or relatively major talent, don't have outs for the company because of a format change.
 
MJ - You might be correct. But I do know that Lincoln Financial has tendered talent contracts that do have format change contingencies.

In the case of Mikey, he had already left Rock 105 in expectation that his co-horts would be leaving with him when he was negotiating his contract. They balked, leaving Esparza and fm 949 in a very awkward spot. I don't think he was in a particularly strong bargaining position, since he had to assemble a whole new team (of radio amateurs) from scratch.

Now 949 is in an even more precarious situation since they now have worse ratings than they did before Mikey came on board.

Everyone in radio knows there are two types of contract...a "no-cut" and the others which allows the station an exit. Did Mikey have a no-cut? I would love to find out. But as it is, all we can do is speculate. I am sorry Radeo that you were not aware that there exists "no-cut" types of contracts versus others. Just because you don't know, does not mean you should get overmodulated.
 
Hear how Mikey Show has "evolved." Listen to podcast 8-9 a.m. May 12. It is good radio, I will admit. But at what cost? Kind of sad in a way. I think this should get some national coverage.
 
Well when Jaime Bonilla does a leverage buy out of the Lincoln stations he can move the studios to Mexico and cancel the contract that way. Out or no out clause Jaime will get rid of him LOL Just joking I thought that the absurd might add some levity.
 
In the latest ratings released today, KBZT 94.9 came in 22nd place overall with a 1.9 rating. That is the worst overall rating in the seven year history of 94.9 as an alternative station. The Mike Esparza show remains one of the highest paid morning teams in town even though it is not in the Top 10 25-54. It's been on for a year and a half.

Is there ANYBODY out there who can explain why having the Mike Esparza show on 94.9 is a good thing.

Esparza has 18 months left on his no-cut contract.
 
canyouhearmenow said:
Is there ANYBODY out there who can explain why having the Mike Esparza show on 94.9 is a good thing.

Esparza has 18 months left on his no-cut contract.


There's the answer to your good question. At some point the return on investment will be the driving factor. Mikey got a no-cut contract and that is exactly the terms.

It was a couple years ago on a Fourth of July weekend that 94/9 had a remote at Stone Brewery in Escondido. The crowds .. and yes there were crowds .. were beyond expectations of the station and the brewery.

It really is about the music.
 
We must note the brain trust that brought this loss leader/corporate trainwreck/career disaster to Lincoln Financial San Diego. That would include KBZT general manager Rick Jackson and KBZT program director Garrett Michaels. Plus the Lincoln Financial executives who signed off including Don Benson and John Dimmick. In this age when so many quality people are looking for work, why do these four people still have jobs? It will be fun to see how these four try to tap dance their way out of this complete meltdown.
 
I've worked at (non-radio) companies where the claim is "we are all family" and yet the next week they throw the workers out. When it goes from a "family" business to just "bidness" it's the bean counters with abacus' in far away cities that make the decisions.

We see this on Granite Ridge; and on Engineer Road. It's loyalty to the coin, not the worker, that most corporations are doing these days. The minute that high profile and paid radio host (like Bill Handle at KFI in LA) cost the station money, they will be out. I use Bill as an example as he tells his audience that fact.

Take Tom Leykis as an example. He has a no-cut contract. His show was cut; but Tom remains paid by CBS until next year.
 
You're tired of hearing about the Mikey show. Fine. So don't read this blog and go away. My point is this massive ratings failure/money drain could end up killing a really good radio station that for years did well with its music. It never did well in mornings. So they put on this hack who promised he could bring over the rest of his team which was a lie because they hated him and they would not leave Rock 105 because they hated him. So he comes over to 94/9 and assembles a crew of amateurs and this trainwreck has blown chunks for a year-and-a-half. It is is not even in the Top 10 among the 25-54 demo. You probably don't understand what that means but let me translate: that this means huge failure. Which also means the entire station is at risk of going away which disturbs those of us who care.
 
The Mikey show is the second or third highest paid morning show in town, and they are not even in the Top 10 25-54. I want anyone on this board to tell me how this pencils out.
 
Chris I have to differ with you when it comes to the Engineer Road comment you made. There have been more people kept at Engineer Road than at Granite Ridge, Murray Canyon Road. Oh wait I know Chris you were talking about KSWB, KNSD, KGB, or Airwatch on Engineer Road not KFMB good man! LOL
 
600kogo said:
KSWB, KNSD, KGB, or Airwatch on Engineer Road not KFMB good man! LOL

You are very correct Sir!
 
Question for DtotheJ....when the thread that you created shows 5,000 hits, does Radio-info send you a T-shirt or a cap or anything? You should be there by next week or so with this one.
 
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