The official CC firings thread 01/20/09

[dittohead1]

Post 'em as they happen

 

[Sniffthamic]

Feelin' bad for those all over the country who are now beachin'. Hope this board shows some r-e-s-p-e-c this time. T, too. I forgot.

 

[realradioplayer]

From a reliable source ... 25 sales people were let go in Greensboro yesterday leaving them with a sales staff of 20. Seems like a smart move since most likely they were newer sellers with guarantees and most likely not paying for themselves yet and in this economy probably would not be covering thier guarantees anytime soon.

 

[MaskMan]

I have heard that they no longer have sales managers for each of the radio stations, but one or two managers who will be over the whole group. I also heard the sales staff has been cut to around 16 veteran salespeople.

 

[Big Doug Metzenbaum]

"Seems like a smart move since most likely they were newer sellers with guarantees and most likely not paying for themselves yet and in this economy probably would not be covering thier guarantees anytime soon."

You're all heart, Real Player guy.

Ask the people who just got turfed how smart a move it was.

It's 20 degrees outside, Real Player. Why don't you go give some ice away?

 

[MaskMan]

Just a guess, but RealRadioPlayer guy probably owns a radio station. He might be getting ideas from the CC layoffs. Is that you, Gig?

 

[BIG APE]

Just a guess, but RealRadioPlayer guy probably owns a radio station. He might be getting ideas from the CC layoffs. Is that you, Gig?

I seriously doubt it..He may be my cousin, but I don't think he can spell or type..Hell, he's a Carolina Grad..Whadda expect?? ;D ;D

 

[realradioplayer]

Just a guess, but RealRadioPlayer guy probably owns a radio station. He might be getting ideas from the CC layoffs. Is that you, Gig?

I seriously doubt it..He may be my cousin, but I don't think he can spell or type..Hell, he's a Carolina Grad..Whadda expect?? ;D ;D

Now Dave I thought you agreed to play nice and only speak well of your family .... remember the deal?

 

[BIG APE]

Just a guess, but RealRadioPlayer guy probably owns a radio station. He might be getting ideas from the CC layoffs. Is that you, Gig?

I seriously doubt it..He may be my cousin, but I don't think he can spell or type..Hell, he's a Carolina Grad..Whadda expect?? ;D ;D

Now Dave I thought you agreed to play nice and only speak well of your family .... remember the deal?

Gee! I'm sorry, I forgot! Now can I have my paycheck back???

 

[LaidBackJack]

Canning all but the vets was maybe not such a smart move in the long run. The vets can only do so much, like maintaining the current base buyers. Who's gonna go knock on doors and get the new biz the company desperately needs?

 

[turkeydance]

canning all BUT the vets:
1. Survey Says...its take 10x as much effort AND money
to Secure a New Account vs. Retain an Old Account.
2. corollary: if you spend 10% MORE on OLD Accounts
you retain 10x as many of them.
3. finally: Play to your Base. Obama rode this to victory.
McCain went for NEW Republicans....
and ignored OLD (Base) Republicans.
how did THAT work out?

 

[Big Doug Metzenbaum]

The powers that be at Clear Channel, to a person, are sub-human swine who, in a perfect world, would be selling Hoover vacuum cleaners door-to-door in Cottonmouth, Mississippi. They represent everything that is wrong with radio today. I read the e-mail that Mark Mays sent out. The man is a sociopath. Underneath that rough exterior beats a heart of true granite.

Anyone who can excuse or support what Clear Channel did should do the world a favor and kill themselves. God will understand. Hell, he'll thank you for it; probably let you have the remote for a while on the couch up in Heaven.

 

[Bloodhound]

There is no strategy to it. A company invests money in CCU and then CCU calls in its Mgt team and tells them to make cuts. Rather than look in the mirror and see how incredibly incapable they are the managers fire kids trying to start a career. Forget the fact that the revenues they "cut" from sales represent a larger percentage of local direct advertisers......the life blood of all advertising.......and just consider the fact that the leadership is so weak it must fire commissioned sellers. Is there ANYTHING more pathetic? Seems to me CCU could have made much greater strides if they were to replace the market managers with capable people than by way of cutting lower-level personnel.

There HAS TO BE SOMEONE out there at CCU that sees this, no? Who is in charge of NC since the guy in Charlotte was demoted? WAKE UP!

 

[MaskMan]

Canning all but the vets was maybe not such a smart move in the long run. The vets can only do so much, like maintaining the current base buyers. Who's gonna go knock on doors and get the new biz the company desperately needs?

The Vets can knock on doors! Why wouldn't they? Hopefully in this economy they're hungry enough to do whatever needs to be done.
I think it's good that CC let the newer salespeople go and kept their senior faithful staff. That's something that Circuit City didn't do and look what it got them. Keeping the more knowledgeable staff makes sense to me. Yes, it's sad for the newer reps, but they don't have as much time invested in their careers as the older reps. They still have time to develop new careers in another industry. Hell, it was probably a favor to them in the long run!

 

[TinaB]

Is it just me or did everyone else hear the record scratch and this social gathering get uncomfortably silent after Big Doug's post...

See a psychiatrist or something Doug. No man should be carrying around enough hate for a company that they wish death upon them... I think you need a little couch time Biggie...

Not hatin' on you, just hate to see a fellow industry worker get this worked up over something THEY CANNOT CONTROL.... I don't care for CC's ways either but no reason to go "radio"... oops, I mean "postal"...

TB

 

[dittohead1]

Actually, Doug, u r mah boy. Keep up the good work and keep it mental.

 

[whatsthefrequency]

Yep...I, am in Bloodhound's corner.  The upper mgmt flings blame around like a money at the zoo flinging his own poo.  Seems to me new blood is what they would want.  Someone who doesn't know their ways..someone who busts their ass because they don't know better.
Duck!  Here comes more poo/blame.

 

[pump]

Hwody! Just my opinion but I would say if things do not pick up by say mid summer or end of summer CC will probably cut more jobs. If they syndicate more shows local jocks are gone anyway. Just a matter of time I guess. If you work for them I would say start job hunting! Just my opinion.

 

[MT1]

The Mays' have been very open about what they are doing. Most CC programming will be national, with some regional and maybe a handful of localized shows for larger markets. Spots will be bulk sold at auction and not require local sales forces. Local staff will consist of the bare minimum necessary to oversee the robots. All within the next 18 months. This is no big secret, they have been working on this for 10 years... openly and nothing hidden about it!

 

[radiochickgso]

The Mays' have been very open about what they are doing. Most CC programming will be national, with some regional and maybe a handful of localized shows for larger markets. Spots will be bulk sold at auction and not require local sales forces. Local staff will consist of the bare minimum necessary to oversee the robots. All within the next 18 months. This is no big secret, they have been working on this for 10 years... openly and nothing hidden about it!

That sounds Horrific and Horrible -and GREEDY - I guess you can call me a short timer (18 months to be exact) cause I won't work for a company like that. I've been successful in this business for too long to operate in an enviroment where it is just about the money.