The REAL story at Cumulus and The Wolf?!?!

[Timbobarn]

This is from the myspace blog of the former night guy on The Wolf, Jake Daniels.... wow. Are things really this bad over there?? If this is true, seems like Cumulus has very little clue how to hire programmers anyone wants to work for.

This blog can be found at:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=66279105&blogID=455157630


It was too long to post here...this just the beginning portion..

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

What Happened to Everyone at the Wolf?


[EDIT]


(continued on his blog_ http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=66279105&blogID=455157630




[EDIT-citation exceeds amount of permissible content under Fair Use standards and has been truncated as a result.]

 

[Slambang]

Sounds like a compelling slice of the cumulus experience to me...

 

[NealH]

Freaking proxy server at work has Myspace blocked. I'd like to read the rest of it.

I pulled my last shift on 3/11. I quit because my wife and kids missed me at home (good timing, too). I never spoke to Sebastian directly only witnessed a brief encounter between he and Smokey Rivers in the hallway that was terse and less-than-pleasant. Made me think to myself "I'm glad I don't have to work for this jackass." I remember sitting in Smokey's office the day after Amy quit asking him "What the fsck is this guy doing? It'll never fly," and it didn't.

 

[little1]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the wolf one of the highest cuming stations in the market, and doing extremely well in the PPM world? Like back to one of the top non-ethnic stations in the market?

Jan Jefferies may be all the things Jake says, but my mama used to say the proof is in the pudding. Is the radio station he programmed getting ratings and making revenue? So he's an a-hole. I've worked for plenty, and had to be one on more than a coupel occasions...

 

[salemjedi54]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the wolf one of the highest cuming stations in the market, and doing extremely well in the PPM world? Like back to one of the top non-ethnic stations in the market?

Jan Jefferies may be all the things Jake says, but my mama used to say the proof is in the pudding. Is the radio station he programmed getting ratings and making revenue? So he's an a-hole. I've worked for plenty, and had to be one on more than a coupel occasions...

When Tom Casey was the PD at KJMZ, he was a total butt...but he made Jamz into a top rated station.

 

[board monkey]

Looks like Jake made the blog private. You have to be a friend to read the rest of it.

 

[little1]

And if saying 'you sounded loose, almost intoxicated!" translates into accusing someone of being drunk, methinks somebody needs a reality check. That email is downright vanilla.

If that kind of stuff made somebody at the Wolf cry, those people don't need to work at 99-5 The Wolf, they'd fit in better at 99-5 the ***** Cats.

And a couple of other things- didn't Amy leave when Cumulus took over?

And I swear there was another program director between Sebastion and Jefferies that I heard about... but I can't place teh name...

 

[the undork]

Cumulus is even worse in smaller masrkets. Basically, as long as 98% of the money made by the cluster is being sent UP the mountain to Atlanta (and I'm sure i don't have to describe what rolls down except to say it ain't money) they could give a rat's a** how it's run on the local level. I spent the worst six months of my career as a production director/midday talent with Cumulus in a top 150 market and will never work for them again in any capacity. I saw a local sales manager and ops manager pull some serious happy horse s**t. There are dozens of examples, but I'll NEVER forget when the sales manager went off on me for not staying until midnight (I'd been on since 7AM) and finishing her spot which actually didnt run for three more days. She actually said "You exist to make my house payment!" Try complaining about that to the good 'ol boys in Georgia. They're even in HR! They just don't care.

When they finally fired me, I thanked them!

 

[noneofyourbiz]

I think the only part about his blog that may have been exaggerated was Jake's reaction to the e-mail he received. It's true that his PD was being critical and offered really no positivity, but all in all I would say he was being a little too sensitive.

Moving on, Jake’s blog really hit the nail on the head. I feel that it is my duty to make people aware of what goes on in that company as a former employee. These stories are recurring themes....

I can tell you that my very first job in radio was with Cumulus when I was barely 18 and then again when I was about 21(don't ask me how I made that mistake...it was pure financial desperation). I am a perceptive, intelligent, and good person much like Jake and I can tell you there is no doubt that this is VERY MUCH the way Cumulus management operates. I could tell in the way Jake wrote this that his observations were coming from his gut. And I have shared his experiences. I have NEVER seen such short-sidedness, ignorance, carelessness, idiocy, and a blatant disregard for employees’ well-being than the way Cumulus media has. It starts from the top down and it's obvious that it's bred in their blood to be that way. I have seen upper management at Cumulus discuss things amongst another and they THINK they have it right and are so bull headed, but they don't realize that their lack of nuance decision making is what shoots them in the foot in the end. My suggestion is that if you are ignorant and soulless enough to work for a company like that--even after hearing all the coincidental and eerily similar stories come out of many different Cumulus markets, than you belong there. If you leave or notice things don't or didn't look right, don't blame yourself. There's still time to get out. There's a saying that holds true today: if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Rest assured that Karma exists and that Cumulus and Jan Jeffries will get their come-up-ins. And believe me, Jan Jeffries has MINDLESS amounts of skeletons in his closet, which is probably why he has such a psychosis and treats people the way he does. As I had said in a previous posting, a good psychiatric evaluation might do the Dickey's and Jan some good.

Jake--the best to you. You're heart is in the right place and you will be fine.

Also, no matter how well a radio station does (and that’s subjective), that does not give them the right to treat their employees with disrespect. In fact, you’ll notice the companies that put the employees first ALWAYS do well in the end. It’s called breeding longevity and loyalty. Something that is missing in today’s corporate radio scene—especially at Cumulus.

 

[NealH]

And a couple of other things- didn't Amy leave when Cumulus took over?

Negative, ghost rider. Amy didn't leave when Cumulus took over. Bobby Mitchell was fired as part of the takeover, as were Ken Mendez, Jimmy Christopher, Dan Halyburton and (I believe) Lon Bason - to name a few.

And I swear there was another program director between Sebastion and Jefferies that I heard about... but I can't place teh name...

Nope. During my time there it went Paul Williams->Jon Cook->John Sebastian
Cook was the one who brought Jake, Fitz, and Mr Ed to the station.

 

[Jake Daniels]

Listen. I'm not saying that Jan is an idiot. He's actually a pretty smart guy. I just dont like him.

Yes. The station is doing well with the PPM. But we are in Dallas/ Fort Worth. What would you expect a country station to do in the ratings? Suck? No. When the October PPM results came back we were the highest cuming station in America. My night show was tied for 2nd. We were #1 12+ etc etc etc.....

Its just sad that the station reports an all time high in all dayparts and I get fired for a syndicated show.

The irony is, Jan never let me do anything. I would ask. He would say no. I would show personality and he would call me out on it. "Self Serving B.S." as he called it. Then he goes and replaces me with Cody Alan's show. Cody left the station because he couldnt be creative and do a fun show! So, he says no to all of my ideas to make the night show fun and interactive and replaces me with a show that goes against everything he told me I couldnt do. I love Cody and I have no hard feelings for him and his show. I'm sure its gonna be fantastic.

Its just when you dont have the balls to call one of your employees who works in a major market on a huge radio station, it shows what kind of person you really are. I'm not some Joe Schmoe in a small town somewhere working for Cumulus. At least have the respect to call or email or walk in the studio. Something and tell me that you are firing me. Dont leave it up to the GM to do your dirty work.

If you are gonna make jokes in meetings about how many people you have fired in your career and you are going to then sit there and tell us that Cumulus is the greatest company on the face of the Earth and then make creepy remarks about wanting to "Do it Straight Up" with Paula Abdul, show up and be the big bad ass that you claim to be.

Point being... I'm out of there. I am happy to be out of there. I will never work for him or Cumulus again. Actually, after posting that blog and this particular post, they will make sure that I never work for them again! HAAAA!!!

You dont have to be an ass to be successful. Your employees will be much happier and I bet they will perform so much more efficiently.

I'm just sayin.

 

[Kent]

Jake, I'd love to read your blog, but it says it's a private blog and only people authorized by you can view it. Can you make it public?

 

[little1]

Its just sad that the station reports an all time high in all dayparts and I get fired for a syndicated show.

Is it 'just' a syndicated show? Not from what I've heard...

The irony is, Jan never let me do anything. I would ask. He would say no. I would show personality and he would call me out on it. "Self Serving B.S." as he called it.

Are you letting the fact that you don't like the guy cloud your judgement? The thing that hit me most about reading that blog post is how egocentric it seemed. Your station in Florida- you admit you didn't like people telling you how to do YOUR show. You wanted to do this, YOU wanted to do that. YOU YOU YOU. You wanted to do bits, you wanted a 'yuk monkey' on the street , YOU wanted to do the show YOU wanted to do. After all, you were the rockstar, right?

And while it might have been 'your show' it's THEIR radio station. And especially in this day and age, it's about doing what THEY want you to do. And if they don't want excess personality, aren't you supposed to do what THEY want?

I don't know Jan Jefferies, I wouldn't know him if he and his color matched goatee walked up to me, but from what you wrote you've got a guy with less then a decade of radio experience (you) telling the guy with 40 years experience, a guy that programmed one of the all time great top-40 stations (WLS in the 70's). And you're really wondering why he didn't accept all your ideas as the best thing since sliced bread?

. I'm not some Joe Schmoe in a small town somewhere working for Cumulus. .

Like I said, egocentric. You're not just some Joe Scmoe, you're SOMEBODY!!! You're Jake Daniels!!!

 

[Jake Daniels]

When Jan arrived, he came to us wanting suggestions for the station and what we think we can do to improve not only the station overall but our shows. So I had a sit down with him and we went over a bunch of different things. He seemed receptive to all of them.

So in a follow up, he told me to stay the course.

So I did.

A few months later I sent him an email with some stuff, I think the whole station could get involved in as well as some ideas for the MY show. This email was a "reply all" to a brainstorming email that was going around with the whole staff.

Again... Shot down.

I stayed the course and then I was fired to make way for Cody's show. A show that is going to be doing a lot of the things that I had mentioned I wanted to do on MY show.

Do you see where I am coming from?

I'm not complaining or crying that I lost my job. Whatever. Its radio. We all bounce back.

I'm saying I dont like the way the guy conducts his business.

And yes, he programmed WLS in Chicago before I was born. Who cares?

And like I said before, I dont think he is an idiot. He is a smart radio guy. Credit to him for that.

I am Jake Daniels and you are who?

 

[BossJock1947]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the wolf one of the highest cuming stations in the market, and doing extremely well in the PPM world? Like back to one of the top non-ethnic stations in the market?

Jan Jefferies may be all the things Jake says, but my mama used to say the proof is in the pudding. Is the radio station he programmed getting ratings and making revenue? So he's an a-hole. I've worked for plenty, and had to be one on more than a coupel occasions...

Jan Jefferies is OVERRATED. I competed against him twice. Beat him twice. Jan talks a good game but is just your average small market PD which is where Cumulus started.

 

[EbolaMonkey]

from what you wrote you've got a guy with less then a decade of radio experience (you) telling the guy with 40 years experience, a guy that programmed one of the all time great top-40 stations (WLS in the 70's). And you're really wondering why he didn't accept all your ideas as the best thing since sliced bread?

Once I've been in the biz for 40 years, I hope I'm not foolish enough to dismiss the ideas of the younger generation.

 

[NealH]

from what you wrote you've got a guy with less then a decade of radio experience (you) telling the guy with 40 years experience, a guy that programmed one of the all time great top-40 stations (WLS in the 70's). And you're really wondering why he didn't accept all your ideas as the best thing since sliced bread?

Once I've been in the biz for 40 years, I hope I'm not foolish enough to dismiss the ideas of the younger generation.

In today's craptastic radio climate I'd be more worried about how much money I had to retire on. I'd hate to spend 40 years slaving away to the radio "gods" only to find out I have to spend the next 30 working as a greeter at Wal-Mart.

 

[johnqdoe]

When Jan arrived, he came to us wanting suggestions for the station and what we think we can do to improve not only the station overall but our shows. So I had a sit down with him and we went over a bunch of different things. He seemed receptive to all of them.

So in a follow up, he told me to stay the course.

So I did.

A few months later I sent him an email with some stuff, I think the whole station could get involved in as well as some ideas for the MY show. This email was a "reply all" to a brainstorming email that was going around with the whole staff.

Again... Shot down.

I stayed the course and then I was fired to make way for Cody's show. A show that is going to be doing a lot of the things that I had mentioned I wanted to do on MY show.

Do you see where I am coming from?

I'm not complaining or crying that I lost my job. Whatever. Its radio. We all bounce back.

I'm saying I dont like the way the guy conducts his business.

And yes, he programmed WLS in Chicago before I was born. Who cares?

And like I said before, I dont think he is an idiot. He is a smart radio guy. Credit to him for that.

I am Jake Daniels and you are who?

CC is doina lot of this too. Dumbing down the talent....making it liner card radio...Then all of a sudden, it's a great idea to pump Seacrest everywhere because "listeners want personality"

 

[johnqdoe]

When Jan arrived, he came to us wanting suggestions for the station and what we think we can do to improve not only the station overall but our shows. So I had a sit down with him and we went over a bunch of different things. He seemed receptive to all of them.

So in a follow up, he told me to stay the course.

So I did.

A few months later I sent him an email with some stuff, I think the whole station could get involved in as well as some ideas for the MY show. This email was a "reply all" to a brainstorming email that was going around with the whole staff.

Again... Shot down.

I stayed the course and then I was fired to make way for Cody's show. A show that is going to be doing a lot of the things that I had mentioned I wanted to do on MY show.

Do you see where I am coming from?

I'm not complaining or crying that I lost my job. Whatever. Its radio. We all bounce back.

I'm saying I dont like the way the guy conducts his business.

And yes, he programmed WLS in Chicago before I was born. Who cares?

And like I said before, I dont think he is an idiot. He is a smart radio guy. Credit to him for that.

I am Jake Daniels and you are who?

CC is doina lot of this too. Dumbing down the talent....making it liner card radio...Then all of a sudden, it's a great idea to pump Seacrest everywhere because "listeners want personality"

 

[whodatdj]

Look. This isn't about what Jan wouldn't let Jake do locally vs what he will get from Cody's national show. It isn't about the bits and such at all. It's about Cumulus being able to fire every night guy at every country station they own. Wow, think of the payroll savings. Jan probably couldn't talk the Dickey's out this cost savings once it was presented to them if his life depended on it. They would probably play a 1K tone from 7-midnight if they thought it would save them a buck. Every mutt that is at Cumulus corporate is there because they never question the wisdom of Lew and John Dickey. Jan's not going to rock the boat. He'll collect some more paychecks and if it blows up he'll go to the next gig and blame the failure on "them not listening to him."

Don't take it personal Jake it just business. Business that is bad for the listener, bad for the advertiser, and bad for the industry but they can't think beyond making the payment on that huge note they have to pay.