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The Rise and Fall of Russ Martin

  • Thread starter Redeye/blackeye
  • Start date

R

Redeye/blackeye

Guest
So by now we all know it's over for the Batman. We all saw this coming. I said a couple of months ago Live 1053 was on Life support, today it got a new liver. But it will abuse the liver and The fan will FAIL in less than 4yrs. As for Russ, he had talent, he just got comfortable, too comfortable. Maybe he will get another job in dfw, if he cuts out the laughing idiot, gets rid of Trey, JD has potential. Also if he brings new bits, and stops replaying a clip over and over and over. I guess at the End Kraddick won this match by remaining Noble. His show [kraddick] might not fit you but he knows he's demo, and he's[kraddick] working he's demo. Goodbye Russ.
 
I agree he got WAY comfortable and the show got lame. He was whippin those old gags to death. I hadnt listened to him in months anyway or 105.3 cause the station lost its luster big time.
 
I agree he got way too comfortable. I used to listen to him faithfully but when he spent more time playing the guitar on his show and I use the term "playing" loosely, started blowing up anything he could get his hands on and playing bits over and over...you could tell, he just didn't care anymore. He thought he was untouchable. He didn't want to be a team player, always put other shows on the station down instead of supporting them in order to ensure the success of the station as a whole. I have the feeling CBS has been looking for a way to get rid of him ever since the whole debacle with the girlfriend.
 
Here's a couple of questions for you radio people. Since Russ was under contract when he got canned doesn't CBS still have to pay him? Also if there was a no compete clause in the contract does that still stand with him being fired?
 
Pay depends on wording of deal, sure he had a nice buy out, and yes Non-compete still in effect... man I hope his girlfriend wasn't home when he got there! :mad:
 
ISaidSo said:
Pay depends on wording of deal, sure he had a nice buy out, and yes Non-compete still in effect... man I hope his girlfriend wasn't home when he got there! :mad:
Click to expand...

Cash buyout? Methinks the IRS might be interested in that. ;)

All that money at the end of the year? Wow.... he better hope that Russ Martin Automotive is a money sink because the IRS will hit him hard, tax wise, for any buy out monies paid via lump sum. :eek:
 
Pay depends on wording of deal, sure he had a nice buy out, and yes Non-compete still in effect... man I hope his girlfriend wasn't home when he got there!


Cash buyout? Methinks the IRS might be interested in that.

All that money at the end of the year? Wow.... he better hope that Russ Martin Automotive is a money sink because the IRS will hit him hard, tax wise, for any buy out monies paid via lump sum.
Click to expand...

He could always just live off the RMS listener fund.
Im sure its got plenty of cash. ::)
 
lilly64 said:
I agree he got way too comfortable. I used to listen to him faithfully but when he spent more time playing the guitar on his show and I use the term "playing" loosely, started blowing up anything he could get his hands on and playing bits over and over...you could tell, he just didn't care anymore. He thought he was untouchable. He didn't want to be a team player, always put other shows on the station down instead of supporting them in order to ensure the success of the station as a whole. I have the feeling CBS has been looking for a way to get rid of him ever since the whole debacle with the girlfriend.
Click to expand...
+1, 100%.
 
ISaidSo said:
Pay depends on wording of deal, sure he had a nice buy out, and yes Non-compete still in effect... man I hope his girlfriend wasn't home when he got there! :mad:
Click to expand...

Now that's funny. But in all seriousness, I'd like to believe she's safe from further abuse.
 
Without getting too sarcastic, RMS had become too comfortible in their schtick. Part of that was managment (Gavin) that, IMHO, should've been dismissed as well. Mostly, it was a show that outlived its usefulness around 4-5 years ago. Times change and so do peoples taste when it comes to entertainment. Turning off the mics, using phrases/words that sound racists and blowing things up isnt my idea of good listening.
 
Just out of morbid curiosity, how have Russ's M25-54 numbers been over the past couple years? Have they fallen off?
 
Last trend they were down to the 6-8 range. Don't remember where exactly, but I think it was Jagger 8th, B&S 21st and Russ 6th with M25-54.
 
wilsonbl5150 said:
Here's a couple of questions for you radio people. Since Russ was under contract when he got canned doesn't CBS still have to pay him? Also if there was a no compete clause in the contract does that still stand with him being fired?
Click to expand...

I think he has mentioned on air that he had a morals clause in his contract. I'm sure he's getting something out of the deal but CBS may make him fight for it until after his trial in January. Cause if he's convicted......that might be their out.
 
Russ will continue to be paid till 2011 as per his contract. Read a Q&A on D Magazine's Frontburner Blog.
 
DID RUSS NOT SEE THIS COMING, last week he was talking about having a company christmas party, at the old sales floor which he had put money into renovating so it could be a soundstage. With all the cuts that were going around city to city, how could he have been that oblivious. I wonder when he learned of the news, i could tell somthing was going on with westwood one broadcasts.
 
Agreed, he should have known was up, but the house was listed on November 18th, if that tells you anything. So maybe he did, or he just decided to do a little "down-sizing".
 
The following if from D magazines frontburner> it clearly shows Russ had no idea until the weekend when he got a hint that CBS had registered the fan website. But management never notified him until monday afternoon, about the time he was supposed to be on air i presume. He prob will still get his money, but i hope he invests it wisely. Dont buy CBS stock though.


Yesterday Live 105.3 switched formats. It’s now mostly sports talk, and it’s called The Fan. With the switch, afternoon drive ratings juggernaut Russ Martin was let go. He was kind enough to answer a few questions via e-mail:

FrontBurner: Was yesterday’s format change a surprise to you? When did you learn of it?

Russ Martin: Surprised? Not really. Got an e-mail from a friend over the weekend that KLLI had registered The Fan website. They officially told me Monday afternoon.

FrontBurner: When is or was your contract up?

Russ Martin: They indicated they’d honor the remainder of my contract, which runs through April of 2011. So, no worries. Very odd, though, to be paid seven figures annually to do nothing. Gonna sit back, relax, and get me some of those Dr. Shoal’s jelly pads for your feet.

FrontBurner: What did station management tell you about their decision?

Russ Martin: They said nothing more than they were flipping to all sports talk and apologized — many times. I told them I didn’t perceive this as a personal attack and to make sure my money showed up every two weeks.

FrontBurner: I assume you can’t comment on any other station you might be in talks with. But would you ever consider doing mornings again?

Russ Martin: As far as other stations, I haven’t heard from anyone. My e-mail inbox exploded yesterday and had to use an auto responder. That way every e-mailer at least got something.
 
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