The time is at hand!

[Y-100]

OK guys, we've all seen and enjoyed the new PD topics, the format change of the month, ah yes,
the new translator. All very interesting. This isn't intended to criticize any of that. Lets talk
about the real "meat & potato's" of the radio business, or what it was!! People! Have you noticed
there has been an all out effort to purge anyone with a lot of experience, OR track record?
Ummm, and why? NO, the common belief from the populous is money! "Oh, they don't want
to pay". NOT TRUE! That is only a small fraction of the real situation. I have tested it, by offering
to do production, programming, air work, whatever---for $8 an hour! Yes, that's right. NOT
interested! Well now, a few of us know the reason. (((They)) cannot allow us into the building.
Many of us KNOW how a station should operate, AND that is a threat. Let me emphasize
also, this isn't just aimed at the giants, Clear Channel, Entercom, Cox, whatever. The smaller,
mom & pops are just as much at fault!! Look at who they employ?? Uh..uh..right. Maybe
they don't know many of us would work for $8, rather than put on the blue smock at Lowes!
I think it's time for a reality check. Yes, "Speak out time in 2012". There are literally thousands
of us out here! Sitting quietly for how long, years? I personally think it's wrong to have this many
very qualified radio people unable to find anything. NO ONE is insisting on $50,000 a year, and
a lot of us know the 'real' reason too! Let 2012 be the year to sound off. Spread it to the hills!

 

[Scooter Lesley]

Well,...(southern prefix),..I said well,...my good man you have said it quite well...no where near as agressive as I have spouted in months past, but well enough! For a GM to realize that he/she had acccc-cid-dently hired an independent thinker it would cause them to soil their undergarments. I've already made my money! Semi-retired, and debt free. I would just like something to do, other than the occassional agentcy spot. Yeah, I've 30+ years in both Radio & TV, but I'm not hard to find or hard to work with. The interns that I trained work all over the U.S. At this point in my life, I'd take $30-grand, health & dental, and I would work every day! The dental wouldn't cost them much for most of mine are now metal; just call me JAWS! However, I am also still very good on the air. I am still a ratings magnet, and I have a list of references...longer than ROQ's playlist!

 

[snailboy]

I have read a lot of posts and I wonder if anyone saw the hand writing on the wall? I was in radio until 2000 and left because I saw how Clear Channel (and other big companies) were going with technologies ...ie computers playing the music, no one in the building. I sit and read the posts and wonder.....did you see the hand writing on the wall and chose to not pay attention? I do feel for any hard working person that looses their job but we need to take our own destines in hand.

 

[Al Timiter]

I have read a lot of posts and I wonder if anyone saw the hand writing on the wall? I was in radio until 2000 and left because I saw how Clear Channel (and other big companies) were going with technologies ...ie computers playing the music, no one in the building. I sit and read the posts and wonder.....did you see the hand writing on the wall and chose to not pay attention? I do feel for any hard working person that looses their job but we need to take our own destines in hand.

I understand what you're saying and I think most everyone saw the "handwriting on the wall." However.....I know that in my case, I kept plugging away hoping to escape the axe...doing so by working smart and being loyal to my employer, having FAITH in myself and my talent. I knew full well that ALL of us wouldn't last. I was trying to think POSITIVELY that I would be one of the lucky ones. I wasn't. Because I was making a decent salary outside of AM drive, I was expendable. Kept hoping to get hired by (at the time) Sirius or XM or some other entity that hadn't yet been invented. Didn't work out. Just because some of stayed til the bitter end or were asked to leave doesn't necessarily mean we were foolish.

 

[Wabbit_Season]

I saw the handwriting on the wall back in the early 90's when satellite radio was first discussed in Radio & Records. Then the first VT'ing computers were brought in shortly after that. It's not a matter of seeing the writing on the wall; some of us just grew up loving this medium and, once we actually started working in it, loved it even more. We're the 44 year old former slugger who hits 7 home runs from the bench; the actress who tries two too many times to play that leading lady role among actors 10 years younger....we hold on because we love it, because in many cases it's all we know, and if this ship is sinking it's our job to go down with it.

We knew it was coming. We bemoan every step in that direction. And then we strap on the cans and do the best show we can. While updating the website, writing and producing imaging and taking the station van to get detailed.

We're not stupid. We ARE foolish. But we have our reasons.

 

[DudeFan]

Well put Wabbit.

I saw the writing on the walls in 1997 and left for grad school. I was fortunate to come back as an owner/manager. Sure, it's a facility that has it's challenges, but there are very few programming folks can say they call the shots and never have the risk of getting fired? Maybe not eat some months, but never get fired...

 

[snailboy]

I agree the ones that stayed are not foolish at all. I made the decision to get out before the sh*t hits the fan. I have no regrets.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

Dude you are right about not eating some months but calling the shots and not getting fired is a very good feeling. As for anyone who stayed because they loved what they did in and for radio, that is not foolish at all not if you really like what you are doing and your good at it. Any one who wants to ever stop by WLRE Radio and sit and talk a while and say hello your always welcome here. It doesn't matter if we have ever met or not we share a common interest called broadcast radio. I still don't like the fact that a lot of talented radio people have been let go and are out of work, I guess you can say it's a waste of talent, it hurts the radio industry.

 

[freqdev]

i like this thread because i am still inside. there are a number of people nationwide who have been let go not only on air but production traffic sales and part time. i have worked with hundreds in this business. most left because it did not pay enough. others left because they did not want to work weekends or nights. several were let go because they thought they thought they were smarter than the boss and that is a mistake in any business. a few positions were eliminated because of consolidation of jobs

there is a lot of bitterness on these boards. i am surprised that some want back in. i am not surprised at those who aren't on the inside who seem to know best. i wish all the roads and streets were as smooth as glass but i have never laid asphalt for a living but i can still complain

 

[Gatekeeper007]

i like this thread because i am still inside. there are a number of people nationwide who have been let go not only on air but production traffic sales and part time. i have worked with hundreds in this business. most left because it did not pay enough. others left because they did not want to work weekends or nights. several were let go because they thought they thought they were smarter than the boss and that is a mistake in any business. a few positions were eliminated because of consolidation of jobs

there is a lot of bitterness on these boards. i am surprised that some want back in. i am not surprised at those who aren't on the inside who seem to know best. i wish all the roads and streets were as smooth as glass but i have never laid asphalt for a living but i can still complain

I am not saying that there aren't some legitimate reasons for letting some people go but let's get real. This large an amount of people/work force in the broadcast industry, and a great many of them are some of the most qualified hardest working and in some cases best sounding people on the air, just listen to radio today. Yes some stations sound still sounds pretty good but now you often have people six or more states away piped in and trying to sound live and local and it just doesn't sound the same or any where as good and broadcast radio in general is suffering, it has a cheap card board copy cat kind of sound.

 

[Y-100]

Many well made points, but I don't think my real gist was picked up on. We all know
about the writing on the wall, etc. since the early to mid 90s. Since then something
comparable to "Sherman's march to the sea" occurred in corporate radio, leaving
a truly desolate landscape, doors closed, lights out, winter weather reports getting
on the air in July. We all know what occurred. What I'm talking about is after the fact.
All of the smaller stations not utilizing so many real radio people. Every market has
20 or more smaller AMs out around the 'hub' of the major metro. Lets talk about
Woodruff, Easley, Walhalla, Spartanburg, Greer, and on and on. How's it going
to hurt any of them to employ some of these 30-45 year veterans?? Many would
gladly work for less than $10 an hour. I know why. Do any of you??? The money
issue easily identified as the reason, is only a small part. The long time radio
guys are being blocked out. Many would be a real asset to your operation.

 

[freqdev]

gate, i agree with most of what you say. time passes. operators of the small am station struggle to make budget. what is lost is that most businesses willing to advertise on small am stations have gone with other media. if a small am has a great signal in a small coverage area, put something on that makes you a button in their car, then sell the exclusivity.

radio is still a viable entertainment option. advertising revenue is down. operating costs are up. those are the facts. it's hard to pull a pro off the bench for what they will want to be paid.

 

[Scooter Lesley]

No! Readers of the Posts,...and the Owners/GMs,...you don't understand the mindset of those that are described as "Benched".
Corp Radio does not want independent thinkers. We know too much.
It smacks as egotistical, but if you had 20 or so years under your belt, you too would be prevy, and be Benched. The true mind set of today's experinced Broadcaster, male or female, is we will work for $25-grand, +plus medical & dental. That is cheaper than who you now have, paying them more, they know less, and when the book drops, due to their poor performance, they still keep their jobs.
Example: I have over 30+ years in both Radio & TV. I made my money, but needing something to do, I would work for 22-to-25, +plus medical & dental. I could also list over ten more on the bench that would also comply. That's a seasoned, proved, airstaff of four for 100-grand a year, +plus benefits. On-air people that can pull ratings, and Programmers that know what the market wants.
No hemroidal Consultants needed (or wanted!).

 

[freqdev]

Corp Radio does not want independent thinkers. We know too much.

sounds like you are over qualified for the jobs available.

 

[Gatekeeper007]

No! Readers of the Posts,...and the Owners/GMs,...you don't understand the mindset of those that are described as "Benched".
Corp Radio does not want independent thinkers. We know too much.
It smacks as egotistical, but if you had 20 or so years under your belt, you too would be prevy, and be Benched. The true mind set of today's experinced Broadcaster, male or female, is we will work for $25-grand, +plus medical & dental. That is cheaper than who you now have, paying them more, they know less, and when the book drops, due to their poor performance, they still keep their jobs.
Example: I have over 30+ years in both Radio & TV. I made my money, but needing something to do, I would work for 22-to-25, +plus medical & dental. I could also list over ten more on the bench that would also comply. That's a seasoned, proved, airstaff of four for 100-grand a year, +plus benefits. On-air people that can pull ratings, and Programmers that know what the market wants.
No hemroidal Consultants needed (or wanted!).

Scooter you expressed that very well and I agree with you. If I was not running an LPFM and had enough money I would give it a try. I wish I could get more people on WLRE and say ok go at it and have fun while your going but let's face it there's not a lot of money to work with on LP's and you have to watch close what you do and spend.