from his facebook page. "No longer with KHITS and BOB-FM. E-mail me at [email protected]. It was a great 8+ years and I wish them much success!!!"
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Tod Tucker Out as OM of Renda Tulsa
- Thread starter Watercooler
- Start date
I hope so. He's a great guy and pd. It stinks that he's out of the place. He did the place good.
T
ttowngeezer
Guest
The latest: the BOB-FM/KBEZ transmitter is sweating its deal may not be renewed.
"The latest: the BOB-FM/KBEZ transmitter is sweating its deal may not be renewed." Yup. It's real hard for retirement age equipment to find work too. Poor darn thing... When you're like 90 in broadcast equipment equiv. years, you just have to hope the owner doesn't throw you to the wind...
Is there anything new in Tulsa radio these days? ;D
There's sure is something lame. It's at 92.9 FM.
In_Tulsa said:
I know for a fact he saw this coming. He's had his resume floating around for awhile. He's been wanting to jump ship for some time, I think. Other Renda staffers have been wanting out too. People there who are "Tod people" will want to bail. The timing of this move is a little odd to me since they JUST launched Bob FM. What's going on at Renda Tulsa these days?
I don't want to air dirty laundry publicly. I don't even usually post on boards. I posted last night, just to bring some humor to a dark period in my career. I did not see it coming, however, it's radio, and you always prepare for it. My dad was in radio/TV, and I saw him go through the same thing. When your're a head football coach, or PD, you expect it to happen eventually. Let me clarify. I have not had my resume floating around. I was very happy working here. I did apply for a position in Atlanta, and that is the first, and only time I sent out a resume in my 8 years and 4 months here. I love these radio stations, the people who work there, and will miss them! I also know that God has a perfect plan for me, and I will end up where I'm supposed to be. I have been blessed to work with some of the best talent radio has to offer, and I've been blessed to compete against great talent as well. We had a great battle with The Beat, and, while that battle got nasty on the air, we're all just radio guys trying to make a living and keep our jobs. At the end of the day, we're a brother/sisterhood, and usually end up working together at some point. I won't post again on this board, but wanted to let all of you know that your phone calls, e-mails, and posts on this board mean more to me than you know! God bless you all, and keep on producing great radio. I will be back!
Tod,
Your listed e-mail just bounced; how do we reach you?
Your listed e-mail just bounced; how do we reach you?
Either [email protected], or [email protected]. My old e-mail address was [email protected], and I think I put radiotodkhtt out of habit.
Well, regardless of the situation, I wish Tod the best of luck. I always hate it when good radio people are out of work. He's right though...it happens to all of us eventually.
Everytime I've been let go (more times than I would like), I knew it was coming. You get that weird feeling in your gut like something's about to hit the fan.
Everytime I've been let go (more times than I would like), I knew it was coming. You get that weird feeling in your gut like something's about to hit the fan.
Tod, based on what you said in your post yesterday (which I certainly generally agree with), I'm curious as to how certain people (Mike McCoy, Steve O'Brien, Kevin Christopher) have avoided what's happened to 99.8% of PDs in the industry. Kevin I can probably guess accurately, but the other two you may have some input on, one having previously PDed you, and the other also working for Renda.
hello4 said:
To me, it's simple. Steve and Mike PD stations that have performed well consistently. K-Hits has also performed pretty well under Tod's watch which leads me to believe that this isn't a change based on numbers. Tod's choice to "not air dirty laundry" on this site tells me that there is dirty laundry to be aired. He should be commended for taking the high road there.
I'm on the outside looking in, but I know people who work for Renda Tulsa, and that place is a mess. The "Bob" disaster proves that they're desperate. Their decision to ax Scotty Wylde in favor of Billy Madison is understandable to a degree, but has alienated a lot of listeners (the fact that Scotty's show was number 1 after he was let go didn't help).
One thing is certain: Renda is scared of The Beat. They shouldn't be, but they are. Apparently they were also scared of Mix and decided to give up the fight, which is the only way I can try to explain the bizarre format change at KBEZ.
I promised not to post on the board anymore, and you guys asked questions, so I'll do my best to answer. I didn't even have a user name for this board until the night of my first posting. I don't know Kevin Christopher, but he's done a great job from what I can tell at KKNG, and probably has a great relationship with the Tyler family. As for Mike McCoy, he and I come from the "Jim Sumpter" school. Jim was Mike's PD in Salt Lake City, and was GM over Glenn Beck and me in Corpus Christi in the early 80's. Mike is a very knowledgeable Programmer, who has had great success with KJ-103. KJ, like KHTT, and any heritage station, has it's ups and downs in Arbitron, and, we're at the mercy of the diary method, which was used when my dad was programming in the 1970's. Most people fill their diaries out on the last day. Do you remember the places you had lunch the last 7 days? What you ate? How much time you spent in the restaurant? I'm sure you see my point.I once told Tony Renda, that Arbitron is the most expensive fiction he'll ever buy. I had MUCH more success at KHTT, than low points, and the last book was one of the best in my tenure. As for Steve O'Brien, he is one of the nicest, most loyal, and most knowledgeable AC programmers n the country. Steve helped me when I was given KBEZ, and he became a very good friend to me.
As for Tony Renda, a lot of people bash him on this board, but in the 8 years and 4 months I worked for him, he was always very nice to me, and allowed me to program KHTT, without interference. I would work for Tony Renda again, anytime.
I said it before, and I'll say it again. Until radio stops feeding the MONSTER MONOPOLY, Arbitron, great programmers, and talent will continue to lose their jobs. Was I a perfect programmer? Absolutely not. Did I work my butt off to be? YES!
As for Tony Renda, a lot of people bash him on this board, but in the 8 years and 4 months I worked for him, he was always very nice to me, and allowed me to program KHTT, without interference. I would work for Tony Renda again, anytime.
I said it before, and I'll say it again. Until radio stops feeding the MONSTER MONOPOLY, Arbitron, great programmers, and talent will continue to lose their jobs. Was I a perfect programmer? Absolutely not. Did I work my butt off to be? YES!
I couldn't agree more about Tony Renda. I worked for him for 5 1/2 years, and never had anything but unconditional support from him. The morning we got our first book back, he called to congratulate me, saying: "I don't understand what you're doing, but please keep on doing it."
Several times a year I'd get calls from Tony to see how I was doing. He'd close every conversation by asking if I was happy. When I'd tell him I was, he'd say: "If that ever changes, please let me know." I never had to make that call, but I always believed if I'd needed to, he would've been as good as his word.
You read horror stories on here about Rob Adair, and again, I don't recognize the guy they're describing. While Rob is much more deliberate and conservative in personality and style than Tony, and it took longer to win him over to a different way of doing things, once he became convinced those strategies and tactics were effective, not once did Rob ever fail to stand behind us. When he had a question or a problem he picked up the phone and asked me about it directly, and all it took to appease him was simple, straightforward, honest answers. Even when he didn't fully agree, he'd often say: "Well Buddy, it's not the way I'd do it, but what you're doing is working, so do what you think is right."
When Rob went to Salem and was replaced by Lance (can't remember his last name), I got the same support.
I worked for the two absolute best GMs of my career there, by a mile. By a hundred miles. Not once in 5 1/2 years was I told what to play, or not play, what promotion to do, or not do, what person to hire, or not hire, what person to fire, or not fire. Sure, there were often questions asked about the reasoning behind my decisions, but once given, I don't recall once being told "no". In 20 years of programming, I never came close to having the autonomy and freedom to create I enjoyed at KHITS.
I don't know the reasons behind Tod's leaving, but I'm sad to see him go. You don't last 8 + years in a CHR programming gig without being the goods, his longevity is his bona fides.
Whatever the reasons, even if it was a bad decision by Tony, or Rob, or both, I still say they don't deserve the crap I read about them on here. One thing Tony and Rob have in common is they respect and admire people who have a plan, and who get shit done. They also don't have any patience with people who don't have a plan, and who don't get shit done. It is my belief and opinion that most of the badmouthing of those two (done anonymously, of course) comes from people who couldn't live up to those standards.
What I just don't understand is in the past 20 years, the small business owner so often described as "The backbone of our economy" has been driven out of this industry by massive corporate interests who used their power and influence and money to hijack the public airwaves; our airwaves. Today, the little guy is rarer in this business than logic or common sense in a Sarah Palin speech, yet here's this feisty Italian guy who has kept sticking a finger in the eye of those massive Death Stars through all the ups and downs of the past 20 years, and instead of admiring him, all people can do is run him down. I'm curious, which is more in the "American Spirit"; Clear Channel, or one of the last of a dying breed of entrepeneurial owner-operators? I just don't get it.
That is, of course, just my opinion. Anyone else is certainly welcome to theirs.
The business sucks right now, and in my opinion, it's only going to get worse. I'm just hoping Tod can find another place where he'll be as happy and successful for as long (or longer) as he was at KHITS. I'm also hoping that Tony and the rest of the smaller operators in this business aren't driven into extinction.
And Tod, would you say the new Katy Perry song is a "star", a "dot", or a "star/dot"?
Sean Phillips
Several times a year I'd get calls from Tony to see how I was doing. He'd close every conversation by asking if I was happy. When I'd tell him I was, he'd say: "If that ever changes, please let me know." I never had to make that call, but I always believed if I'd needed to, he would've been as good as his word.
You read horror stories on here about Rob Adair, and again, I don't recognize the guy they're describing. While Rob is much more deliberate and conservative in personality and style than Tony, and it took longer to win him over to a different way of doing things, once he became convinced those strategies and tactics were effective, not once did Rob ever fail to stand behind us. When he had a question or a problem he picked up the phone and asked me about it directly, and all it took to appease him was simple, straightforward, honest answers. Even when he didn't fully agree, he'd often say: "Well Buddy, it's not the way I'd do it, but what you're doing is working, so do what you think is right."
When Rob went to Salem and was replaced by Lance (can't remember his last name), I got the same support.
I worked for the two absolute best GMs of my career there, by a mile. By a hundred miles. Not once in 5 1/2 years was I told what to play, or not play, what promotion to do, or not do, what person to hire, or not hire, what person to fire, or not fire. Sure, there were often questions asked about the reasoning behind my decisions, but once given, I don't recall once being told "no". In 20 years of programming, I never came close to having the autonomy and freedom to create I enjoyed at KHITS.
I don't know the reasons behind Tod's leaving, but I'm sad to see him go. You don't last 8 + years in a CHR programming gig without being the goods, his longevity is his bona fides.
Whatever the reasons, even if it was a bad decision by Tony, or Rob, or both, I still say they don't deserve the crap I read about them on here. One thing Tony and Rob have in common is they respect and admire people who have a plan, and who get shit done. They also don't have any patience with people who don't have a plan, and who don't get shit done. It is my belief and opinion that most of the badmouthing of those two (done anonymously, of course) comes from people who couldn't live up to those standards.
What I just don't understand is in the past 20 years, the small business owner so often described as "The backbone of our economy" has been driven out of this industry by massive corporate interests who used their power and influence and money to hijack the public airwaves; our airwaves. Today, the little guy is rarer in this business than logic or common sense in a Sarah Palin speech, yet here's this feisty Italian guy who has kept sticking a finger in the eye of those massive Death Stars through all the ups and downs of the past 20 years, and instead of admiring him, all people can do is run him down. I'm curious, which is more in the "American Spirit"; Clear Channel, or one of the last of a dying breed of entrepeneurial owner-operators? I just don't get it.
That is, of course, just my opinion. Anyone else is certainly welcome to theirs.
The business sucks right now, and in my opinion, it's only going to get worse. I'm just hoping Tod can find another place where he'll be as happy and successful for as long (or longer) as he was at KHITS. I'm also hoping that Tony and the rest of the smaller operators in this business aren't driven into extinction.
And Tod, would you say the new Katy Perry song is a "star", a "dot", or a "star/dot"?
Sean Phillips
Oh, I'm just bored bored bored. If Steve and Kevin and Mike are swell, that's swell; I'm just hunting for anything that would bring something new and exciting to OKC. The only thing I listen to now is Casey on KOMA Sunday mornings, and Casey's 80s via WINC in Winchester VA on Saturday nights. I'm not bent on living in the past, I just want some simple variety to spice up my Magic/KOMA fatigue (I can't even stomach most of today's CHR tunes). I want the days of the "oh wow" to come back; I refuse to believe that spiking in one song an hour "off the cuff" is going to send everyone's ratings down the drain. Keep your well-tested 300 songs pumping if you must, but liven things up just a smidgen, and I will personally repay your lost revenue if the listeners stream away in droves (offer good for Tony only...CCC don't need my money! 
). I just took a road trip to Winnipeg, and while I didn't go through too many major markets on the way, I could at least listen to the radio! KJJO in St. Joseph MO has great variety; it dips into the north end of the KC metro. Most every station from Iowa to the Dakotas and back down to Kansas was allowed to touch whatever songs were on their premises (if they weren't on a bird); it reminded me of when I used to enjoy listening to radio. The Bob station in Winnipeg is great; but of course loaded down with Canadian hits, so it sounds more "oh wow" to an Oklahoman than it would to a Manitoban. But I could even listen to the CHR there too. On the other side of the coin, let's bash Ferris again; pipe dreams gone overboard aren't any more pleasing. When his money runs out, it'll go back to what it was before (unless there's somebody else out there with dinero to buy it off him). In summary: four countrys, four rocks? Blech. If I was a Tyler, I'd've taken an even bigger bite of the hispanic audience and programmed an 80s 90s 00s rhythmic-based Jack station, focusing on hispanic artists who crossed over, from Exposé to Marc Anthony. Jake? Really? Snooze. And if the Tylers were willing to weather the firestorm (any publicity, as they say...), they would name it Jesús 97.3!
). I just took a road trip to Winnipeg, and while I didn't go through too many major markets on the way, I could at least listen to the radio! KJJO in St. Joseph MO has great variety; it dips into the north end of the KC metro. Most every station from Iowa to the Dakotas and back down to Kansas was allowed to touch whatever songs were on their premises (if they weren't on a bird); it reminded me of when I used to enjoy listening to radio. The Bob station in Winnipeg is great; but of course loaded down with Canadian hits, so it sounds more "oh wow" to an Oklahoman than it would to a Manitoban. But I could even listen to the CHR there too. On the other side of the coin, let's bash Ferris again; pipe dreams gone overboard aren't any more pleasing. When his money runs out, it'll go back to what it was before (unless there's somebody else out there with dinero to buy it off him). In summary: four countrys, four rocks? Blech. If I was a Tyler, I'd've taken an even bigger bite of the hispanic audience and programmed an 80s 90s 00s rhythmic-based Jack station, focusing on hispanic artists who crossed over, from Exposé to Marc Anthony. Jake? Really? Snooze. And if the Tylers were willing to weather the firestorm (any publicity, as they say...), they would name it Jesús 97.3!- Status