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Top Level Changes At Cox Jax

2

2old4this

Guest
Word from a very reliable contact is that VP/GM's Gary Spurgeon and Dick Williams were both released today. Too bad, they are both good people. Two more big salaries gone at the cluster. That certainly seems to be what Cox is eliminating.
 
Better than that... AllAccess is reporting it. These two walked so many talented people to the door I lost count. Were they just following orders from HQ? We'll never know, since the bodies have already been thrown under the bus.
I'd hate to be working there.

> Word from a very reliable contact is that VP/GM's Gary
> Spurgeon and Dick Williams were both released today. Too
> bad, they are both good people. Two more big salaries gone
> at the cluster. That certainly seems to be what Cox is
> eliminating.
>
 
> Word from a very reliable contact is that VP/GM's Gary
> Spurgeon and Dick Williams were both released today. Too
> bad, they are both good people. Two more big salaries gone
> at the cluster. That certainly seems to be what Cox is
> eliminating.
>

I've never met Gary Spurgeon, but I KNOW I speak for myself and a couple of dozen others when I say (about Dick Williams), "Gee, what a shame".

Anyone?
 
> , they are both good people.
>
So are Dave, Heather, Doc, Murphy, Pat, Paul, Trane and Hoyle.
Da Whackers just joined Da Whacked! Wonder who is next?
Gary and Dick, it's not personal. I guess they made you an offer you should have refused!

Have some pasta and red wine! Disoccupato, Mi Dispaiace.

Goodfellow
 
> Were they just following orders from HQ?

I suspect it's like what I've seen many times over the years...not just since Telecom '97.

The owner tells management to make a profit, which is certainly not an unreasonable request.

Management has two choices...increase revenue, or cut expenses. In many cases, a few idiotic schemes are attemped ("Good news, everyone...we're going change the format to amputee disco. We'll make a killin'").

When it all fails, expenses (payroll is usually the biggest expense) get cut to the bone, as management tries to save their phoney-baloney jobs. It usually catches up with them, and they're history.

To be sure, since the stock market started dictating how radio and television stations are operated, even the very top level of management will sometimes make some really bonehead moves.

The real problem today (at least with major operators), is unbridled greed. Enough is NEVER enough. We'll never again see the likes of a Bill Paley. Paley never expected CBS's news and public affairs divisions to even break even. It was considered a responsibility. The entertainment division was expected to generate enough revenue to more than cover the loss in news. These days, EVERYTHING must generate a profit, or it's history. As I think about it, that's how a whorehouse has always been operated!<P ID="signature">______________
Jay Braswell - Moderator
Atlanta/North Florida/South Carolina/Georgia Boards</P>
 
> > Word from a very reliable contact is that VP/GM's Gary
> > Spurgeon and Dick Williams were both released today. Too
> > bad, they are both good people. Two more big salaries
> gone
> > at the cluster. That certainly seems to be what Cox is
> > eliminating.
> >
>
> I've never met Gary Spurgeon, but I KNOW I speak for myself
> and a couple of dozen others when I say (about Dick
> Williams), "Gee, what a shame".
>
> Anyone?
>
OK you can say whatever you want, like Spurgeon and Williams were carrying out the word sent down from their higher up's when the COOL staff was let go. What goes around comes around. Let's hope Cox holds them to a one year non compete so these Brokeback Mountain dudes can get humble for just a bit.
 
Profit Yes...Stupidity No

Totally agree. Radio is a shell of what it used to be. I think a major problem with radio today is that senior management consists of people who are great at making the pitch to cut costs based on manipulated data often intertwined with "listener preferences." But, are they really "radio" people. I think not.

While we all understand that every business is in business to make money, can we really say with confidence that radio stations now are positioning themselves well for the future? Going jockless most of the time will cut expense but is there an incentive to listen? Radio is supposed to be a communications medium. If a major event (weather, traffic, news etc.) occurs anytime outside of M-Fri 5:30 AM - 7 PM, we are SOL if we depend on radio for information. For those who consider satellite as an alternative, the choice is made easier. Both commercial radio and alternatives pump out the music. But the trendiness and newness of the later will eventually win out. Commercial radio is virtually lying down and playing dead.

Funny how I recall my Grandfather who when I was a kid often told me in business, you have to spend money in order to make money. Commercial radio should be an alternative where local personality jocks invoke life and help develop listener loyalty. It seems radio just goes after established norms and is not interested in crossing the finish line big time.

I think I can write a book about this subject. When you talk about bonehead decisions by top management, the examples not only in Jax but around the country are mind boggling.

> To be sure, since the stock market started dictating how
> radio and television stations are operated, even the very
> top level of management will sometimes make some really
> bonehead moves.
>
> The real problem today (at least with major operators), is
> unbridled greed. Enough is NEVER enough. We'll never again
> see the likes of a Bill Paley. Paley never expected CBS's
> news and public affairs divisions to even break even. It was
> considered a responsibility. The entertainment division was
> expected to generate enough revenue to more than cover the
> loss in news. These days, EVERYTHING must generate a profit,
> or it's history. As I think about it, that's how a
> whorehouse has always been operated!
>
 
> > Were they just following orders from HQ?
>
> I suspect it's like what I've seen many times over the
> years...not just since Telecom '97.
>
> The owner tells management to make a profit, which is
> certainly not an unreasonable request.
>
> Management has two choices...increase revenue, or cut
> expenses. In many cases, a few idiotic schemes are attemped
> ("Good news, everyone...we're going change the format to
> amputee disco. We'll make a killin'").
>
> When it all fails, expenses (payroll is usually the biggest
> expense) get cut to the bone, as management tries to save
> their phoney-baloney jobs. It usually catches up with them,
> and they're history.
>
> To be sure, since the stock market started dictating how
> radio and television stations are operated, even the very
> top level of management will sometimes make some really
> bonehead moves.
>
> The real problem today (at least with major operators), is
> unbridled greed. Enough is NEVER enough. We'll never again
> see the likes of a Bill Paley. Paley never expected CBS's
> news and public affairs divisions to even break even. It was
> considered a responsibility. The entertainment division was
> expected to generate enough revenue to more than cover the
> loss in news. These days, EVERYTHING must generate a profit,
> or it's history. As I think about it, that's how a
> whorehouse has always been operated!
>
Unbridled Greed is capitalism. Stockeholders demand a good return on thier investment. Your stament above says it all

"The entertainment division was expected to generate enough revenue to more than cover the loss in news."

Radio is entertaiment.

And I imagine when Cox let the old Cool staff go it was not Dick Williams idea. Now I think the way they did it was crappy but format changes nad the likes are dictated by corporate not local.
 
And you can add these names to the list of those canned by Dick and/or Gary: The entire staff at 600 The Ball (five people in all except Cole Pepper), Monk and Kelly, Sinclair, Ashley King and Mark Bell. We're just talking about programming staff. No idea here about how mnay in sales, IT and support jobs were told to clear out.

> > , they are both good people.
> >
> So are Dave, Heather, Doc, Murphy, Pat, Paul, Trane and
> Hoyle.
> Da Whackers just joined Da Whacked! Wonder who is next?
> Gary and Dick, it's not personal. I guess they made you an
> offer you should have refused!
>
> Have some pasta and red wine! Disoccupato, Mi Dispaiace.
>
> Goodfellow
>
 
> And you can add these names to the list of those canned by
> Dick and/or Gary: The entire staff at 600 The Ball (five
> people in all except Cole Pepper), Monk and Kelly, Sinclair,
> Ashley King and Mark Bell. We're just talking about
> programming staff. No idea here about how mnay in sales, IT
> and support jobs were told to clear out.
>
I beleieve that Ball was sold before Dick got to Jax, I could be wrong on that. Plus no sales people wer let go. It was sold in combo with WFYV.
 
Cox Managers Depart

AM 600 - was a big money-loser; so why should anyone be suprised that Cox killed it? That was already underway before Dick arrived.

Dick was well-liked, but was NOT an inside Cox guy, as witnessed by his demotion when they hired Gary. Obviously Gary wasn't either. I guess when you end the year 1 million off sales budgets, there are consequences.

COOL - Oldies has been in transition nearly everywhere, and in hindsight I doubt Cox (meaning Atlanta) would have done it if they had know sales would TANK for the station, despite decent ratings (A25-54) in 2005. I hear that EAGLE is just now matching what COOL sales were before the change.

CC is looking for a radio GM, as Norm Feuer departs soon. Wonder if either of the Cox GM's will end up at CC (as so many former-Cox have done over the years). <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Braswell on 03/11/06 08:11 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Cox Radio/Jacksonville Appoints Bill Hendrich VP/MM

Cox Radio/Jacksonville Appoints Bill Hendrich VP/MM

Cox Radio appoints Bill Hendrich VP/Market Manager of its 5-station group in Jacksonville, FL, including CHR WAPE-FM, Classic Rock WFYV-FM, Classic Hits WJGL-FM, Eighties WMXQ-FM and News/Talk WOKV-AM. Most recently, Hendrich spent the past 10 years as VP/GM of WDBO-AM and WWKA-FM/Orlando. He was also lead GM for Cox Radio Interactive Web Division in Orlando. Prior to that, he served as GSM of WDBO, WWKA and WCFB-FM.

"Bill is regarded as one of Cox Radio's top leaders, and has earned a reputation as a first-class executive throughout the radio industry," said Group VP Rich Reis. "I feel very strongly that he will provide the kind of leadership and energy to take Cox Radio, Jacksonville to the next level." (03-09-06)


From Radio Online<P ID="signature">______________
Ed
http://edfurbee.com
http://www.wioj.net</P>
 
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