WABC dropping "Coast to Coast AM" for infomercials

[USMale]

Those who know me best will realize I'm not one to answer tirades such as that from Phil Boyce.

Surely the less than professional remarks made by the person claiming to be the current program director of WABC is a serious decline in the quality from the program directors that preceded him. I’ve known most of them and judging from his remarks here and the ratings of WABC, doubt Phil Boyce is in their league.

I suggest the current program director of WABC make corrections on the station's programming schedule, where indeed info commercials are
aired from midnight to dawn. (http://wabcradio.com/programming.asp) Of course, a strong program director would never have approved such a take over by sales management in any time period. Unfortunately, it’s all too prevalent in today’s radio.

Sadly, Phil Boyce demonstrates little knowledge of radio other than his own career. To evaluate ones steps into the future, it’s a wise person who learns from the past.

Not only did I program three ABC stations, KQV, WLS and KABC during their most successful periods, I also programmed KFI,
consulted 30 other stations nationally and owned a group of radio stations. I also consulted WABC and WBAP, both ABC owned facilities.

Today, I consult three nationally syndicated talk stations. Naming them would do little to satisfy Phil Boyce’s need to discredit me.
If he has so little appreciation or knowledge of my past accomplishments, his negativity of my career would not diminish by my naming my current activities.

Like so many in today’s radio, Phil Boyce, seems to think a person’s age diminishes the contributions they can make. Clive Davis in the
recording industry, Steven Speilberg and Clint Eastwood, both very successful directors and Paul Harvey, a great radio talent even today
continue to make major contributions. WABC just hired Don Imus, certainly no spring chicken, but with a great deal of experience to
guide him. Age has little to do with a person’s value, except of course in a physical endeavour.

I can assure Phil Boyce, my good friends Rick Sklar, Bill Drake, Paul Drew and several others will be known for their radio contributions. Judging from Mr. Boyce’s comments, I doubt he will be.

KGO in San Francisco and KFI in Los Angeles are both talk stations in a crowded field of competitors. They are always near the top in the ratings. Today, WABC has little competition in talk and certainly no where near the dominance in ratings it once had. John Mainelli was the last great talk program director at WABC. He came from the same era as I.

One of radio’s past greats was the late Bill Gavin, who said, "Sharing life's experiences with the generations that follow is probably the most important thing we can do."

I have no quarrel with Phil Boyce. I don’t know him and certainly am not aware of his programming credentials. His comments
about me indicate he knows little about me.

I don’t drink, never have. But, I do have documented proof that the founder of ABC, Leonard Goldenson, the VP/GM during
WABC’s greatest years, Wally Schwartz and the station’s legendary program director Rick Sklar, each respected my talents as a
programmer.

The mark Phil Boyce makes in radio will be measured like all of us…longevity and track record, I wish him good luck.

The comments I made concerning Citadel are also documented not only by a major drop in stock value since the arrival of
Farid Suleman, but also by his recent notice of the intentions to sell stations. If my advance notice of Citadel's plans to
terminate employees saves some of their jobs....great. Some at ABC radio are old pals who indeed deserve to escape the
pink slips I have noted are up coming.

John Rook
www.JohnRook.com

 

[pdwips]

Mr. Rook,

From your clearly vast experience, do you really think that any programmer would change plans for major changes and/or job cuts based on "advance notice" published on an internet blog or radio geek board?

I mean no disrespect to you, but I'm sure you'd laugh out loud if someone suggested the above venues had the weight to force you to change tack mid-regatta.

In fact, I'd wager the radio greats to whom you refer hold (or held) you in such high esteem precisely because the know/knew you would not bow to the whims of such "experts."

I don't know Mr. Boyce, but I respect his work, as I respect yours. I see no reason to doubt his word. And certainly, level-headed people everywhere can appreciate his admonition against prematurely leaping to conclusions and bludgeoning the subjects of unsubstantiated blog entries.

I wish you and yours the very happiest of holidays.

 

[cadillacjack]

One of the things I find refreshing about this board - John Rook comes to discuss his website post with Phil Boyce. Our buddy, the Dentist, simply deleted a similar thread completely after dismissing John Rook as an unworthy commentator on radio. (Could it be that Rook doesn't have D.D.S. after his name?)

CJ

 

[Phil Boyce]

John Rook crawls out of his hole to play smack down:

I suggest the current program director of WABC make corrections on the station's programming schedule, where indeed info commercials are
aired from midnight to dawn

That is NOT what you posted. Nice try to revise yourself in mid stream. I never denied I aired infomercials at some times, and there are other threads here from months ago in which they were discussed. But YOUR post said Farid had ordered us to replace Coast to Coast with Infomercials from midnight to dawn. Such a thing never did happen. You are a liar and you got caught. Now you do not even have the common decency to come on this board and admit it.

The infomercials that you discovered were added probably 6 to 8 years ago. Nothing new there. Not a directive from Farid. Not a result of Citadel buying us. You can criticize WABC for accepting them all you want. I agree with you, it sucks. But for you to then change your accusation to fit something that WABC started many years ago makes you look like a complete moron.

Today, I consult three nationally syndicated talk stations. Naming them would do little to satisfy Phil Boyce’s need to discredit me.
If he has so little appreciation or knowledge of my past accomplishments, his negativity of my career would not diminish by my naming my current activities.

Why not? Why not name them? And what in the world is a nationally syndicated talk station? Do you mean a talk program...or a talk station? Do you mean a station that takes it's programs and syndicates them nationwide? Please...there are not three that do that, and if there were, how in God's name would YOU get to consult all of them. That would be such a conflict of interest. So you not only lied about what Farid was doing, you lied about what YOU are doing, or not doing, sitting there in the rocking chair.

I never denied you had once programed some good radio stations. My point was....you are doing nothing like that today...and I am. Now all you are doing is taking pot shots at those of us who actually DO still work in radio for a living.

What you did on your blog is despicable. You have blown any credibility you ever had. You should have come here, admitted you got it all wrong and apologized., That I could accept. What you now posted here is further evidence of how out of touch you are with reality.

I have no quarrel with Phil Boyce. I don’t know him and certainly am not aware of his programming credentials. His comments
about me indicate he knows little about me.

You're right. I know little about you, except that you like to report things on your website that are complete 100% fabrications. My reputation will be fine. One thing I will never be known for is making stuff up, and lying about it on a message board.

By the way, I have programmed WABC here in New York City for 12 years, longer than any PD in this stations history including the two you mentioned, John Mainelli and Rick Sklar. Once I am gone from here, I will be very happy with how history remembers me (if it does).

pb

 

[dmargalotti]

Phil,

I think Mark Twain once said something to the effect of never argue with an idiot because people might not be able to tell the difference. Your station is hugely successful, has a vast listening audience and makes money. That's the name of the game and it's what all of us in the business strive for. As a PD, I can see why you would want to come on this board and clarify the misconception regarding WABC, Coast to Coast, and infomercials. But going toe to toe with John Rook, Julius or anyone else is a serious waste of your valuable time and most likely an effort in futility. They've got their own hidden agenda and nothing you say is going to change their minds. Relax and enjoy the season. Merry Christmas!

 

[Bobby Cann]

You may be totally right, but I know exactly what Phil is doing.

The INTERNET use to be a wonderful place full of interesting exchanges of information. Now most boards are full of bozos who state an opinion and then lambaste you if you have an opposing opinion. They are full of folks who seem to have nothing better to do then to patrol the INTERNET all day and who think they are the absolute authority on everything. They also seem to be very hostile toward (1) successful companies and (2) successful people and take great pleasure in trying to knock them down.

That, I think, is what Phil was reacting to and the reason for his posts defending his credibility and his tenure at WABC. Perhaps he's right Phil, not an easy war to win, but I totally understand you bud and am behind your effortl!

Remember, those that can do, do...those that can't anymore (or never could) bitch on message boards!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

 

[Julius Leonard Marx]

This exchange clearly shows the difference between someone with class and someone who lacks it.

It also makes clear why talk radio as practiced by WABC, and its imitators, has turned into a barroom argument instead of a civil discourse. I did a search back and this has happened before.

When someone offers a different view or challenges a statement that has been posted, the poor man's Roger Ailes turns into a pit bull, just as his hosts do on the air.

If no sources he attacks that; if sources he attacks the sources.
If the person is not known, he attackers their presumed lack of expertise; if known, he attacks their expertise.
To keep from having his own statements challenged or questioned, he calls others liars, a tactic developed and employed successfully by Nixon and McCarthy and now used by Boyce's hosts.
Then the groupies jump in and repeat his jibes, apparently unable to come up with any on their own (while lavishing praise on their hero). I realize this sounds very familiar. I heard it in the car this afternoon played out by Rush and his ditto-heads. (When I'd had all I could take, I flipped over to a real radio station, NJ 101.5. It's too bad Eric Johnson and Walt Sabo don't post here.)

Phil, you should have gone into politics. Again, the way your hosts flack for the administration, maybe you did.

I was an admirer of WLS. The station had class, in large part because the PD was a classy guy.
WJR used to be one of the classiest operations in the country - before Phil arrived.

Interesting that the people who follow Phil are on message boards, too, just like the rest of us.

 

[USMale]

Mr. Boyce, before you continue ruffling your feathers about what you claim my website said, you might try to read it yourself.
Not once in the Citadel story do I even mention Coast to Coast. I did indeed write that WABC airs “info commercials beginning at midnight and continuing til’ dawn.” Unless my WiFi radio is malfunctioning, that’s what I heard.

I’m pleased knowing that you agree with me in saying the airing of info commercials “suck.”

While I can accept your limited knowledge of radio history, it would be nice if you knew more about the history of WABC. Your comment, “I have programmed WABC here in New York City for 12 years, longer than any PD in this stations history including the two you mentioned, John Mainelli and Rick Sklar.”

I feel duty bound to correct your claim of being program director of WABC longer than Rick Sklar. My good friend Rick was Program Director of WABC from 1963 until 1977, a total of 14 years at which time he was elevated to VP of the ABC radio division for seven additional years.

Rick of course was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993.
It’s an honor you and I will never receive.

While John Mainelli is a very good program director, he, you and I could learn much from Jack Swanson at KGO, who has kept that station at #1 longer than any radio station in the history of broadcasting. Certainly, Robin Bertolucci at KFI is also an exceptional programmer.

Now, take a deep breath and in the spirit of the season, accept my greetings for a Merry Christmas.

John Rook
www.JohnRook.com

 

[dmargalotti]

If no sources he attacks that; if sources he attacks the sources.
If the person is not known, he attackers their presumed lack of expertise; if known, he attacks their expertise.
To keep from having his own statements challenged or questioned, he calls others liars, a tactic developed and employed successfully by Nixon and McCarthy and now used by Boyce's hosts.

And apparently Julius you've mastered that tactic as well as is clearly demonstrated by YOUR next statement:

Then the groupies jump in and repeat his jibes, apparently unable to come up with any on their own (while lavishing praise on their hero)

Me a groupie? I don't think so. I've listened to WABC for many years. There are things I like about the station, but many that I don't. Having been in the radio business for 21 years as an air talent, program director and everything in between, I'm smart enough to know that not all of my gripes about the station can be directly attributed to the PD. Many of the things I don't like about WABC today are due to the changes in the the radio industry as a whole, especially in the last 10 - 15 years.

If you would like to have an intelligent conversation debating the merits of specific programming aspects, then let's have it. That however is not what this thread has been about. It's about an unsubstantiated claim that WABC was dropping their syndicated overnight show for infomercials and that the head of Citadel had ordered that to happen.

The PD of WABC has come on here to say it's not happening. He's then attacked by you...his truthfulness and credibility called into question. When he defends his position, he's attacked further. Rather than walk away and ignore the baseless and unfounded comments by John and you, Phil decided to do his best to set the record straight. And you respond by say he has no class.

I'm not here to defend Phil Boyce (Lord knows he doesn't need me or anyone else to do it). I'm not here to be a groupie, flunky or kiss his behind. I'm here to tell you as an independent observer with NO agenda, that you should have quit while you were behind. With every post you make, your character, qualifications, and motivations are further called into question.

 

[Julius Leonard Marx]

If no sources he attacks that; if sources he attacks the sources.
If the person is not known, he attackers their presumed lack of expertise; if known, he attacks their expertise.
To keep from having his own statements challenged or questioned, he calls others liars, a tactic developed and employed successfully by Nixon and McCarthy and now used by Boyce's hosts.

And apparently Julius you've mastered that tactic as well as is clearly demonstrated by YOUR next statement:

Then the groupies jump in and repeat his jibes, apparently unable to come up with any on their own (while lavishing praise on their hero)

Me a groupie? I don't think so. I've listened to WABC for many years. There are things I like about the station, but many that I don't. Having been in the radio business for 21 years as an air talent, program director and everything in between, I'm smart enough to know that not all of my gripes about the station can be directly attributed to the PD. Many of the things I don't like about WABC today are due to the changes in the the radio industry as a whole, especially in the last 10 - 15 years.

If you would like to have an intelligent conversation debating the merits of specific programming aspects, then let's have it. That however is not what this thread has been about. It's about an unsubstantiated claim that WABC was dropping their syndicated overnight show for infomercials and that the head of Citadel had ordered that to happen.

The PD of WABC has come on here to say it's not happening. He's then attacked by you...his truthfulness and credibility called into question. When he defends his position, he's attacked further. Rather than walk away and ignore the baseless and unfounded comments by John and you, Phil decided to do his best to set the record straight. And you respond by say he has no class.

I'm not here to defend Phil Boyce (Lord knows he doesn't need me or anyone else to do it). I'm not here to be a groupie, flunky or kiss his behind. I'm here to tell you as an independent observer with NO agenda, that you should have quit while you were behind. With every post you make, your character, qualifications, and motivations are further called into question.

DB: I appreciate the independent observations in this post. My comments were not aimed specifically at you.

If you look back, you will see that I made no specific criticism of Phil. In fact, this thread only became about him about halfway through when he attacked John Rook. I urged people who were willing to take Phil's denial as gospel and were apparently not willing to consider the points John Rook raised not to take Phil's word (or John's or anyone's) for any anything but to think for themselves. I also said someone in Phil's position (or John Rook's former position) is not likely to confirm a leak or rumor, even if it is true. Often people in such a position will deny they are going to do something until they are ready to do it.

On this board I have praised people, stations and organizations I admire and criticized those I don't admire. Apparently some only notice the criticisms. I've said I think radio is in a precarious position. So have many others but apparently some only remember that I have said it. All I ask is people read what I have said. If you don't agree, argue against the views I expressed. What I don't appreciate is people attacking me for having those views or questioning my motives.

 

[AndrewLawson]

This has been one helluva thread. You have to give Phil Boyce major props for (1) posting here, (2) readily explaining his programming decisions and (3) defending his radio station.

How many PD's come on these boards using their real names, whether it's New York or Toledo, and stand up to the brick bats and barbs from nameless, faceless posters? Very few. To be truthful, I've occassionally tossed a barb at WABC (although not in this thread), but I've tried to be reasonable.

I have to give Phil his due in this thread. His argument is stronger and better substantiated than Rook's.

John Rook: Your ode to the USS Citadel on your website and in another thread made some valid points. You have an extensive body of work that stands on its own merit: WLS, WODS, just to name a few. But in this case, Phil has presented a compelling case to support his position.

This having been said, I hope each of you continues to post in a thought-provoking and compelling manner without resorting to... well, ahh... the type of inflamed rhetoric often heard on WABC.

 

[Phil Boyce]

John Rook says:

Mr. Boyce, before you continue ruffling your feathers about what you claim my website said, you might try to read it yourself.
Not once in the Citadel story do I even mention Coast to Coast. I did indeed write that WABC airs “info commercials beginning at midnight and continuing til’ dawn.” Unless my WiFi radio is malfunctioning, that’s what I heard.

The inference in what you posted on your website led some moron to believe that we were replacing Coast to Coast with infomercials (the subject matter of this thread). When you cause somebody here to post something like this incorrectly you have an obligation to correct it....not make it worse. Here is what you said:

Mirroring the Texas based Mays mess by desperately

grabbing dollars from any source, Captain Suleman

has ordered the once proud flagship, WABC in New

York, to program non-stop info commercials

beginning at midnight and continuing til’ dawn.

Admit it. You made this up. I have explained that those infomercials which air one night a week out of 7 were actually added 6-8 years ago...many years before Captain Suleman dreamed of owning WABC. He didn't order us to do anything. And your implication is that we are airing them non-stop in the overnight hours when in fact I air Coast To Coast 6 nights a week. Every PD fights infomercials, just as my predecessor John Mainelli did when he used to run the Heart Show and the Food Show on Saturday night, which he told me I would never get rid of. I did get rid of them and now we air Saturday Night Oldies there, a program many here have praised.

I never did say a word about your comments predicting layoffs at Citadel stations. You can predict that all you want. Nobody has told me to layoff anybody, but if you want to predict what COULD happen...be my guest. My problem with you is that you made up the comment above about Suleman ordering WABC to run infomercials and you refuse to admit you made it up.

Since I am the guy Farid would have had to order to do this, and since I have not added any more infomercials to the lineup than what we have already had for years....your statement is just 100% fabrication. I just expect when people lie, and they get caught...they should have the decency to admit it.

Just like I will admit that I have two years to go before I pass the great Rick Sklar....assuming I am not one of the layoffs you have predicted for my company.

PB

 

[Slant]

Imagine this....Phil Boyce, John Rook...two inflatable sumo suits, $100 dollar admission going to the winners charity. That would be a great night. Maybe Michael Harrison can do it at his next talkers snorefest!

 

[Kyle D]

John Rook will be joining us on tonight's Radio Racket. I'm still ironing out the details with John, but it will more than likely be around 11:30pm or in the Midnight hour.

As soon as the time is solid, I'll let you all know.

Hope to see you all tonight for The Radio Racket!

 

[carlvenorden]

I personally like Dave Margolotti's response toward the end of this thread.
Personally I think that sales management drives a lot of programming on radio these days, and they did back in 1978 when I started in radio. Sales forced PD's to do a lot of things.

But I "thought" the jist of this thread was about WABC dropping C to C for informercials.

Lets face it, C to C can be heard throughout the country on AM radio just about anywhere; turn the dial at night and all the 50,000 watters will have it on.

To me, even if Phil says WABC isn't going all infomercials at night, ....if WABC dropped C to C, I don't think it would be a bad idea, it would be an opportunity to have something else on that is not heard on 50 other stations across the band.

That, to me, is an opportunity.

I'd personally like to see WABC dump C to C as an overplayed program, and maybe this is a new (not new really, but new for these times) place for Curtis, which would be home grown.
I would also think Curtis would attract advertising dollars that C to C wouldn't attract.

I'm not personally a big fan of WABC, I like some of their hosts, (I'm too liberal) but I do like the way the station is programmed, it is very professional and very well done. And I do listen to it.

Phil has done an outstanding job, and, he did an even better job at WCBS FM, but then, I loved that station. See???????????.......it's all opinion. Carl

 

[Kyle D]

John is joining us on the show right now during the Midnight hour.

If you miss it live, the show replays all weekend long on our website.

 

[livingfruitvirus]

Every PD fights infomercials, just as my predecessor John Mainelli did when he used to run the Heart Show and the Food Show on Saturday night, which he told me I would never get rid of. I did get rid of them and now we air Saturday Night Oldies there, a program many here have praised.

Was this show another show that ran Saturday nights on WABC?

http://www.thebaldtruth.com

It's a syndicated show on Sunday nights now, but they've said before they started out as a brokered show on WABC.

 

[Julius Leonard Marx]

The Radio Racket interview with John Rook is scheduled be to repeated at the following times (Eastern) both Saturday and Sunday:

8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm, 12am.

This is hour three of the program. Hour one is long-time Top 40 DJ Jackson Armstrong. Hour two is columnist Laura Nachman regarding Philly TV news babe Alycia Lane, charged with hitting and making sexual slurs against a New York cop. Hour four is host talk.

Windows Media Player:
mms://wm9.SpacialNet.com/Sonicset18

WinAmp:
http://stream3.shoutatme.com:17070/listen.pls

John Rook discusses his exchanges with Phil Boyce, where he sees radio going, people in radio he's known and worked with, how radio has changed during his career, and the time he turned down "Jeff Christie" for a DJ job (and why).

 

[Phil Boyce]

So now we will take this man who started this lie about WABC and turn him into some kind of cult hero for you 5 or 6 sycophants here, all because his lie actually played into your own agenda and you wanted to believe it. In fact you wanted to believe it so badly that you now refuse to admit it was a lie. Be sure to ask him about those 3 "nationally syndicated talk radio stations" he now consults. After you finish listening to this you can tune in WABC to hear Coast to Coast tonight at 1am and be surprised it's still there.

 

[Bobby Cann]

Phil...you are bad, but sooo good!

Merry Christmas!