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WBT/WLNK GM leaves

C

charlestondxman

The long-running GM of WBT (1110) and WLNK (107.9), Rick Jackson, 56, is leaving to head to San Diego to manage some stations there. He has been a GM here since 1992, and goes to Lincoln Financial's cluster in the San Diego area (KSON/KSOQ, KBZT, KIFM). Charlotte will miss him, as he was one of the longest-lasting GMs in the area.

Here is the article from Mark Washburn in the Charlotte Observer:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/topstories/story/1016056.html#
 
Rick Jackson is my daddy-a little strange to go online to find a Charlotte Observer article and have a long list of subjects reading his name on Google. But it's an eye-opener for me. As long as I can remember I've known my dad as a radio man. I sat underneath the turntables by his boots while he recorded (and re-recorded, and cursed and re-recorded again) a spot for an event or a story about Patsy Cline. I can still hear that chair wheel and whir across that hard plastic floor covering. But Dad did more for radio than entertain, educate and charm his audience.

Since we moved here for his VP/GM job at WLNK and WBT 17 and a half years ago, dad has been highly respected by his staff. I beam when I hear Bob or Sheri, Matt or Ramona, Max, whomever, speak of my daddy as if he was their neighbor or their friend. In actuality, he's just about everybody's friend. Before him the managers at the station weren't so well received, and dad's reputation at WLNK is one of high regard-and in the radio market that's a challenge. Furthermore, if you're a reader of Charlotte Business magazine, September's issue boasted my pops on the cover, the article stating that Rick Jackson changed the face of Charlotte radio. And now he's leaving Charlotte...makes me hope I'm still a fan of 107.9 by Christmas. And I do hope whoever takes over can keep me listening.

All I know is, someone's got some big boots to fill.
 
The GM job is often thankless. They have to make the hard decisions to keep the money coming in, and keeping the stations in the black.

I can't say that I like what WBT has become but it is happening to AM stations all over the country. Political hate talk isn't my thing.

As for WLNK, the station has always been ratings challenged. Soultwinkle I'm reading between the lines here but when you say that you hope you're still a fan of WLNK by Christmas and your Dad says that it's a good time for him and the stations to make a change... It leads me to believe Greater Media wants to make changes to 107.9 that your father didn't agree with.

I could be 100% wrong but that's what it sounds like.

You're Dad came from programming and most GM's come from sales. That alone gives him a unique perspective on what the people on the air go through every day. This can be a very good thing!

Best of luck to all parties concerned.

Mike
 
Rick has been an excellent GM, and he's a real decent man. (good golfer, too)

He has a respect for both the programming side and the sales side.

San Diego will be fortunate to have him as their leader.

Best of luck to him!

(I'm a former employee)
 
To both posters, I agree! Mike Sheridan...that name sure does sound familiar-I wonder if you work with ClearChannel? My husband used to work there and sister (Jenn Jackson) still does.

Honestly, Mike, I have no idea at all what happened specifically to urge my dad to make the decision to leave, or if it had anything to do with programming changes. But even if I did I couldn't post that here. I do know he wasn't happy, and my dad can manage content-ability in nearly any environment. I imagine it's been tough when the station was sold multiple times, and CEO after CEO gets their hands in the pot.

As for the future of 107.9, I have no clue if they plan to change the format, but personally I love the "morning-show" all day long routine. I listen to nothing but WLNK and my CD's when I want music-aint that what we ALL do? Listen to our fave station til they lose our attention, then pick a disc?. I think Dad is genius, especially in the iPod and satellite radio world we live in now, to own the rights to what's on air. Stations that breed music all day can't say they own what they produce. Scary if you're a music-based radio station. Those will be few and far between in a short time in my opinion.

Thanks for the well wishes for dad, it means a lot to me and I'm sure to him as well.
 
+1 Soul....yes, music on radio is like listening to another's iPod with commercials.
and, having owner #1 sell to #2 and sell to #3 in four years invites recalculations.
he did as i....take the $ and run.
 
Mike Sheridan said:
As for WLNK, the station has always been ratings challenged. Soultwinkle I'm reading between the lines here but when you say that you hope you're still a fan of WLNK by Christmas and your Dad says that it's a good time for him and the stations to make a change... It leads me to believe Greater Media wants to make changes to 107.9 that your father didn't agree with.

I could be 100% wrong but that's what it sounds like.
Click to expand...

If that is the case, then that "ESPN 107.9" possibility I started not too long ago might grow some legs...
 
I am sorry to see Rick leave, he has done good things with WBT / WLNK and even managed to fix some things that his predecessor (bloomquist) really fouled up. He brought Hancock back and that was worth a lot to me!

As to coming up through programming, I have always felt that way too many managers came up through sales, and that they had little to no regard for programming. Yes, sales pays the bills and the salaries, but without the programming, there would be no product to sell would there? Nobody would listen if it was "ALL ADS ALL THE TIME!!" There has to be a good mix, and a good manager will have the ability to balance out the needs of both.

I believe that Rick has shown he has the ability to do that and to do it well!

I wish him the best, but it's a shame to see him going back to LF, cause everyone knows that Lincoln will get completely out of the business as soon as the economy will allow them to, and then who knows what might happen to staff or management. Under new ownership, there are NO guarantees, unless you have a GOOD contract.
 
Rick Jackson was the VP/GM.  He was in that position when Hancock was let go several years ago and when John was brought back.

Randall Bloomquist, not a staff favorite, served as PD under Jackson before moving on.

The Program Director that succeeded Bloomquist was, and has been up until a recent promotion - Bill White.  Carl East, the assistant PD under White, is the new PD. 
 
yugoidar said:
Rick Jackson was the VP/GM. He was in that position when Hancock was let go several years ago and when John was brought back.

Randall Bloomquist, not a staff favorite, served as PD under Jackson before moving on.

The Program Director that succeeded Bloomquist was, and has been up until a recent promotion - Bill White. Carl East, the assistant PD under White, is the new PD.
Click to expand...
My mistake, That was a number of years ago, and I had forgotten that bloomquist was just PD. Hopefully Carl will do just as good a job in the role of Andy Travis and Bill White has done! And hopefully whomever they fill the role of Arthur Carlson with will also do a good job!
 
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