Welcome back Russ Martin

[brandon_smu]

I posted my one and only post on here a while back saying Russ would be coming back. i said in about 2 weeks. Well that didn't happen. The source I had originally and spoke with again is a former cast member from the show, I don't want to call him out but you can probably narrow it down being that JD is long gone, and Dan is doing his own thing on 105.3. Fast forward to now, and it turns out there were "talks" (I have no idea as to what went on in these talks or why they didn't pan out, as I didn't feel like pressing him for info that wasn't my business). The talks, if you will, were with none other than 105.3. Didn't work out though. Anyhow, the news is that he IS coming back to the radio on KEGL which is 97.1. Never listened to this station but I'm assuming most of you are familiar with it. Didn't get an exact date, apparently they don't even know. He just said it would be sometime in June or July. Also, he says it will more than likely be mornings. I remember Russ saying he would never do mornings but I guess he is taking what he can get now. Not sure how this works being that he is still under contract, all that is way over my head. Anyhow, feel free to dismiss this post or give a rant about how bad you think he sucks and what not, I just want people who actually enjoyed RMS to know he is finally coming back. Until then I guess we just wait, official news and details should be coming very soon.

 

[James Burleson]

I have known for some time that he would be coming to the Eagle to do mornings. Didn't care then...and don't care now.

More than likely they reached an agreement to buyout his contract. From what I have been hearing he will be making alot less at CC. Not sure who is gonna be on his show. Certainly not JD nor Dan. But good luck to Russ in the mornings, he is gonna need it....going up against the Musers on 1310 is not gonna be pretty.

 

[Old Jack]

Yeah- I can't imagine turning off the Musers in favor of Russ Martin. No way he comes in #1.

On the other hand, there ain't much else on besides the Musers for men to enjoy. I suspect he could become a reasonably close second.

Look at it this way, Coke may always be #1, but there is plenty of market share left for Pepsi to make good money.

So the only question is, will the new RMS be Pepsi, or Diet Shasta?

 

[dfwrunner]

Yeah- I can't imagine turning off the Musers in favor of Russ Martin. No way he comes in #1.

On the other hand, there ain't much else on besides the Musers for men to enjoy. I suspect he could become a reasonably close second.

Look at it this way, Coke may always be #1, but there is plenty of market share left for Pepsi to make good money.

So the only question is, will the new RMS be Pepsi, or Diet Shasta?

I'd rather hear music, but if it has to be talk, Walton and Johnson or Bob and Tom would be preferable to Russ or anything on 1310.

 

[brandon_smu]

geez 3 people who don't like russ, makes you wonder how he managed to do so well in ratings (for the most part)

 

[donicus]

geez 3 people who don't like russ, makes you wonder how he managed to do so well in ratings (for the most part)

I'm surprised it's only 3 so far. Usually, the Russ haters pile on fairly quickly. And no, I'm not a Russ hater. In fact, I'll probably give him a listen or 2.

 

[James Burleson]

geez 3 people who don't like russ, makes you wonder how he managed to do so well in ratings (for the most part)

Do well in the ratings? I guess if you consider 10th to 15th "well".....then sure...

He was far from the ratings juggernaut he claimes to be.

 

[DFW_Radio_2000]

geez 3 people who don't like russ, makes you wonder how he managed to do so well in ratings (for the most part)

Do well in the ratings? I guess if you consider 10th to 15th "well".....then sure...

He was far from the ratings juggernaut he claimes to be.

On an unrelated note, Cody, do you still work for CBS?

 

[James Burleson]

Nope....left back in march of 2009

 

[PoPo84]

We can only hope he will be back in June or July! I never listen to the Eagle but I'll start if he does mornings for them.

 

[Old Jack]

Brandon,

If you read through my history, you will find that I am neutral on Russ Martin.

If anything, I typically defend Russ fans around here because the hatred of the man from some on these boards is unhealthy and ridiculous. Besides, it seems to me that what ever his crimes, he has been publicly humiliated repeatedly for two years and deprived of access to his life's work. I personally think the haters need to let it go and move on.

My comment about Pepsi vs Diet Shasta is not a dig at Russ Martin. It is just the analogy I think sums up the best and worst scenarios case for him or any other show trying to win male listeners in this market.

 

[metroneck]

I think Russ was a better record spinner than talk show host. However, it's hard to argue with the heights of success he once captured. He should be able to ride off his own coattail for another decade with good enough ratings to make a living, even if his act is stale.

 

[JFPO]

Besides, it seems to me that what ever his crimes, he has been publicly humiliated repeatedly for two years and deprived of access to his life's work.

Well, it seems his crimes led to his humiliation, no? As for being "deprived," he's been paid very handsomely for his time off the air and if all these swirling rumors are true, he may be back shortly. I hardly consider Russ a persecuted individual, despite all the so-called "haters" on a message board.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Hey, I've got a GREAT idea! Let's move all discussion of Russell Martin over to http://radioinsight.com/boards/forum/116 . Nobody's using that board nowadays anyway, and it would sure free up some bandwidth over here for relevant topics! No more need to weed through the stupidity and insincerity on THIS board anymore! RussLovers and spousal abuse proponents--you can show us all a thing or two and starve all the haters here out of ANY chatter about Martin on THIS board! You can plan strategies and do a "Countdown to the Russiah" there and everything! We'll be the LAST to know anything! I'm already wetting my pants with jealousy just thinking about it!

Besides, it seems to me that what ever his crimes, he has been publicly humiliated repeatedly for two years and deprived of access to his life's work.

I don't think that non-compete covers anything outside of DFW. Most folks in radio understand that moving across the state and country periodically is vital to one's growth in the industry. His "life's work" could well continue in Anchorage, for example. And "publicly humiliated for two years"? Got a sour writeup in the Observer. Got some press over his court issues. It's not like a continuous, non-stop barbeque-ing for 2 years straight...and, naturally, he brought NONE of this upon himself. Now if you consider this board to be news and not opinion, that's another story.

 

[tubetop1]

Hey, I've got a GREAT idea! Let's move all discussion of Russell Martin over to http://radioinsight.com/boards/forum/116 .

Or you can just not click on the thread.

 

[radioaircheck]

OUCH!

 

[Xarthor]

I've been lurking on these boards for a few months now and I'd like to throw in my 2 cents about Russ.

I liken the whole Russ thing to a guy like Ted Nugent. Every so often I'll be flipping around the stations and Ted Nugent will be on a talk show talking about how the government is doing X, Y, and Z totally wrong. I don't agree with 98% of his politics, but that doesn't take away from the fact that "Stranglehold" is an awesome song.

As the Ritchie Whitt article pointed out, Russ has some major issues with interpersonal relationships both in his personal life and behind the scenes of his former show.

And yet, when it came down to it, Russ put out a consistently funny radio program for many years. I certainly don't think having a funny radio program excuses Russ' behavior toward his girlfriend or staff, but whether you're listening to Russ Martin or Ted Nugent, sometimes you need to put the "real life" stuff on the back burner, and simply enjoy the product in and of itself.

 

[idiggraves]

I've been lurking on these boards for a few months now and I'd like to throw in my 2 cents about Russ.

I liken the whole Russ thing to a guy like Ted Nugent. Every so often I'll be flipping around the stations and Ted Nugent will be on a talk show talking about how the government is doing X, Y, and Z totally wrong. I don't agree with 98% of his politics, but that doesn't take away from the fact that "Stranglehold" is an awesome song.

As the Ritchie Whitt article pointed out, Russ has some major issues with interpersonal relationships both in his personal life and behind the scenes of his former show.

And yet, when it came down to it, Russ put out a consistently funny radio program for many years. I certainly don't think having a funny radio program excuses Russ' behavior toward his girlfriend or staff, but whether you're listening to Russ Martin or Ted Nugent, sometimes you need to put the "real life" stuff on the back burner, and simply enjoy the product in and of itself.

Great post. Basically the guy is (by definition) a sociopath, but this is exactly where I stand on the issue. A shame someone so talented can be so miserable.

 

[JRG440]

I don't know what everyone is talking about here. I came to work for LIVE back in 2005, and when I did, I found Russ to be quite approachable. Granted, I never worked for his show, nor did I ever want to. With that being said, I heard the stories (and even saw a thing or two transpire myself between the insiders behind the scenes) and yes, he can be an a**hole. But I personally never had that problem with the man. I respected him, and he respected me. He was always nice and graceious to my family. What I am saying is I guess most people didn't know how to APPROACH him and take him for who he was.

Honestly, I can see where he is coming from. I am sure he had to second guess everyone in his life because of the fact he never really knew if people wanted to be around him because he was Russ Martin, the celeberty talk show host and the man who can possibly further one's career, or be one's meal ticket in a personal relationship....or if it was because he was simply Russ Martin the MAN, and friend. Sad really. Maybe Russ doesn't know how to weed out one from the other. Even so, I don't think that's a reason to rake the guy over the coals.

As for myself, again, I never experienced or had the knowledge of knowing Russ to be anything but kind, graceious, and careing. And, for the record, I am NOT Trey.

But I do agree with one thing. No matter what your opinion of the man is. Pro or con, bad or good, he did have one hell of a funny talk show, and I am looking forward to hearing him on the air once again.

 

[jeffdfw]

@ NOT Trey

I don't think there is an "e" in gracious or caring... ;D