WPLM temporary layoffs

[ssetta]

As you know, WPLM is an independently owned radio station, and receives most of its money from their advertisers. However, many of their regular advertisers are not advertising, because their businesses are currently closed. So this means that a good portion of the station's staff has been temporarily laid off. Megan and Chris Shine are currently not with the station, and neither is David Duran. It seems like the only ones that are still on are Scott Reiniche and Kevin Cronin (from their homes). And it seems like a lot of the time, the station is basically just running jockless. And even worse, they may even have to temporarily disable the online stream because they won't be able to pay the royalties for it. I just hope this doesn't eventually result in the station going off the air, and being sold. Do you think that's possible?

 

[TheBigA]

Depends on how long this situation continues. The government passed a $2 trillion bill that has lots of money in it for "small business." That means fewer than 500 employees. I'd say this station qualifies for that money. However, they have to apply for it, and I think it only covers them for four months.

 

[Deleted User]

I thought Chris Shine was one of their top sales people... But I could be wrong. The am license isn't worth anything the FM license is worth something but the land underneath those towers outback in Plymouth right next to route 3 is worth ten times more than the licenses are

 

[wcozBoston]

I thought Chris Shine was one of their top sales people... But I could be wrong. The am license isn't worth anything the FM license is worth something but the land underneath those towers outback in Plymouth right next to route 3 is worth ten times more than the licenses are

If WPLM could move its transmitter, what other sites could be used or possibly constructed? With the spacing issues, WPLM wont be able to move that much further north with WCRB and west with co-channel WPLR.

 

[Channel 83]

If WPLM could move its transmitter, what other sites could be used or possibly constructed? With the spacing issues, WPLM wont be able to move that much further north with WCRB and west with co-channel WPLR.

The only thought that comes to mind at the moment is the WATD 95.9 site...but even that might be too far north to work.

 

[TSBench]

Depends on how long this situation continues. The government passed a $2 trillion bill that has lots of money in it for "small business." That means fewer than 500 employees. I'd say this station qualifies for that money. However, they have to apply for it, and I think it only covers them for four months.

I'm not sure that's legal, under 1st Amendment restrictions. I know that radio and television stations don't qualify for SBA loans, because if they default on them the US government ends up owning them, which is prohibited (the US can only own VoA, and (unofficially) RFE, which used to be a CIA front operation and I'm not even sure it its still in existence. .

 

[TheBigA]

I'm not sure that's legal, under 1st Amendment restrictions. I know that radio and television stations don't qualify for SBA loans, because if they default on them the US government ends up owning them, which is prohibited

The difference is that these specific loans are interest free and don't have to be paid back. So it's more like a grant than a loan.

Here's more from Radio Ink:

https://radioink.com/2020/04/03/how-to-get-your-share-of-government-loans/

Here's more on the program itself:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/s...all-business-loan-due-to-covid-19/ar-BB119Sd0