Clear Channel Toledo Firings

Wow...I figured Don was getting groomed as Fred's someday replacement. Didn't Don get a co-producer, Debbie or something, a while back? I guess the writting was on the wall. Younger and cheaper...

I suppose they were nice this year - many times in the past they did this much closer to Christmas. They must be feeling generous.

Best of luck to those people in finding new employment.

From what people in the business have told me, TV and radio jobs are sometimes quite tenuous. Sadly, it is an occupational hazard.

I hope they are able to land on their feet and get even better jobs.

This is the way Clear Channel rolls. There will be more firings as these next few weeks unravel at Clear Channel, and also at Cumulus (the other "big" radio company intown--K100, WRQN, etc.). Cumulus--just yesterday--fired a whole bunch of people in Los Angeles, including a guy who is an on-air legend out there, Jim Ladd.

The endgame is even less local personalities--only DJs voice tracking from other places. Cost-efficient: yes. Good listening: no. Homogenized: yes.

Clear Channel was my last stop as a "DJ" although I was program director as well. Got blasted out in the "Inauguration Day Massacre"--Jan. 20th, 2009 (hey, after Christmas!). We knew it was coming, just didn't know who would be let go...the place was a morgue the final 2 weeks before termination day. 2000 people nationally; 34 in my large market cluster.

I had gone through this before and was pretty indifferent--I just took off my ID badge and tossed it towards the OM and told him never to speak to me again (and all I wish for him now is a nice napalm glob on his crotch). The bad part for me was walking out with a young promotions girl, maybe 23 years old...year out of college...first job...and just crying her eyes out, not being able to figure out what she did wrong. "You did nothing" sounds like a platitude at the moment, but it was all I could offer because it was true.

The thing with Clear Channel is that no matter how long you've been there, how well you do your job, how important you may think you are to operations, they don't give a shit. I got pretty heartless when I worked for them, simply because I realized that people here today could be gone tomorrow...and that was eventually me.

The GMs (general managers) are called to a meeting in a big city and literally given flash drives--composed at the highest levels of corporate--with the list of who stays and who goes and that's it. No debate. No exemptions. The decision has been made cold and calculated and the local GMs must carry it out exactly or be terminated themselves. I was let go...and it wasn't because I had only been there a couple of years--in the same cluster, a husband and wife who had been there for over 20 years together in sales and promotion were canned. A longtime, successful morning show gone. My show ratings were good, my station was doing well and making money--they simply figured that another PD in the building could assume my responsibilities and they could bring in someone from outside to voice track my show.

I've moved on to other things; fortunately I had taken time during my career to finish a Masters degree and am now pursuing a PhD. But many of my co-workers have had a hard time getting over radio--it's all they've known and it was so much fun. That's the disappointing part of all of this--radio was an absolute fun job of social interaction, entertainment, concerts, promotions, charitable causes, professionalism...and a fun way to make a living for many, many years. I've been rated #1 in Arbitron (both station & show), I've met the celebrities, partied, enjoyed it very much. But sad to say, that world is evaporating very quickly. Clear Channel, for better or worse, has national "stars" (i.e. Ryan Seacrest, etc.) and they want those stars on every station they own and the hell with local for the most part. I've been watching this unfold for the better part of 15 years (since the 1996 Telecommunications Act) and the endgame eventually is all national programming, no local...especially in a market the size of Toledo.

I just took off my ID badge and tossed it towards the OM and told him never to speak to me again...

Yeah! Good for you, OldHomeTown.

I hated that guy.

I don't burn bridges and I didn't say anything I couldn't take back, but he made life miserable my last 4 months there for everyone on the programming side. Business decision, fine. Tell me what I need to do to leave and I accept it. He was just a dick.

I have a lot of friends from radio across the country and that helped a lot in the days after being canned; then I just picked myself up and moved on. Now I'm quite happy where I am and having fun in a different area.

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da...life goes on...

But what did Molly say?
OHT, there's a lot of anger and resentment in you. That's not good for your health. And never wish ill upon another person.

OHT, there's a lot of anger and resentment in you. That's not good for your health. And never wish ill upon another person.

Thanks, Pollyana.

Stick to the other thread where you are advising roommates with children in the house and a history of domestic violence charges that "they are in love" and to stick it out.

Maybe we'll see Don Zellers down at the Occupy Toledo protest.

And, he can tell us what value does Rush adds to be paid $1M per week.

I don't understand why the layoffs? I can only get conservative talk radio, so it must be the best product. Free markets and all...

Payback is a bitch.

I will miss Micki in the afternoons.

Classless post bobo.

Molson - You're right. Their job losses are not a joke and could cause great stress for them and family. And for that I am sorry. I hold no ill will towards them.

But you get my point behind the sarcasm. Clear channel created this beast and now it's eating itself cause nobody is listening. I posted last week in Fred's thread asking how many people still listen to his show. Silence...

And these guys get on WSPD every day and bloviate about free markets.

I drive to Chicago often. I get NOTHING on the radio but Clear Channel content. It's obviously not a popular product but it gets rammed down "our" throats. Now that the competition is gone, so is Don and I'd guess eventually Fred and Mumbles.

I don't know if this is related to this topic, and I don't know how long this has been going on since I usually listen to satellite radio, but 105.5 had national personality Rick Dees on this afternoon instead of a local personality. Was the regular 105.5 afternoon person let go recently?

OHT I bet you have some great stories to tell!!!

Clear channel created this beast and now it's eating itself cause nobody is listening.

Not quite. You're letting your politics blind you to business.

Clear Channel has outstanding debt of $20 billion from converting to a private company a couple years ago. Payments on that debt are coming due and human resources are the most expensive part of any company. Technology and legal changes have allowed them to dump many people overboard and consolidate, consolidate, consolidate.

Is it fair, no. But it happens across industries. Thomas H. Lee and Bain Capital are trying to dig themselves out...and they're going to need bigger shovels since they laid out too much money for an overvalued asset.

I get NOTHING on the radio but Clear Channel content.

Then you need lessons in tuning a radio. There are 60+ radio stations rated by Arbitron in the Chicago area; only 8 are owned by Clear Channel. The big talk stations in Chicago, WBBM and WGN, are owned by CBS Radio and Tribune, respectively. Oh, and there's always NPR in Chicago (91.5 WBEZ).

It's obviously not a popular product but it gets rammed down "our" throats.

Uh, right: The Top Talk Radio Audiences (Talkers Magazine--industry publication). Beck, Limbaugh, and Hannity only pull in 35 million listeners nationwide per week, but "nobody's listening" and they're "not popular".

Remind me again what happened to Air America. Why did it fail? Oh yeah, nobody was listening to that...even in major cities.

Now that the competition is gone, so is Don and I'd guess eventually Fred and Mumbles.

We're all gone sooner or later. At the rate of 60 minutes per hour...

...105.5 had national personality Rick Dees on this afternoon instead of a local personality. Was the regular 105.5 afternoon person let go recently?

I don't see Andi McKay on either the Star 105.5 website, nor WXKR (where she was also heard up until recently).

She's gone. Disco Duck is in...

OHT - if I turn my car or home AM radio on in my house I get nothing but conservative radio. No lie.

Air America died due to poor management.

Can someone tell me how many people listen to Fred?

Bobo, apparently enough people listen to make it profitable enough for the Clear Channel.

OHT can correct me if I'm wrong, but it was my impression that Air America died due to the fact that they didn't have a large enough audience to make it profitable for sponsors to want to shell out the $$$$$.

The best management in the world can't make a go of it if the product doesn't resonate or have an audience.

If liberal talk shows made $$$$ the Clear Channel they would air them.

Clear Channel does air liberal, Randi Rhodes.

Why would Air America fail in the mecca of liberals, NYC, under your logic. But you can get Rush on multiple stations?

The jobless WSPD people could tell you.

Shamrock - I can tell you but I don't think I can help you understand.

You don't you think it's a vast right wing conspiracy do you?

Those companies are in business to make $$$$$

The reason Rush is on multiple stations is the same reason that in NYC you can see a Starbucks right across the street from another one. It's profitable.

BTW - good discussion! So many times I see people spewing dogma rather than actually talking!

I don't think it is a vast conspiracy. If 1% owns 49% of the cash then you really only need the right two dudes in a room to control a lot.

And are you really siting Starbucks across the street from each other as an example of success?!? Don't tell the WSPD guys to get a job at a Starbucks unless they're looking for something short term.

http://retailindustry.about.com/od/storeclosingsandopenings/a/2011-US-Retail-Industry-Store-Closings-Liquidations-Roundup-Chains-Going-Out-Business_2.htm

SOMEBODY please tell me the estimated number (based on a real source) of the number of people who listen to Fred tomorrow at 8AM.

Not to divert the topic, but I spent a good part of the summer driving between Toledo and the Indiana state line. I never tuned into AM radio -- it seems to be 100% ranting talk designed to make people feel angry all day long.

On the FM dial, I had several choices of rock stations, some coming out of Ft. Worth. Plus a few country stations.

But there were lots and lots of church-sponsored stations either broadcasting Catholic masses and old-school choral stuff, or more up-to-date Christian pop-oriented songs. Really, I was surprised at how many different Christian stations I could pick up on every journey.

Even though smaller companies can't afford to be in the radio business, and giant conglomerates dominate the airwaves, it seems like a lot of religious folks have figured out how to take back some airtime ... with very little (if any) ad revenue.

Oh, where to start...

...if I turn my car or home AM radio on in my house I get nothing but conservative radio. No lie.

...and sports and ethnic programming and religious programming...perhaps the AM band isn't for your tastes anymore. NPR is available on 91.3 FM. Make the switch and be happy.

Air America died due to poor management.

That's one factor...according to the Washington Post (certainly no "Fox News"-type cheerleaders), Air America:

was troubled almost from the start. The company had difficulty lining up affiliates and attracting a sizable audience.

Oh, they just weren't heard or not enough affiliates to expose people to the shows, you say??? Just couldn't break that Clear Channel "stranglehold" on radio??? OK, what happened when the shows were heard on the air in a major market, a highly liberal market, on a station with a great daytime signal (coverage map (the call letters have changed to WBQH since 2010, but this is the same station--1050 AM)? Read further to this nugget:

Since last summer, Air America has been heard in the Washington area on WZAA (1050 AM). Its audience has been so small that Arbitron, which compiles radio ratings, was unable to detect ANY listeners for WZAA during several weeks in December. (emphasis added)

No audience = no revenue = nobody else was going to add this drek to their stations and lose audience and money. Sorry, Bobo.

As I often tell Wolfman, if you feel so passionately about the subject, raise the funds, buy a signal, and put the shows you think should be on here in Toledo on the air. Big democrat town, cut the local unions in on a slice of ownership...come on man, show WSPD how it's done!

Why would Air America fail in the mecca of liberals, NYC, under your logic. But you can get Rush on multiple stations?

I have no idea what you're getting at here, but AA had shitty shows that drew no audience. Rush has been on WABC (and only WABC) since 1988 and pulled great numbers. Even liberals don't like shitty radio.

SOMEBODY please tell me the estimated number (based on a real source) of the number of people who listen to Fred tomorrow at 8AM.

First, nobody knows that number because you are asking for tomorrow's ratings--we only know past performance. How 'bout we start there?

Second, that information is proprietary (Arbitron) and stations pay a large premium for that research information. Arbitron used to release 12+ numbers for Toledo for general use, but has embargoed them because of misuse by a station here in the market.

If you really want the numbers (and not just complain on a message board), call a local radio sales department and ask for morning drive (6A-9A--Fred's showtime) numbers. Useful demos would be 18+ (all adults), 25-54 (money demographic), and 35+ (older adults predisposed to talk radio). Hour-by-hour is, in my view, unreliable as it shifts too much and the sample sizes can vary...you want the overall performance of the show.

Let us know what you find...I'm curious too. It's your chance to prove or disprove who and how many are listening to WSPD. Good luck.

...it seems like a lot of religious folks have figured out how to take back some airtime ... with very little (if any) ad revenue.

Small religious stations are either outright owned and supported by a church and/or exist on donations from listeners.

I worked for a time for a religious radio company. You'd be stunned how much money comes in free 'n' clear from the faithful to keep "the Good Word" on the air...commercial free...

OHT, I said estimated. I can estimate how many donuts I'll eat tomorrow even though I have not tasted their delicious jelly filling.

It's interesting you don't know also since you have a good grasp on the market.

Do you really want to bet the farm that progressive radio could draw a market? Or was it not possible to market? To very different thing. Sorry OHT.

Hey Fred, you read this board. Save those of us that still have jobs some time and give us your rating.

BTW, I'm hiring in Ohio :) Got any skills?

It's interesting you don't know also since you have a good grasp on the market.

I don't work in Toledo radio anymore and do not have access to the Arbitron estimates for specific dayparts. Call the WSPD sales department...ask 'em for the numbers outright or to send you (.pdf) some of their sales material with recent Arbitron numbers. Every radio station has this information, especially for morning shows. It's a simple phone call. I can only point you in the right direction, not do your work for you.

Do you really want to bet the farm that progressive radio could draw a market? Or was it not possible to market?

Do I want to wager that progressive radio could draw "a" market? Sure it could draw "a" market, but it wouldn't be very big...or marketable...or sellable in the same magnitude as conservative talk radio.

As for "marketing" progressive radio, well...we already have one failed radio network. Shultz and Rhodes hanging around the edges, but not a factor as any sort of major audience draw (although I respect Shultz enough for having about 3 million listeners a week nationally). Shultz has a TV show on a cable network...shouldn't that be enough "marketing"?

But back to the Clear Channel employees let go today, Sid Siddal was a great guy all the years I did work in Toledo radio. Workhorse in the production studio...sad that he's out. Another piece of WIOT's heritage swept away...

Clear Channel exists in more than the political talk radio world...they operate hundreds of music stations across the country and a lot of good people were let go today by a company that is $20 billion in debt and has major debt service coming due in the next couple years.

Bobo,
We won't hear from Fred because Andy will fire his butt in no time if he chimes in. The pussification of Fred has commenced!
Please prove me wrong Fred and I will be more than happy to apologize quite promptly.

Andy would not fire me for posting here. He would have reason to fire me however if I release information on Arbitron which is proprietary in it's use. I don't comment on people who have been let go because it is a personnel and personal matter. You can post your apolgy below.

Dear Fred,
I apologize for tweaking you into creating a post that makes you sound like the Clear Channel equivalent of The Blade's Paul Hem.

Warmest Wishes,
MadAnthony

I don't know who Paul Hem is. I do know a hypocrite when you post though.

I've recommended in the past to save the lower paid jobs at CC they combine Fred and Brian's jobs. Currently both are working about 15 hr per week. If combining the morning and afternoon host positions it would still equal to a a cake part time job of about 30 hours a week. If we look at ratings I think Fred has the better ratings and in the spirit of our freemarket right-to-work system the weaker less competitive more expensive help should be shown the door. Besides Brian already has one foot out the door by not living in the area anymore depending on the online Toledo Blade for his connection to the area. Don Z is welcome at Occupy Toledo so stop by and they will welcome you as one of them!

Paul, some of my friends were let go this week and your attempt to make this about me and Brian is pitiful to say the least. I wonder if your anger and jealousy is based on an earlier childhood event that you haven't received professional help to deal with http://hwohlfarth.blogspot.com/

Wow that picture looks like hes a hoarder, if thats him.

fred, you look no better pulling that shit.
good people were let go, some say the wrong people. just another reason for me to finally make the jump to satellite.

Yes Fred shows his true colors just as he has with his "coverage" of Occupy Toledo. To follow his rantings one would think he has some deep seated unresolved anger aimed at those who are less fortunate. No empathy just a smarky negative disgust of all things. We see his drumming the issue of unauthorized electric usage at the park where he calls the mayor on the carpet to do something! Fred tell the readers the threatening E-mails you sent me to infer that I should basically shut up.

You have my permission to post them here Paul, if they exist.

You have copies after you stumbled on to my blog several months ago. Remember your snarky comment that I took as a veiled threat of intimidation. I believe it was on my little used yahoo account. You have my permission to post. Oh make sure you also post my reply.

one of you two blowhards post them already!

With all due respect, Ryan, no. Quite the contrary. Here's a challenge: How about everyone who posts here try, just for one stinking 24-hour period, to NOT say anything personal about anyone else. Disagree with ideas, concepts, statements -- great. But WTF, can't people DISCUSS things without spewing absurdly personalized vitriol? Seriously. I challenge us all to try being civil and focused on ideas, not persons or personalities. Please. Please please please.

well, i knew it would stop them one way or another.

and your idea is great, but has proven impossible time and time again on the internet. being anonymous breeds contempt.

"being anonymous breeds contempt."

Are you implying that not being anonymous leads to more civility because it doesn't.

Really? Then why the fake names?

Choice. Got a problem with that?

Geez, no need to get nasty. point is we all know that there are people who are on the internet saying things they never would in real life. not sure why you would use your contrary card on something so obvious. now if your post meant that not everyone is civil even when not being anonymous, i agree with that as well.

"point is we all know that there are people who are on the internet saying things they never would in real life. not sure why you would use your contrary card on something so obvious."

Send up a flare when you finally have a point because I don't know what in the hell you're talking about now. You're rambling in circles.

Ryan, you said: "being anonymous breeds contempt."

You didn't say, "Being on the Internet breeds contempt."

It's a myth that real names lead to civility on the Internet. This myth is advanced by media companies, politicians, and big services like Facebook and Google. I have no problem with site owners enforcing a real-name policy on their site. The problem occurs when those same people want to force their real-name policy beliefs onto other site owners. I simply have zero patience for anyone who hints at the notion that Internet pseudonyms are bad.

So Ryan, what's this contrary card thing that I'm supposedly using?

This is getting off-topic, so I'll let last-word Ryan have the final say on whatever.

ToledoTalk.com --> about --> Posting anonymously --> more thoughts

Are you serious? You seriously are getting your nose out of joint because I didnt say "the internet"? When we were talking about THE INTERNET!? When the admin starts being an ahole its time to jump ship. Please deactivate my account and Happy Halloween.

idk about all that calling each other this and that or where it came from ( i thought this thread was about radio).

Toledo radio - i listen to all kinds except the xm or sirus (never owned). As a kid (circa late 1980s), instead of watching tv as i went to sleep, i would have a small radio/alarm clock. I would turn that dial and i was in control of what i wanted because there was that option.

After high school, one of my first jobs was parts delivery guy. I would drive all over NW ohio n SE mich. I started listening to more talk radio. Im a big time WRIF drew n mike fan, so naturally i tried to stand howard stern n bob n tom. None did the same for me as drew n mike. Yet I continued to try and find a afternoon equivalent. I would listen Rush n glenn beck, not cause of their content but b/c i knew they were popular and reached a large audience.

afternoons on wspd with scott sloan and then later denny schaffer where great radio. I liked fred too, except i listen to wrif in the am

Today I listen to Norm on 106.5fm (3-6) the most. It was great when they got the fm signal from "the buzz" or whatever it was last. The bad that came with the "pop music" I could do without. I hate that ads, music, clothing, language, behaviors and living life have been projected by the "hip-hop" lifestyle. By this I mean when a great channel isnt getting enough revenue and has to switch formats because thats what the advertisers dictate.

With that said, hurry up and call Brick pardough...hes helping locals business create constant contacts with their customers (one "brick" at a one hehehe)...well if he still has a job

has anyone mentioned the Ipod/ mp3 player as an alternative to radio. I know a few ppl who dont watch tv, but just dvds all day long. not even the news, they would tune into paul harvey and listen to country music when not watching dvds.

My in dash has 2 inputs. one is a aux jack for any headphones line (mp3player or laptop) and an USB input. With an 8gb flash drive i have something like 20 albums stored on it, so i could listen to 20 hours of music before hearing (omg kesha or soulja boy or kanye west...8 times an hour on the radio) a song repeat.

When the admin starts being an ahole its time to jump ship. Please deactivate my account and Happy Halloween.

Thinner skin than I would have imagined. See ya...

Obviously touched a sore spot with the admin. I for one wouldn't want real names floating in here where the talk can become toxic due to opposing views, it only takes one nutcase to track someone down and do harm for lawsuits to start flying. Face to face doesn't guarantee civility either.

Linecrosser:

Agreed that being public has its drawbacks. In my lives as a blogger and a journalist I would need at least two hands to count the number of mentally unbalanced idiots who have taken issue with something I have written on the Internet and escalated into real-world harassment (i.e., something more than just saying "you suck"). I have had death threats, morons calling my house, neo-Nazis telling my kids their dad was going to die, a**holes calling my workplaces and pretending to be students lodging complaints about me, and all manner of threatening BS in the virtual world, all with the intent to try to intimidate someone into silence.

If I had the choice to do it all over again, I would opt for anonymity. These days I am scaling back my web presence, and the thought even occurred to me to experiment with Web-scrubbing, as I no longer have any interest in a public Internet presence.

I'll probably not waste time on that, though.

Anyway, back to the original thread: a few thoughts:

1. Thanks to oldhometown for such insightful commentary - I always enjoy reading OHT's posts on radio and the media.

2. Fred-bashers: it's just a radio show, and you can always change the channel. Also: every time you mention Fred, you put the idea to listen to his show in someone's head. If you REALLY wanted to diminish Fred's numbers, you would never, ever talk or post about him. Of course, there may be other ego-driven agendas involved as opposed to just complaining about Fred.

3. Clear Channel haters: shows like those of Fred Lefebvre make money, and that is why they air them. An overlooked reason is the fact that demographics like the 45-54 set, which has a lot of disposable income and which grew upon radio. This segment, while growing grayer, is not going away any time soon, and while this age group (and older groups) continues to acclimate to new technologies, they are still somewhat traditional in their listening and information-gathering habits.

4. Re: interest in Fred's audience size - the last time I saw Arbitron numbers (maybe 6-8 years ago) the morning show at WSPD had something like 8K to 10K in listeners at any one time. I mention this as a point of comparison because a number of earlier posters were curious about the size of Fred's audience. His audience may be somewhat higher or lower these days, but certainly "in the thousands" or "about ten thousand" would be accurate assessments.

Good Info Mike, don't forget old info is still out there, people can revive an old post and bring stuff back up to the surface.

I have written a few "Letters to the Editor" that were published in the Toledo Blade. Every time, I have had some idiot call me and want to debate or yell at me. Getting someone's phone number is easy, but I do not want anyone on my doorstep.

OK hoops I'm on my way over, lets discus it. j/k

Funny !! :)

I hope many learned about internet pseudonyms after the stunt that clown pulled on me. Clearly does not mean that someone can't figure out who you are by just what one posts. You should see the e-mails lol

Randi Rhodes was much better when she started her career with WJNO...I listened to her regularly. When she hit "the Big Time", she changed to keep her job.

Sorry to hear about the CC layoffs, knowing many down here doing what they do, you should see how empty once rocking stations are now. But that's what happens when the Government puts their fingers in the pie and bows to lobbyists. The CC boys sunk a lot of money into certain politician campaign purses and they finally got their way. You are now witnessing the result.

Miss the good ol' days of Rock Radio...

http://gawker.com/5854185/its-a-bad-time-to-be-a-clear-channel-dj

Next, the sales staff.

Yes the near bankrupt CC is scrambling to become profitable. Looks like, according to the article and comments, listeners are abandoning local conglomerate owned radio for internet and satellite feeds. From what I've heard here in Toledo I can't say that I blame them. Owning large segments of anyone market can only lead to disaster just like any monopoly. Listeners don't want to hear national talking points or a national play list brought to the area from some far away corporation. They want local news and music that once came from local control not partisan BS. So it seems they're looking elsewhere. Tough to be a middle-aged entertainer in a declining market. Who next gets the axe?
http://gawker.com/5854185/its-a-bad-time-to-be-a-clear-channel-dj

"near bankrupt"? All I keep hearing is how successful right wing radio is…

Radical liberals, seem to have an endless list of those they truly hate and, show it with every post.
Hating a radio station and hoping for its bankruptcy, is just about as cold blooded as the reptile we have in the White House
Words, of delusion you can quote from one big assed mistake AmeriKa...

That's too funny coming from you Ty Coon...

The only time I listen to local radio is when I'm in the car to and from work. In the car any longer than that I use my MP3 player ran through the car radio to listen to music. At home and at work I listen to files stored on my computer, or Google Music, Spotify, or grooveshark, to listen to music, and NPR on the net. Spotify and Grooveshark can be played over mobile devices and you can play mostly what you want when you want it, and you can explore new music easily. Radio itself has been dying for several years now, they are just now starting to realize it.

On July 24, 2008, Clear Channel held a special shareholder meeting, during which the majority of shareholders accepted a revised $36-per-share offer from Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners.¹¹ The company announced on July 30 that it would offer shareholders either $36 in cash or one share of CC Media Class A common stock for each share of Clear Channel common stock held.¹²

In early 2010 it was announced that the company was facing bankruptcy due to its "crippling debt."¹³
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Channel_Communications

Clear Channel Cuts D.J.’s Across the Country
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/clear-channel-cuts-d-j-s-across-the-country/?ref=todayspaper

Looks like, according to the article and comments, listeners are abandoning local conglomerate owned radio for internet and satellite feeds.

Arbitron: Radio Today 2010

Page 87:

Despite the availability of numerous media alternatives, radio’s weekly reach still exceeded 93% of all Persons 12+. With consistently high figures across the board, radio’s highest weekly penetration of any age group (nearly 96%) was among men 45-54.

Contrary to a common perception that teens don’t listen to the radio anymore, teen listening to radio each week approached nearly 93% among girls and nearly 90% among boys. A higher percentage of teen girls listened than did women 65+ and, by percentage, teen boys tuned in just as much as did men 65+. All other age groups for either gender reached even higher proportions.

---------

Wow...what a disaster...only 93% of the country using radio weekly. Compare to the 1998 report, radio has lost a grand total of 2% of its weekly reach. Shit, they should just fold up shop now...

Radio has problems because it was overvalued, its debt-to-cash flow ratios are way out of whack, and group owners bought at super-inflated prices when times were good...not because radio has no audience and can't make money.

Effectiveness of radio advertising is a different issue that every medium is dealing with. People are becoming more immune to traditional pitches via all traditional media.

---------

Page 88:

Men 45-64 devoted the most time to radio (well above two hours per day), followed by men 35-44. Among women, those between 45-54 spent the most time with radio, followed by women 55-64, 65+ and 35-44. Even teens spent more than an hour per day tuning into their favorite programming.

---------

These proportions haven't changed in at least 15 years. 35-54 is still a top listening demographic (which is why oldies and classic rock stations were popular long before talk radio took a firm hold).

---------

News/Talk info (pages 21-23):

News/Talk/Information stations pulled in more than 59 million consumers each week (No. 3 among all formats) and 12.9% of all radio listening, including 13.1% in PPM markets and 13.7% in Diary Metros.

America’s leading format in mornings and middays, N/T/I ranked No. 2 in afternoons and evenings. Listening to N/T/I was split evenly between home and other locations, and ranked No. 2 in its high proportion of tune-in at home.

N/T/I’s 18+ audience is highly educated and well-compensated. Some 76% attended or graduated from college; that’s second-highest of all formats in this study. Forty-four percent earned a college degree (also ranking No. 2), up from 35% in Spring ’02. And 64% of adult N/T/I consumers lived in households earning $50,000 or more annually (second-most of all formats), up from 59% in Spring ’02─a jump of close to 9% during that period.

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News/Talk (i.e. WSPD) listeners--a large group, highly educated, significant disposable income, and tune in either at home or away--and these figures were measured by multiple methodologies. Yeah...really dying on the vine <rolls eyes>. Surprised they even have anybody advertise...after all, who would want to reach a large group of educated, wealthy people with products and services?

Of course, these audience numbers are from Arbitron--whose business is reliable and valid audience research--and not some ax grinder at gawker.com, so I guess Arbitron is all wrong. And their research doesn't fit the template that news/talk radio listeners (who, by your admission, are almost all conservative in political viewpoint) are redneck neanderthals.

Doesn't matter oldhometown CC (owned by private equity firm Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners) is not in control. If the the man behind the Bain Capital curtain says so long well, good ratings or not, the gig is over. Nationalized radio is the moving force so local content WILL suffer. I don't agree with that but greed will rule the day. For all the displaced radio employees who are looking for a growing industry, the casino is hiring!

If the the man behind the Bain Capital curtain says so long well, good ratings or not, the gig is over.

Nationalized radio is the moving force so local content WILL suffer.

So...what are you staking your point on...radio not making money or radio not having local content? They're 2 different things. News/talk makes money...end of story. It attracts a large audience...end of story. CC is $20 billion in debt; they need money...end of story. Most of any company's money is tied up in HR...so HR is the first thing cut when times are tough.

Will CC eventually fire Fred? Eh, maybe. He lives with that reality every day. I lived with it as a music programmer. Shit happens.

But Fred won't get fired because "nobody is listening"--it will be on a cost efficiency basis...and national programming is cheaper than local. And the changes allowed by the 1996 Telecommunications Act (signed by Bill Clinton) allow for it to happen. We can argue all day long about the morality of nationalized-programming radio, but the legality of it is rock solid. They can do it because they can do it and it saves money. If you can run things better with a higher margin for your investors, buy a few stations and have at it.

Advertising-based broadcast business model: How can we acquire the best programming for the least cost to attract the largest audience to sell to advertisers at the highest rates? Simple as that.

Also, Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee are separate capital firms. CC has two masters.

Here's what Paul and his union brothers will never understand. When I see my industry suffering through lay offs and firings it worries me of course. Friends of mine no longer work in radio and it's harder for those who would like a career in radio get started. So in the past few years we've paid more for our insurance coverage, gone without expected raises, and accepted more duties.
I could bitch and moan about it being someone else's fault like satellite radio, or Ipods, or mp3's etc etc. But instead I come to work each day prepared to do my best knowing it could be my last like it has been for others.
And when my time comes, and it will, I'll go out and look for work elsewhere either in this industry or another and I'll do in on my own gifts and ambition. I won't be able to "bump" some other talk show host from his job because the union contract says I can. I'll just go out and find whatever work I can because that's what the real 99% do every freakin' day Paul. And if it means casino work, or restaurant, or grocery store, retail, so what?
At the end of the day I know I'll have done it without the UAW, SEIU,AFSCME or any other alphabet soup group whose leaders never seem to get laid off no matter how bad things get.

Toledo, has a boat load of misery thrust upon it by tax and waste Dims.And somehow, in the deranged thought processes of radical America haters, a radio station occupies their existence so thoroughly, you all have become quite disgustingly demented, if you haven't noticed.
The pure hate,is Devil inspired and, that doesn't surprise me at all. After all, Liberals are godless heathens through and through...

Trrooollllll

^^ yeah, yeah, yeah, ProfProvo, errr, Ty Coon.

You,! are so,! so right/....BIG TIME!!!