Mike Turner is out at KGON and Fan talent Gavin Dawson also gets the axe...

Once again the top brass retain there big salaries...

Bad move by The Fan. I think Dawson was one of the best they had.

Should have sent Big Suke packing instead and gave Dawson his gig. That would have saved them more $$$ and made the afternoon show better.

Reminds me of a buddy of mine who worked for the Fan a couple years back. He did all sorts of stuff for em and when he asked for benefits and a little more money, they canned him.

State of radio.."Work as hard as you want, just don't expect to get paid for it."

Turner out...I am speechless. I was wondering why Gloria hasn't said, "...in for..." this morning...Damn.

Thanks, Turner, for all these years. Best of everything to you.

I'd like to echo that last post. Thank You, Good luck, and Best Wishes.

To everybody that isn't around at Entercom anymore.. Its a shame and a half to not have you around anymore. I'll miss you guys.

Remember, the second you ask for little bit more money or ask what your future at the station. Pack your bags you just moved to the front of the list to be fired.

Ya??

"Sly": This is where posts get derailed. Settle down, I don't see one post that says anything about anyone being "glad" that folks were fired.

I think everyone posted above has stated quite clearly that it is the industry and not the individual that needs to be ridiculed, mocked, scorned and embarrassed.

Now stepping down off of soap box...

I forgot to mention that Jamie Cooley was also shown the door at Entercom..

Thank god I work real cheap...

Radio SUCKS! What an awful career to be in. You start making a decent wage and they throw your ass out the door. I don't care how much you love the industry, its just not worth the headache, especially being a disk jockey. Whats sad is that all the truely great talent in portland will all be gone soon because they are making Too much money. Radio should be a hobby NOT a career.

Don't like to reporting on this kind of stuff but there were others not mentioned above and I believe they would want it known. Reach out to our brothers & sisters here. This from All Access:

--------------Budget cuts have hit ENTERCOM/PORTLAND, OR.--------------
Alternative KNRK (94/7 FM) APD/MD/nighttimer JAIME COOLEY exits after over 13 years. COOLEY started at KNRK when she was 17 years old. Reach out to her at jaimecooley@gmail.com.

Also out are:

Classic Rock KGON station vet MIKE TURNER, who was most recently local morning host for MARK & BRIAN and Dir./Public Affirs

Adult Hits KYCH air personality SHELL BAILEY

Sports KFXX-A (1080 THE FAN) on-air/production dude GAVIN DAWSON.
_________________________________________________________________
Also not mentioned is another long time Entercom employee PENNY in the Accounting Dept.

I am very surprised by the release of Mike Turner! Hopefully a news station in the Portland market either television or radio will pick him up. I will miss his Sunday morning shows on Entercom.

"I don't care how much you love the industry, its just not worth the headache, especially being a disk jockey."

No one puts a gun to our heads; we do this on our own.

I've never liked being fired but it's the nature of the beast. If you're foolish to think you're not expendable then you're in the wrong business.

It's especially hard when people are let go in bunches. The listeners are confused and the receptionists get the brunt of the complaints.

The names above will land on their feet. It takes time to sort things out but I think in the end they will survive.

Shel Bailey....Charlie Girl?????

Good luck and best wishes to Shel and everyone else.

" Alternative KNRK (94/7 FM) APD/MD/nighttimer JAIME COOLEY exits after over 13 years."

Jamie Cooley is an unsung pro.

This one stings me for all sorts of reasons.

Someome please toss an update or two out there if she's heard from or about. Thanks.

Same here. Major bummer!

Turner was at KGON for 30+ years......

At this point I guess its a good thing Craig Walker retired when he did....

Another big thumbs-down on letting Gavin Dawson go. Really, really enjoyed hearing his Blazers post-game shows, far more enjoyable than the post-game fare on KXL. Also enjoyed the Saturday morning show. Wondered what was up tonight after the Dallas game when ESPN radio didn't go away.

Really, really great--more ESPN radio to fill the gaps. We're turning into sports radio Medford here.

Mgt is seeing the red warning signs from their sales staff on the street. Retail-Auto melt down due mainly to press just pounding the news that the sky is falling. The business coming up in the next 6 months is very soft and they start buttoning down the hatches.
I'm sure the vet was in their top tier payroll due to his years of service. Tough biz all the way around.

Good people, loyal, dedicated professionals, gone for the wrong reason.

This is one reason radio is hurting from a listener stand point. Because of their time of service, these people were long time familiar voices to listeners. They built relationships with their audience, and that is the added value that MissingKSKD often talks about. It is what a corporation does not recognize because they only see the immediate dollars savings from not having to cut paychecks for these people. Short term boost with long term consequences. another drop in the bucket for the unemployment picture, and another nail in the radio coffin in PDX.

Hey stock market investors...

How many drops fill a bucket? Enough and it over- flows.

oops starting to get long winded again. I'll stop here.

WTF???? They let CHARLIE GIRL go? Her request afternoon show was the only thing keeping that damn radio station listenable. What the hell are they thinking????

"Really, really great--more ESPN radio to fill the gaps. We're turning into sports radio Medford here."

Turning Into? The Fan has BEEN for YEARS.

It's the usual short term thinking. How much money did all of the stations make from the Tabacco Companies with their ads for "No of 50"?

Plenty, but it appears this election season Oregon will go from a battle ground state to solid blue. Therefore no need to advertise except for Gordy who will place most of his money on TV.

So it appears at least Entercom didn't save their money for a rainy day, yet they preach that government should save money for a rainy day.

Appears business is doing the usual "Do as I say, not as I do."

Folks this is business as usual for radio. You get canned for doing a good job. Those are the facts. It sucks. I have seen it over and over again in nearly 30 years of being in the business.

It's rare these days a broadcaster gets a chance to say goodbye to their audience. It would be great if we knew we were being fired so we could as least say our goodbyes. But radio is brutal in the fact you don't get that chance very often.

What the F' is up with Entercom? Jaime Cooley is a much bigger surprise than Mike Turner. Was not Jaime Cooley a pivotal part in the restructuring of NRK post Marconi? Who will they tap as the new MD at NRK?

call them talk to the GM, and voice your displeasure.......

Entercom is saving some $$ so they can keep bringing us fine programs like the Dr Drug and Skippy show (man that show is brutal) Daria and Rich (I dont get it but maybe the Brass likes eye candy) and of course the wonderful new laugh track on the Nelson and Harry show... some fine programming there guys.

Dont worry the house cleaning at the Buzz starts anyday now...

maybe the Brass likes eye candy...

Truer than you might think.

...the wonderful new laugh track on the Nelson and Harry show...

Or you could have the Bob and Tom show with the same laugh track.....

Or even worse, a station here starts off with Bob and Tom highlights, followed by 4 hours of Bob and Tom, Bob and Tom bits in mid day, Afternoon drive hosted by an entertaining Local talent who plays Bob and Tom bits in his show from that morning, (he used to do his own stuff which was great),more B and T bits in the evening VTs, and in CASE THAT WASN'T OVERKILL... THE BEST OF BOB AND TOM on the weekends...It used to be a great classic rock station with solid live talent. I know the PD and this is not his choice, but he is playing the hand CC dealt.

5 card stud and he's holding a 7 high...........

I just hope those that are still left have the perceverance to stick with it. It's those people that now have to do just that much more to make it happen day to day.

Dont worry the house cleaning at the Buzz starts anyday now...

The clock started ticking on Wednesday....

I thought Charlie girl was the promotions/marketing director for Entercom. So what? She lost her job on her two hour show?? Or did she lose her career at Entercom??

That being said, I knew a LOT of people at work WHO loved the Random request hours. It was actually the only time people liked listening to Charlie. STUPID MOVE ENTERCOM, STUPID MOVE!

Id be scared shitless If I was working at Entercom because more layoff's are coming, especially at the BUZZ!

The crazy thing was, when I had the radio on briefly during the 5 PM hour earlier today, here's a "Charlie Girl's Random Request Hour" - Valentine's Day edition. I don't get it, is she gone or not? Or did they just cut some of her duties?
Seriously, I'll also second/third/whatever the comment that all the people affected are real pros and people that make Portland Radio what it is. I hope they all land something sweet real soon.

Im just curious whats going on with MOVIN 1075. That station is completely dead. They fired Stacey and now Lisa Adams is no longer voice tracking her midday show and I no longer hear those part timers on the weekends. Have they blown every one out at that station???? What an awful time to be in radio!

I can't believe they fired Charlie Girl,I Ioved her!!! The Random request hours were my favorite time to listen to the radio! I was hoping she would start getting her own show. This is a HUGE loss for Charlie and the ratings will show it. 2 of the best personalities in portland Stacey Lynne and Charlie Girl fired, This BLOWS CHUNKS!!! I hate radio, mainly for the way they treat their employees! I'm done listening to the radio, without great talent, RADIO IS NOT WORTH LISTENING TO!!! The I pod will now be the only thing I listen to in the car. Have fun trying to sell a musical jukebox to advertisers, it won't work because the listeners are leaving along with the talent!

They Can't blow Nelson out the door because they have invested way too much money on him. He has got to be the highest paid jock at Entercom.

"What an awful time to be in radio!"

Back in 1991 my wife was let go at KPDQ. At about the same time 40 staff members at 620 KGW were let go including Gordon Miller the production wizard and maintstay of the station.

What seems shocking is common place in radio. I don't like it but it is what it is.

and their bottom line shows it!

Beano>> more layoff's are coming, especially at the BUZZ!

What makes you think so?

Beano>> They Can't blow Nelson out the door because they have invested way too much money on him.

While I don't think they'd let him go at this point, the highest-paid talent are sometimes the first to go in a cost-cutting move.

Cheddardog: Your post is the best laugh I have had all week. At first, I thought you were really horrible at spelling. Then I read it again and laughed out loud! Thanks!

Just a random question for justin timberfake/beano. WHY ARE YOU SO EXCITABLE?????!
It's not like it's your gig.

Or was it?

...and why do Beano, Justin_timberfake and bunsofsteel always show up within minutes of each other?

I have pondered the same question myself, Randy. I have also considered the crazy coincidence that they all 3 LOOOOOVE CHARLIE GIRL and STACEY LYNN and WON'T listen to the radio ANYMORE if they aren't on it!!!!

Seriously, what are the odds?

p.s. I have noticed how eerily alike jonb and kurtis are in their thinking, too. Kind of like two halves of one whole something.

;)

Justin_timberfake and Beano are the same people. I thought this was known...

I dunnno about the other guy.

I'm so naive. I didn't realize we had folks with multiple personality disorder on here.

Wow. So Herb is really also Trixter?

Hmmmm...you suppose Wayne and Reinstatepete were also one in the same?

yes, but J7 was one of a kind.

I am not Beano or Marconi. Yes, I do have a multiple personality disorder, BUT i do take my meds before coming on this board.

Dawson might have been the most talented on-air person in the building and he was making peanuts. Strange cut.

This will be my last post on this fantastic board, as this will be taken off very soon for the things I'm about to post, but it's all the truth (in my opinion).

Amante212, Marley, Radoh, Mc74, Ness are all idiots and wannabes. I've never read a more pathetic bunch of jokers that write like they know this market or any nuance of sports radio. You know nothing about the business and show it every time you write on this board. Your goof-ball comments about KFXX over the past two years have shown me that you have no clue when it comes to successful sports radio with ratings and revenue.

I'm out for good!

Jennifer Marlow

Never break the chain......

Darn, here we had an insider from the suit side who could enlighten us to the nuances of balancing audience, programing, and creating a revenue stream that meets the company's goals and the markets needs.

Here we have a group of people questioning decisions because they have an interest, and instead of offering answers and a look at the decision making process, they up and leave.

Poor form Jen. When people ask why, they are more likely to follow when the why is explained.

Your post was more of the "BECAUsE I SAID SO", or worse, a "YOU PEONS ARE UNWORTHY OF ANY EXCHANGE OF IDEAS".

you are a great cheerleader, but it works better when you have fans and a team.....

Sorry you are out for good I would have liked for you to read this and reconsider bringing something to the party.

I always preferred Bailey Quarters anyway.

I prefer Bailey quarters too. Lots of them.

Sorta like Mary Ann over the movie star.

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/060918/151829__bailey_l.jpg

http://www.jansmithers.com/db2/00185/jansmithers.com/_uimages/aaa320.jpg

Ooops, How did that one get in here!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/490681229_f1e76b43b3_o.jpg

Does anyone remember her on the back of a motorcycle on the cover of Newsweek? I think she was about 16 at the time. I didn't know it was her until years later but remembered the cover!

Yes, somebody posted a link several years ago, when we were yacking about the "great turkey drop". A B/W scan here in part 2, big Color scan in part 4:

http://www.clothmonkey.com/smithers.htm

Also news (Dec.1 2007) of her recovery from her recent auto accident.

Anybody read the webmasters account of the 9-11 Pentagon attack?

Go to the home page (http://www.clothmonkey.com/index.htm) and read it. Worthwhile.

I'm in love with Jan Smithers all over again!!

How about:
http://www.poster.net/dawber-pam/dawber-pam-photo-xl-pam-dawber-6231003.jpg
Or:
http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Mptv/1367/16766_0002.jpg

As long as we are digging up the eighties anyway.

Michaelbailey>>I prefer Bailey quarters too. Lots of them.

Especially now that Bob MARKS are no longer legal tender in Germany.

KPAM PAMS Series 40 Jingles including jock jings for Bob Marx, Craig Walker, Dick Jenkins, etc., are posted here.
(I don't necessarily endorse some of the banner ads on Mediafire.)

Randy: THANKS! Man, I haven't heard those jingles in decades! I'm thinking circa 1970-71. From the "Program Schedule by Personality" that KPAM issued with pictures in 1972, here's when they were on the air:

Mike Simon, (just a guess) 6-9am (later replaced by Mike Dinean).
Bill Donovan, 9-Noon (aka Mark Andrews).
Dick Jenkins, Noon-3.
Craig Walker, 3-7pm & Program Director.
Mark Lewis, 7-Midnight.
Bob Marx, Midnight-6 (aka Michael Bailey).
Jeff Thomas, Weekends?
Tom Rice, Weekends?

To get this thread back on track it should be noted that Mike Turner replaced Paul Hansen as KPAM News Director in May 1971. Paul moved to News Anchor at KYXI.

Jeff Thomas?

You know Jeff Thomas today as Jim Donovan. Tom Rice did overnights, and Mike Simon was on the weekends and fill-in.

Oh, is THIS what that second link was pointing at?

http://www.imdb.com//Photos/Mptv/1367/16766_0002.jpg

Markie Post? That doesn't look like an 80s shag cut...More like the 70s! (Oh, how I LOVED the 70s!!)

Hey, Randy...how'd you get these KPAM jingles? I have a reel to reel copy somewhere in my closet in the den, but do you think I can find it?? This package is the only time in my 30+ years on air that I had a jock jingle...Never even an imaging drop as Mark Andrews!

Thanks for sharing...I always loved the sound of this package...I've mentioned this before, but when KPAM signed off at sundown, Vancouver's 1410 CKVN would bomb on in at night. The two stations used the same PAMS series 40 package! (CKVN was the former CFUN, which switched BACK to those legendary calls a couple of years later to give fits to CKLG...yet another big battle of Top 40 stations!)

Mark: I figured Mike Simon for mornings since he later was middays on KGON. I'd forgotten Jeff Thomas is today Jim Donovan. So Jim Donovan must have done mornings as Jeff Thomas on KPAM.

Ahem...

Can we get back to the thread at hand? Mike, Shel, Jaime - all great talents and a real loss to the stations they left, as well as to the PDX radio audience.

Radio can be saved, and it can be solvent...but this kind of cost-cutting ain't the way.

I don't get it. How was "charlie girl fired???
I heard her do the Random request hours on friday! So I don't think she was fired, but I could be wrong.

Agreed on the cost cutting not being the way, but how to advance that idea?

Clearly the older means are not up to the task. Even though they may well still apply, the cost / return on investment argument is just cooked. Not gonna happen period.

Where do we go from here?

Truth is, Entercomm might be running a better margin now, but it's worth less to me. If that's typical of a significant fraction of listeners, then it's gonna show in the books, followed shortly by the rates!

So, they've got a bigger chunk of a smaller pie! What's the business sense in that?

On the other hand, let's say that's not true. Argue their side for a moment.

So, nobody really cares. Jamie has added her value, so she's not really needed and the station can just carry on with the sound it has for a while.

The books show no significant change, rates stay the same and the money is made.

Now, they've got more of the same pie, but somebody somewhere is growing their pie --and that's operating under the assumption that people who can add value will be doing so somewhere.

That whole thing probably explains the current behavior of building up, going lean, then capturing value over time. Done regularly, it's probably gonna make more than leaving people alone, but it also comes with some degree of risk too.

(as does leaving people in place)

Every so often, an established brand begins to fall, and the cycle starts again. Instead of having to maintain a fair number of good people, really all that is needed is a fraction of people moving around on a cycle.

That's where we are today, I suspect.

So then how to improve on that? Maybe that's the question that leads to a business argument that might improve the state of things?

Markandrews>>Hey, Randy...how'd you get these KPAM jingles?

I got some Portland PAMS material from Ken R productions just before he closed shop and gave up his rights to sell classic PAMS material.

Now back to the discussion of today's 97.1, already in progress.

THE REALITY OF RADIO CAREERS TODAY...

To remain profitable, most radio conglomerates retain a small core of critical employees; gm gsm sales geeks & pd. They then hire experts (air talent) to help develop a specific project, i.e. a format.
Project workers can then be laid off to give the company a more pleasing bottom line.

On-Air Talent need to see themselves as self- employed because companies actually “rent” their time as long as there is a need for their contributions.

A reminder to those with jobs and those seeking radio employment. What is occurring in the marketplace now will change. It means that current decisions are only temporary. Explaining the above mentioned to Turner and Dawson would be a difficult task, at best.

---

quote:

Author: Craig_adams
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - 8:49 pm

Also out are:

Adult Hits KYCH air personality SHELL BAILEY

---

Most stations yank you off the page the day they let you go. If she's still on the site, I'm guessing she is still there

Radiohead says>>>>THE REALITY OF RADIO CAREERS TODAY...

To remain profitable, most radio conglomerates retain a small core of critical employees; gm gsm sales geeks & pd. They then hire experts (air talent) to help develop a specific project, i.e. a format.
Project workers can then be laid off to give the company a more pleasing bottom line.

On-Air Talent need to see themselves as self- employed because companies actually “rent” their time as long as there is a need for their contributions<<<<<

Yes your comment is insightful however, I would suggest that on air talent regarding themselves as "self employed" is not in their best interests.

If I am a self employed plumber I can put in pipes etc for as many households/building sites as I can persuade to employ me in any week.

If I am air talent there are very few "houses" (ie stations) for me to think of working in and they are already filled up with other plumbers working in them anyway.

"Also out are: Adult Hits KYCH air personality SHELL BAILEY"

I reported what "All Access" reported. I don't know if that is fact.

Roger that. I guess we will have to wait for an insider to give us the lowdown on that one. It is weird if true that their website would still list her in a variety of location's on it.

Whats Dave McKay up to? Maybe he can go to KOOL in some role.....Sorry to hear him off of KHITS....

Shell Bailey did lose her full time position and then was offered part time so shes still there..

That's good new's at least in this thread of mostly bad news. Ton's of people think she is the Cat's Meow over at Charlie! Glad to hear it.
Thanks for the info.

Just heard another friend who had worked for Sunny 1520, Kisn 910 and I believe was currently Sales Accounts Manager, Bill Kistler was let go on Friday. These are very hard things to report on.

"Boppin" Bill Kistler was let go??

He was one of my favorite sales folks. A really nice guy. I'm sorry to hear that.

They're are all nice people.

You're right Craig. I didn't mean to come across otherwise.

It just mystifies me why, if you're looking for increased revenue, you'd cut the number of people on the street or phone sellin' for you.

Beancounter math, I guess...

I"m more mystified as to how gutting your operation by trimming people works for the bottom line other than extreme short term.....Whatever business school these people went to ought to refund their money.

I cannot speak for Bill Kistler's position, but many radio clusters are eliminating some of the multiple levels of sales "managers" rather than actual "on the streets and phones" salespersons. Some stations I've worked with had GSMs, NSMs, NTRSMs, LSMs (often one for each station)among others.

These terrific folks spent more of their time managing salespeople and inventories, and generating ideas (and occasionally excuses); rather than actually selling radio time.

The bulk of their income came from salary, not commission.

Around the country, these are the positions you see being eliminated. Companies are removing a layer of middle management in sales.

Why? They don't actually know the business, they're just working on stats!

So, Turner is gone? SWEET! I don't ever want to hear "the T-curves" or "the uhhh... temp today will be... uhhh... 78 and... uhhh... clear skies" again. If it wasn't scripted and practiced, that guy couldn't talk his way out of a gynecological exam. Jaime Cooley? I kind of feel a pang of sympathy there, for her MD role, she seemed to handle that well. But goddamn I'm glad I'll never have to listen to her rambling about her fav emo bands and laughing at everything she thinks is funny. Which it wasn't. Pity Tara's still around, she's Jaime Cooley Lite. I'll never understand the reasoning behind Jayn being let go, she was perfect mid-day for NRK.

Man its so easy to be a dick behind a keyboard...

On this board it's kind of the norm to find a lot of dicks behind keyboards...especially know it all "been there done that" dicks..and now let's continue on with the positive vibe of this message board.

NRK has gone Completely downhill in the last 5-6 years, everything from the talent to the voicetracked morning show.
I can't believe this is the same station that had S&M in the morning (mike and Stepahanie.
Anybody know where Jayn is today??

>>Anybody know where Jayn is today??<<

http://www.radioalice.com/pages/53679.php

Whoa, where did that come from, friend?

5 Years ago NRK was KUFO, Jr. After the Marconi incident, the station reinvented itself into a true music-lover oriented station. It may not be slick, but it is much more refreshing to listen to than DJs talking about their next appearance at the Jiffy Lube over techno beats. True new rock music lovers recognize Greg (the VT'd morning show) as an amazing wealth of music. You should check out his 'Bottom 40' show on Sunday nights; that show is awesome.

I was a big fan of S&M, and it is true, they don't belong on today's 94.7. However, 94.7 is now the radio station that this town deserves.

I belive Jayn is now PD on Alice 97.3 in San Francisco. Not a bad move for her.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread....

Rick Emerson just did a tease indicating Gavin Dawson would be appearing on the program later this afternoon. Interesting.

And he did......

Gavin on the Emerson show... too bad no one will hear him. (told you it was easy to be a dick..lol)

Gavin you did a good job dude. Wishing u the best.

Bob...
YOU are a DICK!

LOL.. I can be at times.. No doubt. Trust me Ive used a lot of restraint when it comes to the Emerson show.. a lot.

That would be me as well......
Emerson's show is all kinds of bad. But what do I know... I've been out of radio for 5 years. I'd rather listen to Ed Schultz.

The Rick Emerson show has really gone down hill in the last year or so. They have turned it into a celebrity gossip show. I think Sara Dylan has alot to do with the decline. They need to focus on more of the geek talk and less about Ms Spears.

Speaking of "94/7 fm," did anyone catch what's on today's Radio and Records site?

---

quote:

Entercom’s Q4 Revs Up 2%
By Jeffrey Yorke
[blah blah blah]
In Portland, Ore., (David Field) said, KNRK has benefited from some “evolutionary and revolutionary changes” in the way it markets itself to listeners across all of the stations platforms. He noted that it was all part of the companywide effort to change radio’s advertising and marketing culture.

“There are always some winners and losers," he said, "but overall we are very pleased with our performance.”
[blah blah blah continues]

---

How dare you, Mc74! Today's Rick Emerson Show was the Best Show Ever.

Yes, its amazing how many best shows ever they have. Something like five a week isnt it?

Also kinda funny that Rick says KPAM has nobody listening yet they get better ratings then AM 970

OK, so is Shel Bailey still Charlie Girl or What? I heard she was still there after the report from All Access that she was not. Now I see the website has changed and she is no longer listed in the goofing off staff section, hell there is not even a goofing off "staff" section all together anymore. However, the rotating banner on the homepage still promotes the random request hour with her photo. Are the Skipper and Gilligan the only two there anymore or does Shel still do the random request hour?

she is still doing the Random request hours. I heard her yesterday. So She is probably just a part time employee. Shel baily ROCKS!!!!!

Right On! Glad to hear it!

L8R

Yep, The random request hours are the 2 best hours of music. Infact its the only time I enjoy listening to Charlie, they actually play good music. It would be foolish for them to get rid of the Random request hours! My co-workers listen to KGON at work, and then at 5pm, switch over to Charlie for the Random Request hours. Its a big hit at the office.

Darktemper, gingerly put.

Hey, I was being nice!

If you look at it like Skipper and Gilligan as a comedy team, they were funny.

I may have been thinking of it as two castaways on a deserted island though.

Seeing as you mentiond Ginger, Shel could be Ginger, she's got that glam movie star look!

http://picasaweb.google.com/xdd869/2007NightLife/photo#5126797008653870994

Gilligan and the Skipper are a carbon copy of Laurel and Hardy! They didn't even bother to disguise it!

Yes but it did not matter, it was still one of my favorite shows.

When I was working at KJR, I walked out of the news room and who do you think was standing there? It was the "Capitan". I was taken buy surprise. One of the least likely people to be in the hallway at that time was Alan Hale. I told him how much I enjoyed the now-cult-classic sitcom. The only other thing I could ask was for him to say "Hey, little buddy". He did so and shook my hand and said he was pleased that I enjoyed his work.

There's story in The O today about Entercom's layoffs and other things. Peter Carlin Ames is besides himself over Rebecca Webb getting the boot.

I see Eastwood started a new thread on it. Well, here's the link:

http://www.oregonlive.com/O/tvandmovies/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1203726323 32300.xml&coll=7

How nice to see, as the Portland Oregonian described it, "The Generic Corporate Media", getting exposed for their disregard for the listeners and the air talents that attract them.

The listener considers an air talent to be their friend. The corporation regards air people as nothing more than a number.

Funny thing, treating intelligent,talented people like SH*T can come back to you.

Right Dave?

I cannot speak for all Daves, but this particular one is really saddened by the loss of so many professionals in every aspect of the business. I wonder how long it will be before they trim all the meat down to a soup bone. I can tell them right now that soup is not nearly as popular or marketable as a consistent recipe for pie. There is no solid reason to let a fellow like Turner go.

Personally, I would much rather hear Turner in the AM hosting a music program instead of Mark & Brian out of California hosting a talk program! I seldom listen to them anymore, I mostly listen to 98.3 The Peak on the AM drive or my Zune when I can't get reception near PDX.

KINK, true to the corporation.

I realize I may be missing a big, obvious explanation - but I gotta ask;

Many of the layoffs ( not all, I know ) are a reflection of ad revenue being not enough to support certain things. I get that. But I never see any manifestation of that as a listener. I mean, there aren't less commercials being played by any of these stations are there? Or are there? Or do they now charge less? Or are we to believe ( possibly for good reason - possibly not ) that expenses have just risen too much to support having these staff members?

Or really, does it all come down to " not ENOUGH profit - see ya "?

That's not nearly as loaded as it sounds. But how much does that come into play?

"I mean, there aren't less commercials being played by any of these stations are there?"

You can't always judge it that way. You should be asking yourself, did the commercials I heard today cost the same as 6 months ago.

They could also be "trade outs".

Instead of "establishing an ad price a station is worth," and maintaining rate-card integrity...2000+ radio has:

1) Sold out inventory at low rates.
2) "Bumped" those low rate spot with higher paid
spots in the "11th hour."

Why? So "pacing reports" that the corporations are delivering to Wall Street show ever-increasing bench marks. (We're ahead of where we were one year ago at this time in terms of
% sell-out.)

These stations are always sold-out...even when its "bonus spots" using up every avail. Yet another point of differentiation management has taken away from programming.

Bill Drake had it right. Establish a spot load you can live with.

Then increase revenues by driving rates, based upon demand. A sensible spotload builds audience. Larger audiences are worth more than smaller ones when playing a spot. Build it and they shall come.

Under the present system, notice how close every station's numbers are to a number of others. Statistically, there are alot of dead heats.

Robin, you certainly can't mean invest in the programming that can attract as many ears as possible, then sell those ears to advertisers at a premium?

So "old school" crazy, it just might work!

There is also the promotions factor. Radio stations often had major promotions designed to boost the ratings, to increase time spent listening. Quite often the promotion you hear on a station today is just a way to work in more spots, beyond the regular spot load. We used to call those bonus spots. Remember CASH CALL? Didn't have anything to do with sponsor mentions.

CJ, Robin was on it, but basically the stations themselves, or even at the cluster level ARE NOT LOSING money. They ARE NOT in the red. However, based on revenue trends without the cuts, they WILL NOT meet market expectations and are forced to cut payroll expenses to maintain the level needed to support the desired stock price.

Unfortunate that the people in the trenches pay the price for decisions made at the boardroom level. It is basically a corruption of rate schedules forcing larger markets into the ANYTHING FOR A BUCK, Dollar a holler, mentality.

Surely the realization has to set in that the
cuts do nothing to improve the product nor will they show as a long term profit gain. So all thing equal, what do they trim next quarter? What do they trim when there is nothing left to trim?
Or, haven't they looked that far ahead

I think many companies would be better off private and not public for this exact reason.

Private companies, not tied to the market expectations (which are totally outta control right now), can make strategic investments. Public ones really can't, or if they manage to, end up too lean to actually be able to leverage them.

This has impacted a lot, not just radio.

There are some things that Wall Street just doesnt do very well. And one of them is 'Radio'. The other one is home mortgages !

Kinda funny that you hear so many mortgage spots on the radio then....

Big racket.

Lots of people using houses as ATMs. Regulation was relaxed and Wall Street forgot that increasing risk does not come for free.

Now, it's a correction the other way. All that huge risk, a bunch of it magnified by predatory lending practices, is coming to pass.

Look for a ton of quick 'n dirty stable loans to capture the money before too much is lost to the risk.

Sadly, many of the predatory loans didn't have to happen. Could have just done what is being done right now and things would be a lot more stable.

...and the gutting of radio continues. KGON is going to voice track weekends now... sweet. The product just continues to improve.

Maybe I can get my answering machine to call in a request to the voice tracked announcer....

Why bother to VT at all... just segue em and cut out the annoying interruption between the music all together.

What about that, no more BYOB weekends or the FM Bonus giveaway's. Who's gonna answer the phone if nobody is home? Unless the plan is to not do those programs anymore. That'll just leave rock blocks and album sides. Quit messing with it.....it ain't broke so quit fixing it!

iPod Radio. Face it, that's where the industry is headed.

So sad KGON is starting to go down the crapper. As a KGOn fan, I will no longer be listening to KGON on the weekends. The only saving grace that is keeping me listening to KGON is that they are smart enough to inclunde the new Scorpions song "humanity" in the A-z weekend.
The Scorpions new album ROCKS, please play more tracks from it KGON!!!!

I think it will go there, because it's too compelling not to.

Then the value depreciation, of the medium overall, will hit home, and that will provide a strong incentive to build on it again, or lose all the investment made.

At that time, either the medium will become vibrant again, or everybody will decide other mediums are better and that will be that.

Done later, the chances for the industry are lower.

Done sooner, means chances are better as more of the mind share is not yet committed to other mediums.

In a twisted way, I want it all to just go pod-radio quick, so that maybe the building will happen sooner.

The social expectations set about radio are not being set for the current up and coming generation --at least not being set to the degree they were before.

That's the marker for the tail end of the really viable window. It's gonna run 5-15 years or so, then start to close.