As I wrote previously, news-talk radio faces serious challenges as we head into 2021. Across the landscape, I sense a serious lack of innovation, a fear of taking risks and cost-cutting that has left many stations as shells of what they used to be. While economic conditions have a role to play in this, so does a lack of leadership.
Over the course of almost three decades in spoken word media, I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing leaders. These people have helped shape who I am not only as a professional, but as a person.
If radio companies are looking for new leaders in the coming year, I’ve come up with a list of three names that they should talk to.
These are individuals that are qualified to hold virtually any leadership position in news-talk radio, be it as a Program Director, General Manager or Regional Executive. Amazingly enough, none of them are working in the biz right now and all of them SHOULD be.
ANDY BLOOM
THE RADIO RESUME:
VP/Programming- Greater Media (1993-95)
EVP- Coleman Research (1995-97)
VP/Programming International Division- Emmis (1999-02)
Operations Manager- CBS Radio Philadelphia (2007-16)
Operations Manager- Entercom Minneapolis (2018)
Andy Bloom remains one of my favorite people to talk to. He’s not only a legendary radio executive but has also led a fascinating life and career.
Bloom was the first person to innovate the simulcasting of Howard Stern’s morning show out of New York; launching it in Philadelphia and then Los Angeles. He’s worked internationally, running stations in Budapest, Hungary and Buenos Ares, Argentina. He’s also gained experience on the research side of the business as an EVP for Coleman.
Oh yea, he even worked in politics.
Bloom spent four years in Washington D.C. as Communications Director for Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH) and led both of his successful re-election campaigns in 2004 and 2006.
How can news-talk radio NOT have a use for a person like this?
There are three things about Andy that I REALLY like. He isn’t afraid to take risks, he’s an absolute wizard with numbers and he’s always willing to tell you what he really thinks. These are all traits that news-talk radio desperately needs right now.
Bloom lives in Minneapolis with his wife and children. He does some writing for Newsmax, some political communications consulting and has dabbled in a few other business ventures. His last job in radio was a stint running Entercom’s cluster in the Twin Cities, which included legendary news-talker WCCO. He’d be an ideal GM, Regional or Program Director for ANY radio company.
JACK LANDRETH
THE RADIO RESUME:
Producer- WLS/Chicago (1985-92)
Producer- WLUP/Chicago (1992-93)
Executive Producer- KFMB/San Diego (1993-96)
Program Director- WTN/Nashville (1996-98)
Program Director- KNST/Tucson (1998-01)
Program Director- KTSA/San Antonio (2001-02)
Director of News and Programming- CBS Radio Las Vegas (2003-10)
Director of News and Programming- KMBZ/Kansas City (2012-16)
What do think a guy that has worked with the likes of Danny Bonaduce, Paul Harvey and Penn Jillette is doing these days?
The answer: drywall.
Landreth, a veteran radio executive who has had stops in 7 markets across the country in various formats, has been away from radio since being let go from Kansas City’s KMBZ in 2016. When I called him on the phone recently, I asked him what he was up to?
“Well,” he laughed, “I just finished putting up some drywall in the basement.”
I met Jack when he came to Entercom Kansas City in 2012 to run KMBZ. I was programming the cluster’s sports station (KCSP) and had been serving as the interim PD at BZ until he arrived. I remember meeting with him initially and getting him up to speed on everything that we had been doing prior to his arrival. I even offered a few suggestions. He proceeded to shoot all of them down. It didn’t take me long to figure out how LITTLE I knew about news-talk and how much Jack DID knew about the format. We proceeded to talk daily. Not just about strategy but how to develop stories, coach talent, and handle a newsroom.
He was also VERY innovative. I was amazed at the different ways he’d structure shows, storytelling, and sponsorship packages.
When I got the gig programming KIRO in Seattle, Landreth was one of the first people that I called. I ran a lot of my ideas past him and he offered great feedback. His counsel was a big reason I didn’t bump my head on the ceiling my first 90 days there.
Jack still lives in Overland Park, Kansas with his wife and son. These days, he’s enjoying working on home improvement projects and being a dad. Radio’s loss because the news-talk format could use him right now.
DENNIS GLASGOW
THE RADIO RESUME:
Program Director/Morning Host- KNML/Albuquerque (1998-02)
Program Director/Morning Host- KLZ/Denver (2002-04)
Program Director- KFXX/Portland (2004-08)
VP Operations and Program Director- WTEM/Washington D.C. (2008-10)
Program Director- KPAM and KKOV/Portland (2011-13)
Operations Manager and Program Director- Capital Broadcasting/Raleigh-Durham (2013-20)
Dennis Glasgow has a unique perspective as a talent coach because he used to be one himself.
Glasgow, who grew up in Canada, started his broadcast career working for CBC Television. His love of hockey led him to stops as a play-by-play announcer for minor league teams in Tulsa and New Mexico. He went on to hosting stints in Albuquerque and Denver before going into management full-time. His days in front of the microphone gave him a unique understanding of how-to mentor talent as he knew first-hand the challenges that they go through.
I got to know Dennis during my six years working at Entercom where he garnered a reputation as one of the most innovative PD’s in the company. He was one of the first programmers in the format to make social media a point of focus with his talent; going as far as creating an award-winning YouTube series while at KFXX in Portland.
Although the majority of Dennis’ career has been in sports (except for a 2-year stint running KPAM in Portland), he’s more than capable of leading a news-talk brand. In my last column, I made it clear that true talent can work in ANY format. That goes for managers as well as hosts.
Dennis has worked with big names like Tony Kornheiser. He’s gained a reputation as an innovator who is always learning and willing to stay on the cutting edge. He’s organized and can manage large operations. He’d be an asset to any spoken-word outlet.
Ryan Maguire is a columnist for BSM, and a longtime sports and news radio program director. He has managed KIRO-FM in Seattle, WQAM in Miami, 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, 610 Sports in Kansas City, and 105.7/1250 The Fan in Milwaukee. Presently, Ryan serves as the Executive Producer of Chicago White Sox baseball on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. Originally from Michigan, Ryan still holds out hope that the Detroit Lions will one day deliver a Super Bowl title. He can be reached on Twitter @RMaguire1701.
