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Joe Benigno Taking Leave of Absence at WFAN

Jason Barrett
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Joe Benigno was supposed to return to WFAN on Monday. But that plan has changed according to the New York Daily News.

After being named in a sexual harassment suit by an ex-employee, Benigno is taking a leave of absence from the radio station while his employer, Entercom Communications, works to resolve the case and clear his name.

Lauren Lockwood, a former WFAN sales executive, has filed a five million dollar lawsuit in Brooklyn Civil Court. She claims Benigno would brag about having threesomes with his wife and prostitutes, suggesting she consider joining them.

Lockwood further alleges that Benigno would rub her back, rank women in the office based on their appearance, and show explicit photos of his naked wife and a prostitute.

A statement released by Benigno’s lawyer Arthur Aidala claims the accusations are false.

“He’s denying everything she alleged,” said Aidala. “Joe never showed a naked picture of his wife. That’s absolutely insane. He never propositioned her in any way, shape, or form.”

The former salesperson also accuses the station of conducting inappropriate business by allowing alcohol to be consumed in the workplace, knowingly permitting the practice of taking prospective clients to strip clubs, and creating an uncomfortable environment at events.

During an evening with clients at the Barclays Center, Lockwood claims she was punched in the face while trying to break up a fight between two radio representatives and a guest she had brought to the event. She says the incident resulted in her being the only one suspended.

Time will tell what comes of this situation but for now, one of Entercom’s crown jewel sports radio brands has a huge stain on its image.

Tom Flores Being Replaced on Raiders Radio Broadcast

Jason Barrett
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Earlier this week, Bay Area football fans were stunned to learn that longtime Raiders radio announcer Greg Papa was not being brought back to call the team’s final season in Oakland. The organization signed Brent Musburger to a three year deal to become the team’s new radio voice. Brent will work the final season in the Bay Area, and the team’s first two seasons in Las Vegas.

But Papa wasn’t the only one to receive grim news.

As it turns out, Papa’s longtime color analyst and former Raiders head coach and Super Bowl champion Tom Flores has also been informed he won’t be retained. Flores told the Fresno Bee that he had hoped to stay on thru the first season in Las Vegas but the franchise has decided to explore a new direction.

“In 20 years, I usually sign a contract right about this time — at least a week or two before the first game,” Flores told the Bee. “It wasn’t new when I didn’t hear from them. When they let Papa go, I was: ‘We’ll see what happens. Maybe I’m next.’ And here I am.”

No word has been given yet about the status of Raiders sideline analyst Lincoln Kennedy. Given his talent, contributions to the broadcast, and proximity to Las Vegas (Lincoln resides in Arizona), it’d make sense for the franchise to move him upstairs to the analyst booth filling Flores’ seat. Time will tell if that’s the organization’s plan.

The Sports Radio Spring Ratings Report

Jason Barrett
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The Sports Radio Spring Ratings Report

The Spring book is out which means some are cashing bonus checks, and others are adjusting their strategies to place themselves in stronger position for the summer. Unlike the winter book, which tends to slow down the format, the spring book often provides a boost thanks to the return of baseball, the buzz surrounding the NFL Draft, and the NBA and NHL playoffs.

As you read this piece, understand that we try to offer an informative look at how sports stations are performing in the key demo of Men 25-54, and in some instances we’ll share some other great stories as well. However, not all brands or markets make their stories available. If you don’t see something listed, it’s likely that we simply didn’t have enough information to highlight their story or offer additional analysis on it.

Now here’s what we can share this quarter for the sports talk format.

New York:

Mike Francesa returned and immediately picked up where he left off. The New York radio legend’s first two months in afternoons (3p-6:30p) found him rated #1 with Men 25-54. Mike delivered a 6.8 in May and a 6.4 in June. For the full book, The Fan’s afternoon slot ranked 3rd with a 6.0. The results were also strong for 98.7 ESPN NY‘s Michael Kay Show. ESPN NY’s afternoon program finished the quarter ranked 4th with a 5.4, just six tenths of a point behind FAN.

In mornings, the spring provided a better result than the winter did for Boomer and Gio. The Fan’s morning team produced a 5.2 to capture 5th place. Their last book had them ranked 7th with a 5.1. ESPN NY which relies on the network national show Golic and Wingo, placed 12th with a 3.6.

Turning towards middays, CMB seemed to benefit from the move out of afternoons. Carlin, Maggie and Bart saw their numbers increase during the two months they were rated weekdays 1p-3p. They received a 6.2 in May and a 6.4 in June. Joe and Evan on The Fan finished the quarter in 6th with a 5.4. ESPN NY’s Humpty and Canty, which goes up against Joe and Evan and includes radio veteran Dave Rothenberg, came in 11th with a 3.3.

Given the recent headlines surrounding FAN, this was a solid quarter. I’m sure Mark Chernoff would like to see the morning show in the top 3, and Joe and Evan in the same place. The station has experienced those highs in those timeslots before and has the talent to execute. Regaining momentum though in afternoons was needed and Mike Francesa returned and held up his end of the bargain, at least for the first two months. Credit to CMB because despite being placed in a difficult spot, they’ve since settled into a new timeslot and made the most of their opportunity. Now the question is can they elevate higher?

For ESPN NY, Michael Kay’s show has to feel tremendous. Francesa’s return produced immediate interest, as did the start of the NY Yankees season, and although those two components provide a nice lift for The Fan, TMKS was just one ranking position behind and trailing by less than one point. That’s pretty strong. The real focus has to be turned towards 6a-3p where the station isn’t in the same conversation for numbers as The Fan.

Los Angeles:

There wasn’t a ton of data available this quarter from LeBron’s new stomping ground but here is what we can report. The weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) battle was won by ESPN LA 710. The station finished one ratings point ahead of local rival AM 570 LA Sports. 710 also earned victories in all key weekday demos (M-F 6a-10a, 10a-3p and 3p-7p).

Although we enjoy examining the competition between 710 and 570 each quarter, the sports radio format in Los Angeles doesn’t generate the numbers that we see in many other major cities. That said, it doesn’t mean both brands aren’t making money or feeling great about their people. It may be fun to highlight ratings and how the stations compare, but if those involved are reaping the rewards thru large advertiser investments, then the rest is less important.

Chicago:

There’s been much debate about 670 The Score‘s lineup changes, but for the spring book, there’s no denying the station’s performance. The Score won the book opposite ESPN 1000 taking honors for weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) and full week (M-SU 6a-Mid). The Score was a point and a half to two full points ahead of their local rival.

Sizing up the weekday shows, Mully and Hanley were a force to be reckoned with, finishing 2nd with just under a 7 share. ESPN 1000’s Golic and Wingo gained a few tenths of a point from the previous book but still weren’t inside the Top 10. It’ll be interesting to monitor how Brian Hanley’s exit impacts The Score in mornings, at least in the short term.

Turning to middays, Dan Bernstein and Connor McKnight defeated Kap and Company by seven tenths of a point. That’s the good news. The bad news, the show lost share each month during the book, dropping from a 4.8 in April to a 3.6 in June. Whether that’ll be a continuing trend or a blip on the radar will have a lot to say in how the head to head battle between both shows shapes up going forward.

Between the hours of 12p-2p, The Score’s combination of 1-hour of Bernstein/McKnight and 1-hour Parkins/McNeil, finished nearly two points ahead of ESPN 1000’s Carmen and Jurko.

In afternoons, McNeil and Parkins led the way, coming in 4th, seven tenths of a point ahead of Waddle and Silvy on ESPN 1000. Considering this was the show’s first full book, they were opposite a formidable foe, and McNeil was hampered by vocal issues during the early part of the book, that’s positive news. On the flip side, The Score had the advantage of airing 18-20 Cubs games during the quarter, many of which elevated the daytime numbers, so for Waddle and Silvy to be close given the disadvantage is impressive for 1000 as well.

Changing all three weekday dayparts in a short period of time when a brand in the nation’s 3rd largest market is winning a highly contested ratings battle is certainly a curious move, but there’s no shortage of talent on The Score. The station also has a tremendous PD in Mitch Rosen so that makes a difference. If the new shows can find their groove, and the Cubs continue supplying a huge ratings boost, The Score just might be able to pull this thing off. If not, there’ll be a whole lot more debate and discussion on the station’s overhaul.

For ESPN 1000, it’s about weathering the storm of baseball season, and getting to the fall when the play by play advantages are less difficult to overcome. Given past history, they should continue to push 670 every step of the way. If some of The Score’s changes give listeners a reason to tune out, 1000 will be ready to capitalize on those opportunities.

San Francisco:

The greatness of the Golden State Warriors has drawn a lot of attention to something that many in the market already knew, Bay Area sports radio is pretty damn good. For the spring book, another Warriors championship, and the return of Giants and A’s baseball elevated the performance of both KNBR and 95.7 The Game. It was KNBR though who gained bragging rights, winning the weekday prime and full week competition.

Mornings have become much closer, but Murph and Mac were able to once again defeat The Game’s Joe, Lo and Dibs. KNBR’s morning show was 2nd overall for the quarter at just below a 6 share. The Game came in 6th, one tenth of a point under a 5 share. One positive for The Game this quarter, they won the head to head matchup in the month of May, a first in station history.

In middays, Gary and Larry remained dominant, finishing 1st with an even 6 share. The Game had plenty to celebrate though too, placing 3rd with just above a 5 share. One difference during the 10a-1p hours, The Game airs two-hours of Matt Steinmetz and Daryle “The Guru” Johnson, and 1-hour of The Greg Papa Show. For Gary and Larry, they have now started off the 2018 campaign with back to back 1st place finishes.

Another good battle continues to take place between the hours of 1p-3p. KNBR’s Fitz and Brooks won the head to head matchup against Greg Papa by 1.3 points. KNBR’s program ranked 1st for the quarter. Papa occupied 2nd place.

Afternoons saw KNBR’s Tolbert and Lund finish in front of The Game’s The Damon Bruce Show by 1.3 points. Tolbert and Lund were ranked 2nd for the quarter. Bruce turned in a very respectable 3rd place finish.

Where The Game gained a win was in evenings. The Warriors success was the main catalyst for lifting the station past KNBR’s combo of San Francisco Giants baseball and Drew Hoffar and Kevin Frandsen. The Game finished a half point ahead M-F 7p-12a with Men 25-54.

If you’re trying to play the game of winners and losers, you’re going to favor KNBR since they won all of the prime matchups, but this is a race that’s become a whole lot tighter. More importantly, both brands are now thriving.

KNBR had to be thrilled with earning #1 rankings with both midday shows, and seeing their drive time programs rank 2nd. The Game meanwhile can take pride in having three of their weekday programs finish in the Top 3, and their morning show win one month opposite a tough competitor. There’s much to celebrate on both sides, and a whole lot of money to be made for both sports stations in the Bay!

Dallas:

105.3 The Fan in Dallas had plenty to celebrate in the spring book. The station placed 4th in prime with a mid 5 share. Making all involved feel even better was consistent Top 5 performances from each of the station’s weekday programs.

In mornings, Shan and RJ finished the quarter in 3rd place. GBag Nation occupied the 5th spot in middays. Rounding things out in afternoons were Ben and Skin who also enjoyed the 5th place position.

Year to Year, The Fan has experienced nice gains with its AQH rating in both Men 25-54 and Persons 25-54. It’s also continued to lead the charge among Men 18-34.

No data was available for The Ticket.

Philadelphia:

There were positives to share inside both buildings this quarter, but when WIP and 97.5 The Fanatic are involved in a battle for ratings supremacy, competitive juices are going to flow. For The Fanatic, their big win was regaining the lead in afternoons with Men 25-54. Mike Missanelli lost to Jon Marks and Ike Reese in the winter book, but he regained the top spot in the spring by five tenths of a point. Missanelli placed 3rd for the quarter. Marks and Reese came in 4th. WIP did however win head to head among 6+, Men 18+ and Adults 25-54.

Where WIP separated itself from the pack though is everywhere else. Not only has the station excelled in the Men 25-54 demo, but they’ve become a juggernaut in other demos too. Their advantage in mornings has also become impossible to ignore.

Led by future Hall of Famer Angelo Cataldi, WIP won the morning drive battle with Men 25-54 by 7 and a half points. That’s not a misprint. Cataldi is now delivering just under a 13 share, which was good enough to place him 2nd for the quarter. He was also 2nd with 6+ and Adults 25-54, and #1 with Men 18+.

Anthony Gargano and Bob Cooney provided a respectable 5th place result in mornings for The Fanatic with just under a 5 and a half share. The issue facing Gargano though is that many expected him to give Cataldi a run for his money, and for a while it appeared he was closing ground, but that is no longer the case. That said, a top 5 finish in Philadelphia isn’t exactly a bad spot to be in.

In middays, WIP was again victorious thanks to Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie. The Hammer and the former NFL fullback carried the station to a 3rd place finish thanks to an astounding 9.8 share. That number was 5 full points better than The Fanatic’s team of Harry Mayes and Jason Myrtetus which managed a solid 6th place finish. WIP’s midday numbers right now are in a place they hadn’t been previously.

The same story existed for WIP in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) and full week (M-SU 6a-Mid), so it’s safe to say that Entercom Philadelphia executives are feeling good about the performance of their brand thru the first six months of 2018. With the Phillies playing well, and the Eagles gearing up to defend their Super Bowl title this fall on WIP, The Fanatic has a serious headache and a shortage of Advil. Missanelli has proven WIP isn’t invincible, and a huge run by the 76ers and Flyers would certainly help, but the bigger issue is finding a way to close the gaps in mornings and middays. Until they can do so, the local ratings stories are likely to favor WIP.

Houston:

What a difference a year makes! In 2017, Sports Radio 610 led the spring book among Men 25-54 by three tenths of a point over SportsTalk 790 and seven tenths ahead of ESPN Houston 97.5. Twelve months later and we have a new leader in the numbers.

ESPN 97.5 won the quarter by three tenths of a point over 610, and four tenths above 790. 610 and 790 actually gained ground year to year. 610 was up one tenth. 790 increased their share by three tenths. That paled in comparison though to 97.5 who doubled their performance from a 1.1 to 2.2.

It’s worth pointing out that 97.5’s increase during the past six months has come after the station added Lance Zierlein and Charlie Pallilo to its lineup. One beneficiary of those moves has been the station’s afternoon show with A.J. Hoffman and Fred Faour, which had always held its own, but is now gaining some extra tune ins. The afternoon show has been the top rated program in the market with Men 25-54 for the past six months. How will 610 respond to that? That’ll be something to keep an eye on.

One additional item to pass along, Gow Media, the owner of 97.5, also began simulcasting 8 hours of the station’s programming on Sports Map 94.1. Since doing so, 94.1 has gone from not delivering a rating, to showing up in the report.

Washington D.C.:

New Market Manager Phil Zachary couldn’t have timed his arrival better. He shows up, and the Washington Capitals end their franchise drought of never having won a Stanley Cup. That Caps championship run provided a huge boost in the spring book and the recipient of that incredible journey was 106.7 The Fan.

For the first time ever, The Fan beat WTOP (News/Talk) in weekday prime (m-F 6a-7p). They were also just two tenths of a point behind the dominant News/Talk brand for the full week (M-SU 6a-Mid). If you’re unfamiliar, WTOP, led by Market Manager Joel Oxley, is one of the best performing radio stations in the nation with high ratings and revenues. With the President of the United States residing nearby, and political tensions rising on an almost daily basis, it’s pretty easy to see why WTOP’s programming has large appeal in the nation’s capital.

What had to make The Fan’s PD Chris Kinard feel especially good this quarter was that each of his station’s weekday shows produced strongly in their respective dayparts. The Sports Junkies came in 2nd with Men 25-54 in morning drive with just below a 10 and a half share. Grant and Danny finished 1st in middays with just under a 9 share, and Chad Dukes locked up the 4th spot in afternoons with a low 7 share. Even the station’s evenings turned in an impressive 2nd place finish with just over a 7 and a half share.

Year over year, each key weekday demo (6a-10a, 10a-3p and 3p-7p) on The Fan was up 2 full ratings points or higher. The month of June for The Fan was its highest rated month in brand history.

The Capitals championship run, a Wizards playoff appearance, the return of the Nationals, and the interest in the NFL Draft all played key roles in elevating listening this quarter. Perhaps more impressive though is that when interest in sports grew locally due to the performance of the market’s teams, The Fan’s ratings soared, other brands received less support. That further highlights the position the brand and their talent have established with DC sports fans.

Atlanta:

The spring book was soft but still good enough to help 92.9 The Game lead the market’s sports radio competition. For the quarter, the radio station finished 5th in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) with Men 25-54.

Among the highlights for the brand included a 4th place result from the afternoon show, Dukes and Bell. The popular duo delivered a high 6 share to achieve that ranking. Another notable achievement was Andy Bunker‘s evening finish. The night time talk show host turned in a high 6 share to finish 2nd in the book.

680 The Fan has also seen all of their shows increase their shares year over year. The early season success of the Atlanta Braves has definitely been good for business.

Boston:

The spring book once again showcased a competitive matchup between two exceptional sports radio stations, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and WEEI. For the quarter, The Hub earned top honors, with WEEI occupying the 2nd spot.

Perhaps the biggest win for the Hub came in mornings. Toucher and Rich reclaimed the lead from Kirk and Callahan with an eight tenths of a point advantage. If you include WVEI which WEEI programming also airs on in the market, the lead shrinks to four tenths. Either way, Toucher and Rich earned a tough win this quarter.

In middays, the story is a little trickier. WEEI’s OMF and The Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand each could proclaim victory depending on which metrics you’re focused on. Z&B finished four tenths of a point in front of OMF but when WVEI is included OMF goes in front by six tenths. Nonetheless, both shows were close and in firm command of the 2nd and 3rd ranking positions.

The afternoon battle is where The Hub delivered their biggest win. Felger and Massarotti remained the market’s highest rated show, finishing 1st with a powerful 14.7 share. WEEI’s Dale and Keefe did secure a strong ranking position, grabbing 2nd place, but trailed by roughly seven points.

Finishing up in evenings, The Sports Hub’s combination of Celtics playoff basketball, Bruins playoff hockey, and Adam Jones, held off WEEI’s mixture of the Boston Red Sox and Mike Mutnansky by four points. With the Celtics and Bruins off for the summer, and the Red Sox playing great, the next quarter should show a tighter battle in this timeslot.

Phoenix:

A hot start by the Diamondbacks, and the arrival of Josh Rosen were just what Arizona Sports 98.7 FM needed for the spring book. The market’s leading brand generated a mid 5 share, which was enough to place 3rd in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p).

Looking at the local shows, Doug and Wolf came in 3rd for the quarter with a low 6 share. Bickley and Marotta finished 4th in middays with just under a 5 share. The afternoon team of Burns and Gambo delivered a 2nd place ranking with a high 5 share. Evening programming which included DBacks baseball and The Rundown with Luke Lapinsky, also produced healthy returns, coming in 6th with a high 4 share.

There are other local sports radio brands in Phoenix, and their companies may be satisfied with the results they’re producing, but none right now are delivering the ratings that Arizona Sports 98.7 are. Congrats to their team on a strong 2nd quarter.

Seattle:

The spring book bragging rights belonged to 710 ESPN Seattle. The station finished 6th in prime (M-F 6a-7p) with Men 25-54. One particular show which stood out this quarter was the trifecta of Danny, Dave and Moore. The afternoon trio which went thru some challenges in the numbers last year has rebounded in 2018. In the latest book, they were 3rd overall. Year to year 710 has seen its ratings increase by two full shares.

Minneapolis:

It’s starting to sound like a broken record, but KFAN continued its path of excellence once again in the spring book. The top rated Minneapolis sports radio brand finished one tenth of a point under a 12 share with Men 25-54 in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p). For the full week (M-SU 6a-Mid), the station saw a little bit of a dip, pulling in a low 10 share. That said, most brands would kill to be in their position, delivering double digit shares each quarter.

Tampa:

The market’s top rated sports radio brand, WDAE, experienced solid growth among Men 25-54 book to book. The station’s ratings were up 47% M-SU 6a-Mid and 36% M-F 6a-7p from Winter to Spring. Winter of course creates more challenges for sports talk brands, but despite a soft start to the year, WDAE was back on track in the spring.

Year to year each of the station’s shows is up in share. A strong Lightning Playoff push and the return of Rays baseball has contributed to those increases.

St. Louis:

Once again the spring book was strong for local market leader 101 ESPN. The brand finished 3rd overall in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) with Men 25-54. The station’s key weekday shows all delivered in the Top 4 led by The Fast Lane who finished 1st in afternoon drive. The show has consistently placed near the top for approximately 18 months.

In mornings, The Bernie Miklasz Show turned in a 4th place finish. Kevin Wheeler was ranked 3rd for the book in his timeslot of 10a-1p. Closing things out was The Turn with Anthony Stalter and Chris Duncan (Chris has been out for a while dealing with health issues) which came in 4th.

Portland:

Not a ton of data was available this quarter from the Rose City, but here’s one nugget worth passing along. The afternoon team of Isaac and Big Suke on 1080 The Fan dominated in afternoon drive for the spring book among Men 25-54. The show was just above a 5 and a half share, good enough for 6th overall. Rip City Radio‘s tandem of Chad Doing and Travis Demers were 4 ratings points behind and in 18th place. They did however inch in front of 102.9 The Game‘s Bill Reiter by one tenth of a point.

There was one huge positive though for The Game. For those that subscribe to the theory that national shows can’t perform in local markets, The Dan Patrick Show continues to prove that not all markets are equal. Dan and the Danettes once again won the quarter, generating an impressive 6.6 share to finish 4th overall. Their performance was better than 3 full ratings points ahead of Dusty and Cam on 1080 The Fan. Rip City Mornings with Dan and Nigel trailed both shows and finished tied for 23rd.

Baltimore:

105.7 The Fan is on a roll. The Baltimore sports station finished the spring book in 1st place weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) with just under a 9 share. It was the first time in a long time that the station had gone back to back books ranked #1 in the Men 25-54 demo. Another highlight included The Big Bad Morning Show, featuring Rob Long, Ed Norris and Jerry Coleman, finishing 1st overall for the book. It was the popular trio’s first experience leading the market in the male demo. They produced an outstanding 10 share to lead all local brands.

Charlotte:

No Hornets playoffs games. No Panthers football. No local baseball team. No problem.

Despite those challenges, WFNZ continued to lead the pack among local sports radio brands. Perhaps most importantly, the station increased its share by three tenths year to year, highlighted by a five tenths of a point uptick in the month of June.

Among the local shows, The Mac Attack continued to roll, delivering just under a 3 share, which was an increase of more than a full point year to year. Middays, which featured Chris Kroeger and a rotating cast of hosts after Kroeger left to become the new radio voice of the Charlotte Hornets, remained flat with just above a 2 share. The first book in afternoons for Garcia and Bailey (they started during the first week of May) was solid with shares just above a two and a half.

With football season on the horizon, and a new midday show expected soon, Charlotte’s sports radio leader should be well positioned for the remainder of 2018.

Salt Lake City:

What used to be a fun race to analyze between three solid brands, has turned into a 2-brand race. The only issue, one of those brands, 97.5/1280 The Zone, has pulled further ahead and distinguished itself as the clear cut leading in the market.

For the spring book during the hours of 6a-10a The Zone was 2nd with just above a 7 share. That was 4 full ratings points ahead of local competitor ESPN 700. Middays was where The Zone got even stronger, producing just under an 8 share which was also good enough for 2nd place. 700 was 5 and a half points behind during that time period. The same story existed in afternoons too, where The Zone finished just above a 6 and a half share, 4 and a half ratings points in front of 700.

Nashville:

The local rivalry between 104.5 The Zone and 102.5 The Game has become a fun follow the past year or so because the race has become closer than it had been in previous years. That said, The Zone still occupies the driver’s seat, although that lead isn’t as massive as it once was. Whichever side of the aisle you sit on though, there’s plenty to feel good about in the latest book.

Among the notables to pass along, The Zone saw solid gains year to year and month to month in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) and among their weekday shows. In the last two months alone, the Wake Up Zone picked up 1.4 points, Midday 180 improved by 1.2 points, and 3HL gained 1 full point. The station’s overall prime number was also 1.1 points higher, just under an 8 share.

On the other hand, The Game had plenty of reason to feel excited as well. The spring book represented the station’s best quarter in its seven year history, and the month of April was the brand’s best overall month. Stealing the headline for best performance on the station was Jared & The GM who delivered better than a 5 share in afternoon drive for all 3 months, including an impressive 5.7 number in the month of April.

Given that just two years ago these two brands were separated in the month of April by 10 full ratings points, it’s become a much closer competition. The real winners are Nashville sports radio fans who now have two great options to choose from when deciding where to invest their listening time with local sports radio stations.

Memphis:

92.9 ESPN continues to dominate the Memphis sports radio scene. The station has consistently played in the top 3 with Men 25-54, turning in strong shares. The spring book saw the station turn in performances between 7.4 and 9.2 for the three month period.

As far as the station’s programs are concerned, Golic and Wingo‘s national program led off the day with a healthy top 5 finish for the quarter. Mike and Trey increased their growth each month, rising from 5.2 in April to 7.3 in June.

When the station goes local, they see an even bigger spike. Geoff Calkins turned in three month shares ranging between 8.4 and 10.4. He’s averaged being #1 for the past year during his timeslot of 9a-11a.

Jason and John then took the reigns from 11a-2p and raised the bar even higher. Not only has their program also averaged a 1st place finish for the past year, but their past three months have seen shares fluctuate between 9.4 and 12.0.

From 2p-4p, Eric Hasseltine took over and produced shares between a 5.8 and 6.6. Hasseltine’s month of June placed him 6th. He’s averaged being 8th for the past twelve months.

Closing things out in afternoons was Gary Parrish. The dynamic Memphis sports talk show host remained strong, turning in shares between 8.7 and 10.7. His full year average finds him 2nd in the market with a share just under an eleven.

OMF, Dale and Keefe to Switch Timeslots at WEEI

Jason Barrett
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WEEI is making changes to strengthen its elite weekday lineup. The key members involved in the moves are Glenn Ordway, Lou Merloni and Christian Fauria from the midday show OMF, and Dale Arnold and Rich Keefe from WEEI’s afternoon program Dale and Keefe.

Starting August 13th, the two shows will switch dayparts. The move sends Ordway and Arnold back to timeslots they both previously worked and enjoyed prior success in. Ordway starred for WEEI in afternoons from 1995 to 2013. Arnold worked in middays with Michael Holley from 2005 to 2011.

The new lineup for WEEI will look like this:

5:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: “Kirk & Callahan” hosted by Kirk Minihane and Gerry Callahan
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: “Dale & Keefe” with Dale Arnold and Rich Keefe
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” hosted by Glenn Ordway, Lou Merloni and Christian Fauria
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: “Mut at Night” with Mike Mutnansky
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.: “WEEI Late Night”

“We are proud to deliver the power of local connection to our listeners and advertisers through an elite roster of talent that provides premier sports audio content in Boston,” said Mark Hannon, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Boston. “This move allows us to return Glenn and Dale to the show times that have been synonymous with their legendary careers in Boston, while also providing Rich, Christian and Lou with new, exciting challenges moving forward.”

There’s Nothing Wrong With a Little Coach Speak

Dave Greene
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“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”– Vince Lombardi

“You’re never a loser until you quit trying.”– Mike Ditka

“There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There is no such thing as life in-between.”– Pat Riley

“Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength.”– Phil Jackson

“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”– John Wooden

I love “coach speak.”  In fact, I’ll let you in on a secret – my dream job would be to coach basketball.  I love the game, love to watch it, love to be in a gym when a game is going on.  I’ve always been a big sports fan, and baseball was my first true love (baseball and Jennifer from Days of Our Lives), but with basketball I’ve always paid extra close attention to the strategy and the coaching.  

I had a small taste of it, the year before I switched from Programming to Sales Management.  You may or may not have heard about my 9-7 season as coach of one of the Freshman teams at Clayton High School in St. Louis back in the early 2000’s.  Some have called it a “magical” season.  For me, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.  

Getting back to the coach speak above, I’ve always been a sucker for a good quote from a legendary coach.  My personal favorite comes from “The General” himself, Bobby Knight:  “To be as good as it can be, a team has to buy into what you as the coach are doing. They have to feel you’re a part of them and they’re a part of you.”

To me, I believe this quote to mean you have to “dive in.”  If nothing else, people have to know that I’m never going to ask them to work any harder than I will.  However, as I imagine Coach Knight is as well, I’m very demanding of myself and therefore very demanding of others.  I’m also very aware of something else Coach Wooden said:  “A coach must never forget that he is a leader and not merely a person with authority.”  With my sales teams, I always make it very clear that I do not consider myself “the boss,” I consider myself “the team captain,” pulling from the front, leading the way, setting the example.

This much about coaching I know and believe in – everyone can use some of it.  In some way, shape or form, if you are going to grow as a person or as a salesperson, you need a good coach.  Ideally, this can be someone you are accountable to and who can help you track success based on goals you’ve set together.  Most importantly, what you need in a good coach, is for them to be honest with you, or as they say, “tough, but fair.”  

What do you do to make yourself better at selling sports media?  The truth is there are too many people who wouldn’t have much of an answer to this question, even though we all know it’s something we should be making time for.  This is where a good coach can come in to play and could not only help you see some obvious things like that, but also follow up with you to make sure you’ve not just recognized it, but acted on it.

All of us should strive to be the best we can possibly be, at anything we do.  Few of us have the real discipline to do it on our own.  Look at figuring out who your coach (or coaches) are and use that tool to be better.  After all, as George Halas famously said: “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.”

Boomer Esiason Exits Monday Night Football Radio Booth

Jason Barrett
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0

Boomer Esiason spent 14 years playing in the NFL, playing in four Pro-Bowls, winning an MVP  award, and leading the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in 1989. Little did he know though, that his broadcasting career would extend further than his playing career.

Over the past two decades, Boomer has established himself not only as a gifted sports radio personality, but also as a television and radio football analyst. Esiason has been a mainstay on CBS and Westwood One, but when the 2018 NFL season begins, it’ll be the first time in 18 years he’s not behind a microphone serving as analyst for Westwood One’s Monday Night Football broadcasts.

Boomer has decided to step aside. His tenure with the network included working alongside three superior play by play announcers, Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert and Howard David. Esiason was part of the past 18 Super Bowl broadcasts on Westwood One, and also worked a 19th Super Bowl broadcast for ABC. That’s a feat no other broadcaster has accomplished in NFL history.

“It has been an honor to be a member of the Westwood One NFL broadcast team for the last 18 years,” said Esiason. “I am proud to have delivered the calls for some of the most iconic Monday Night and Super Bowl moments in the history of the NFL. With my continuing busy schedule during the NFL season, including my daily NYC-based morning drive radio show, ‘The NFL Today’ and ‘Inside the NFL’, I thought the timing was right for me to step away. I would like to thank my broadcast partners in the booth who have made the job enjoyable and fulfilling.  Also, I would like to thank Westwood One’s senior management and sales force, who, over the years, were instrumental in providing on-air support for the Boomer Esiason Foundation.”

Esiason will continue to serve as the lead studio analyst for CBS television’s pregame, halftime and post-game program, “The NFL Today,” and co-host WFAN’s popular weekday morning show, “The Morning Show with Boomer and Gio”. Boomer also will remain a member of Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” team.

“Boomer has been the constant for a generation of Monday Night Football listeners, and we can’t thank him enough for his nearly two decades of service to Westwood One,” said Howard Deneroff, EVP/Executive Producer, Westwood One Sports. “He has been the ultimate professional, a terrific broadcaster, and a great teammate to all of us who have had the good fortune of working with him.”

Stealing a Page from Weezer’s Social Media Playbook

Jason Barrett
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0

At times, social media can make you feel like you’re swimming in a sewer. But when the space is used properly, it can make an incredible impact for a brand and its followers.

Some of you may be familiar with Mary Klym, but I’m guessing most of you aren’t. Mary is a teenage girl from Ohio who like most kids loves music and social media. Her favorite band is Weezer. Her favorite song is “Africa” by the 1980’s band Toto.

In late 2017, Mary took to Twitter to ask Weezer to consider covering her favorite song. She created a twitter account, @WeezerAfrica, and started using the hashtag #WeezerCoverAfrica. Each day she’d tweet promoting the idea, thinking there’s no way the band would ever respond.

Her persistence eventually caught the attention of Weezer frontman and guitarist Rivers Cuomo, who played along, liking a number of her tweets and responses from other fans. But there’s a big difference between being nice on social media and actually recording a song and releasing it.

Media outlets then became aware of Mary’s social media push, further highlighting it. When VICE published a story about the teenager’s determination to have the band cover her favorite song, it reached Toto keyboardist David Paich. He then took to Facebook, and posted the article, tagging Cuomo in his post.

Then in the ultimate troll move, Weezer released a Toto cover on May 24th except it wasn’t “Africa” but the band’s other big hit “Rosanna.”

The song showed that Weezer had received Mary’s message but wanted to have some fun and create a little more noise. Articles were written about the band’s response, music stations aired the Rosanna cover, and fans flocked to social media upset that the group hadn’t recorded “Africa”.

Finally, five days later, social media exploded when Weezer rewarded Mary’s efforts by posting the link to their new cover song “Africa.” The video on YouTube, has since amassed over 6 million views, and contains one image, Mary’s original tweet.

Media outlets once again jumped all over the story. Fans invaded Twitter praising the group for covering the song, earning likes and retweets from Weezer in the process. Toto also shared the news and song with their fans too.

As Mary enjoyed her fifteen minutes of fame, Weezer were right there every step of the way. They shared her story thru their social media accounts to let fans and new followers know that they can make an impact by connecting with their favorite artists.

Because of Weezer’s willingness to acknowledge and reward the efforts of a passionate fan who just wanted to hear them cover the classic Toto hit, they’ve reaped the ultimate benefit. Their rendition of “Africa” shot up to #1 in US sales on iTunes, #8 on Billboard’s Hot Rock chart, and #8 on YouTube’s US Trending chart. It was the band’s biggest hit sing 2009.

As I brushed up on my knowledge of this campaign it reminded me of how valuable and powerful social media can be for sports radio brands and their personalities. Whether it’s something as simple as following back a fan, rewarding a listener with a prize for sending in a good tweet or making a call, or connecting them to a once in a lifetime experience, social media helps you build lasting relationships with your audience.

I’ve suggested before to program directors to takeover their brand’s twitter accounts once per quarter to do a public Q&A with fans. You’ll learn what your audience likes/dislikes, it becomes on-air and online content for your hosts, but most importantly, it tells your listeners you’re accessible and open to feedback. Fans want to feel empowered and like they have an influence in the radio station. This gives them a little bit of access and it requires minimal effort.

If you’re a talent, how about putting the power of one segment of content in the listener’s hands? MTV used to allow fans to vote up one of two videos and whichever received better response became the next song played. I piggybacked off that idea in San Francisco with a featured called “The Switch” where John Lund and Greg Papa gave listeners a choice of three things they could hear discussed at 1pm each day. Whichever option received the most votes, became the subject we talked about.

This is also something teams and musical acts can take further advantage of.

Imagine if a band was coming to your city and gave you a chance to vote on social media which song they started or closed the show with. Or maybe they put up a poll question with four choices asking which cover song you’d like to hear them play at the show that they’ve never performed live before? It’d make the audience feel they were receiving something special.

Teams can do it too. Wouldn’t you be more likely to get to the stadium or arena earlier if the team utilized social media to give a select number of fans who arrived early an opportunity to meet a player before the game? Or if they rewarded a fan with a chance to gain entry to the field for batting practice or taken to the broadcast booth and a pre-game tour of the locker room?

These may not be revolutionary concepts but they make fans feel closer to the brands they love. Most of these things are in your possession and part of your daily plan. Leveraging your access, and people, to put the power in the hands of the audience is smart business.

A few other ways I’ve seen social media utilized in smart ways include Matt Nahigian’s creation at his former spot 97.5 The Fanatic when his promotion “Celebrity Week” led to notable figures calling into The Fanatic on behalf of listeners who had sought them out on Twitter. Listeners would ask the celebrities to call into the station to try and help them win Eagles and Phillies season tickets. The list of names who dialed in was impressive.

Spike Eskin shared in a recent conversation with BSM’s Brandon Contes how WIP’s audience was given a chance to name Joe Giglio’s podcast. Once they were asked to get involved, listeners showcased their creativity by coming up with the incredible title “Me and Giglio Down by the Schoolyard.”

Among musicians, Taylor Swift has become one of the best at using social platforms to increase connections with her loyal fans. In the NFL, J.J Watt reminded us how powerful the social space can be when Hurricane Harvey impacted Houston. Thanks to Watt’s efforts over 37 million dollars was raised to affect those in need.

When Mike and Mike signed off at ESPN and ESPN Radio, the hashtag #MMSayThanks was used to give fans a chance to submit their comments and favorite memories of the show. Many of those audience submissions were personally addressed by the Mike’s and their production team thru video on Twitter.

The point of this is to remind you that in the eyes of the audience, your brand and its hosts are viewed the same way that Weezer are by their fans. People love what you do, and invest a large amount of time each day listening and responding to what you create. When you take the time to acknowledge them and treat them to special moments, they become fans for life.

Sometimes when you go above and beyond, as Weezer did covering Toto’s classic hit ‘Africa’, it’ll help you enjoy a surge in buzz, ratings, and revenue. Anytime you can hit the trifecta with one simple decision, that’s the ultimate payoff which every brand strives for.

A Cold Dose of Radio Reality: Sales Remix

Dave Greene
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0

This week, I’m going to attempt to be the first person, I think, to ever write a column-in-a-column (this has probably been done thousands of times).  Earlier in the day, Jason Barrett penned a column on the site called “The Cold Dose of Radio Reality” which is a good piece on the business side of radio, especially for younger people in the business to read.  To make it a little more related to sales, I thought I would go through and make some notes on Jason’s column:

It’s hard sometimes not to become jaded if you work in the radio business. The more time you spend time in it, the more you discover that it’s not just about watching and talking about sports. The newspapers and industry trades at times paint a gloomy picture of what’s happening, leaving you to wonder about the stability of your career. Then as you improve at your craft and command more respect and warrant higher compensation, you learn why the word ‘business’ is included in your industry’s profile description.

Radio is, most definitely, a business.  For the larger companies it is BIG business and there are BIG expectations.  Yes, it’s radio, it’s the entertainment industry, but like any other business it all ultimately comes down to dollars and cents (or is it sense?).  And, while we all know the real story, the reality is two of our largest companies in the industry did file for bankruptcy, so it was easy for that to become the story. 

Now, we all have to do our part to change the narrative and focus on all of the positives…one client, one agency at a time.  The good news for us, is that when we improve our craft, the higher compensation comes with it!

One of the most common mistakes people make in radio is believing that their contributions to a company entitles them to something greater. Managers believe the brands they run are ‘their radio stations’ and the hosts, producers and contributing members all feel their presence and value to a brand is vital and difficult to replace. Their contributions certainly do matter, especially to those they work with, but in the grand scheme of everything, we’re all still replaceable parts. Some may have greater value, but none of us are irreplaceable.

How many times have you heard someone who’s young and on the way up in their career complain about the money, long hours, and lack of attention they receive from their employer? There’s this belief that their hard work should be recognized, radio should reward its people better, and more TLC should be provided by bosses.

It might be a wise thing to do if you want to retain good employees, but does an employer owe you that? They do not. A company’s primary responsibility is to make sure your check clears every two weeks, and provide you with access to the building to showcase your talent either on-air or behind the scenes during the hours you’re assigned to work.

If you’re smart, you’ll appreciate and take advantage of every single rep because experience benefits you no matter where you go in the future. As we all know, the only thing guaranteed in radio is that something will eventually change. Many people desire to work in this industry, so there’s always going to be someone standing behind you wanting what you have and willing to accept the position at a fraction of the cost.

The key words here from Jason are “none of us are irreplaceable.”  Like the programming side, we have our superstars, too.  There are sellers who are the best at what they do and while you would absolutely hate to lose them, the fact of the matter is you’d recover.  The best possible thing you can do to protect yourself in this business, no matter which side of the building you are on, is to have those air tight relationships – be the person who brings the money (or the audience) along with them, however, while that makes your position very strong, it’s not irreplaceably strong.

Too often I hear complaints about the way companies operate. A host may not like what they’re being asked to focus on from a content standpoint or they may feel restricted from using specific words or tackling certain stories. Producers bitch about the pay, demands of the job, and hours involved to tackle each task. Programmers become frustrated when companies push self-serving initiatives on them, market managers meddle with their product, and corporate folks limit their ability to hire or retain good people.

In many cases I’ve agreed with their concerns, but whether I think they’re right or not, it’s still about convincing those above you to reevaluate a situation because they ultimately have the final say. There is no Mr. Cumulus, Mr. Entercom or Mr. iHeart standing in your way. There are people tasked with representing each company and looking out for its business interests, even if it means halting your plans and complicating your situation.

Stop it.  All of us, just stop it.  When you go to work for a company, you play by their rules.  Now, if you disagree with something happening or have suggestions on how to improve certain aspects of the job, prepare a “case” and make yourself heard.  You have to go in, though, knowing that you might get turned down and have to continue doing something you disagree with.  That is just part of life and happens at companies each and every day.  Too much time is spent complaining about things that are out of our control and putting an end to that would save an incredible amount of time.  

I’ve been fortunate in my career to work with some really great people but I’ve also dealt with some shady characters too. Over the past ten years I’m not sure our industry has improved the way it treats its own people. I see too many instances where people perform higher than expected and still lose their jobs over money.

There have also been instances that I’ve experienced firsthand as an entrepreneur which leave a sour taste in my mouth. I’ve done favors for market managers and executives only to have emails ignored afterwards. I’ve witnessed programmers act in cowardly fashion, threatening employees over contributing a piece of content to the BSM website. I’ve had hosts reveal serious issues, only to ignore the advice, and not address it with their employers, and then complain again months later when the same issue pops up.

What you need to remember if you’re working as a host or behind the scenes employee is that your employer is paying you to harness your talent, connect with an audience, sell their advertiser’s products, and extend your resume. By doing so, they’re giving you the chance to increase the viability of your personal brand, and place yourself in position to benefit from the experience you’ve accrued. Maybe it will be with the same radio company. Maybe it won’t.

I, too, have worked with some great people over the last twenty-plus years and plenty of shady characters as well (oh, the book I could write!).  For the sellers, the company is giving you the chance to build a book of business using their well-known brands, their talent and their programming – so take advantage of it! Your job is to go out and close business, (all/some/most) of the tools are provided to you to do that and you get to piggy-back off of, in some cases, a heritage radio station that has spent millions on talent, marketing and branding and built great standing in the community.  Pretty good deal if you ask me.  Additionally, as mentioned earlier, you have the chance to build such a strong relationship with your clients, they go wherever you go.  

For those involved on the managing end, there’s a different message that needs to be understood. The station you manage may be part of your identity, and you may love it dearly, but it is not your property. The company owns the brand, you simply operate it. The day you leave, the show goes on. You may not like the direction of where the ship sails next, but it’s no longer your ship to steer when you take your hands off the wheel.

Executives sometimes get caught up in the moves a station makes after they’ve left, and they forget that the choices they made while in control aren’t guaranteed to remain permanent. I’ve gone thru it myself a few times. You can feel differently about the way an operation is being run, and want to rescue what you perceive as ‘your brand’, but all that matters in the end are the results, and how the people involved respond to the new path forward.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over time it’s that there are many different paths and styles to enjoy success. You may have to change a few parts to fit a new vision, but a good brand with good people serving a good audience will always find a way to remain relevant and successful.

I’ve been there. Sometimes you are incredibly invested in things you’ve been a part of, but when you leave, it’s not done the same and you don’t think anyone will care about it as much as you did.  That should be expected.  I suppose I would worry more about the person who spends a lot of time with a company, then departed for whatever reason, and did not feel connected when they left.  Most of us are putting in obnoxious amounts of hours either doing the job or thinking about the job, it would be a shame to have it not really mean much to you.  

Because so many people involved in the radio business have passion and love for the work they do, they struggle to cut the cord. The station and staff become part of your heart and soul, and although you may care more about what happens to them than a CEO sitting in a boardroom examining the brand’s profitability, it’s not your choice to make. They made the financial investment in the station, you didn’t. That gives them the right to run it however they see fit.

The point behind this column isn’t to cast a black cloud over the industry, it’s to provide you with a cold dose of reality. Radio is a business, but the line of work you do is special. The people around you share a similar enthusiasm for sports, and it’s a common bond which brings us all together to distract us from the pressures we face each day in life. Yes it’s a job, but it’s a rewarding one whether you’re making $8 an hour or seven figures.

I used to know a gentleman in the business, who every time he talked about what we did, said “This beats a real job any day of the week!”  It is special, the business we are in.  Even the little people, like us, get the envious look when you tell someone what industry you’re in, followed by the “What’s (so-and-so) really like?”  

The fact of the matter is, the younger you are when you learn that radio is a business, the better off you will be.  The business of radio consists of revenue and ratings, so make sure you are bringing one or the other and there will always be a place for you, unless you are simply a nightmare to work with.

Work hard.  Do your job to the best of your abilities.  Not much else is in your control, so don’t waste time with it.  I have written this before, but it’s one of my favorites from Dave Gifford: “There isn’t a sales problem in the world that can’t be cured by more presentations!” That’s what you can focus on and control and that’s what the key to making more money is, so as the saying goes “You do you.”

We all have opinions about the pros and cons of this business. The industry will never satisfy 100% of us. Some operators will do things to make employees feel essential to their success. Others may not. You can waste a lot of energy worrying about everything under the sun or ask yourself two questions: “Do I feel a connection to the job in my heart, mind and soul?” and “Is it a career worth investing myself in for the long haul?”

If the answer is yes, then that should be plenty enough reason to continue doing it. If you’re still unfulfilled and feel you need more control, then there’s a solution – buy a radio station. Then, and only then, is the station and each decision truly yours.

As sellers, doing what we do each day, we don’t have a lot of extra energy to waste on worrying, so the only choice is to decide if you are someone who loves being in this business and is willing to grind it out.  For most of us, that answer is yes, and if it isn’t then I’m going to STRONGLY disagree with Jason and suggest you not buy a radio station!

Lomas Brown Named New Lions Radio Analyst

Jason Barrett
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0

Former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown is joining the Detroit Lions game day broadcast team on WJR. Brown spent 18 seasons in the NFL, 11 of them with the Lions. He was the 6th player selected in the 1985 draft, a seven time Pro-Bowler, and won a Super Bowl championship in 2002 while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Upon retiring from the NFL, Brown moved into the sports media industry. He previously served as an analyst on the NFL Network and ESPN. He takes over for Jim Brandstatter who spent 31 seasons on Lions radio.

“Jim Brandstatter did an excellent job for the past two years on WJR and for many years prior, and we’re proud of the work we did together,” said VP/GM Tom O’Brien. “The addition of Lomas Brown, a former All Pro Lion, will bring a unique perspective to the game day broadcast.”

The Cold Dose of Radio Reality

Jason Barrett
-
0
The Cold Dose of Radio Reality

It’s hard sometimes not to become jaded if you work in the radio business. The more time you spend time in it, the more you discover that it’s not just about watching and talking about sports. The newspapers and industry trades at times paint a gloomy picture of what’s happening, leaving you to wonder about the stability of your career. Then as you improve at your craft and command more respect and warrant higher compensation, you learn why the word ‘business’ is included in your industry’s profile description.

One of the most common mistakes people make in radio is believing that their contributions to a company entitles them to something greater. Managers believe the brands they run are ‘their radio stations’ and the hosts, producers and contributing members all feel their presence and value to a brand is vital and difficult to replace. Their contributions certainly do matter, especially to those they work with, but in the grand scheme of everything, we’re all still replaceable parts. Some may have greater value, but none of us are irreplaceable.

How many times have you heard someone who’s young and on the way up in their career complain about the money, long hours, and lack of attention they receive from their employer? There’s this belief that their hard work should be recognized, radio should reward its people better, and more TLC should be provided by bosses.

It might be a wise thing to do if you want to retain good employees, but does an employer owe you that? They do not. A company’s primary responsibility is to make sure your check clears every two weeks, and provide you with access to the building to showcase your talent either on-air or behind the scenes during the hours you’re assigned to work.

If you’re smart, you’ll appreciate and take advantage of every single rep because experience benefits you no matter where you go in the future. As we all know, the only thing guaranteed in radio is that something will eventually change. Many people desire to work in this industry, so there’s always going to be someone standing behind you wanting what you have and willing to accept the position at a fraction of the cost.

Too often I hear complaints about the way companies operate. A host may not like what they’re being asked to focus on from a content standpoint or they may feel restricted from using specific words or tackling certain stories. Producers bitch about the pay, demands of the job, and hours involved to tackle each task. Programmers become frustrated when companies push self-serving initiatives on them, market managers meddle with their product, and corporate folks limit their ability to hire or retain good people.

In many cases I’ve agreed with their concerns, but whether I think they’re right or not, it’s still about convincing those above you to reevaluate a situation because they ultimately have the final say. There is no Mr. Cumulus, Mr. Entercom or Mr. iHeart standing in your way. There are people tasked with representing each company and looking out for its business interests, even if it means halting your plans and complicating your situation.

I’ve been fortunate in my career to work with some really great people but I’ve also dealt with some shady characters too. Over the past ten years I’m not sure our industry has improved the way it treats its own people. I see too many instances where people perform higher than expected and still lose their jobs over money.

There have also been instances that I’ve experienced firsthand as an entrepreneur which leave a sour taste in my mouth. I’ve done favors for market managers and executives only to have emails ignored afterwards. I’ve witnessed programmers act in cowardly fashion, threatening employees over contributing a piece of content to the BSM website. I’ve had hosts reveal serious issues, only to ignore the advice, and not address it with their employers, and then complain again months later when the same issue pops up.

What you need to remember if you’re working as a host or behind the scenes employee is that your employer is paying you to harness your talent, connect with an audience, sell their advertiser’s products, and extend your resume. By doing so, they’re giving you the chance to increase the viability of your personal brand, and place yourself in position to benefit from the experience you’ve accrued. Maybe it will be with the same radio company. Maybe it won’t.

For those involved on the managing end, there’s a different message that needs to be understood. The station you manage may be part of your identity, and you may love it dearly, but it is not your property. The company owns the brand, you simply operate it. The day you leave, the show goes on. You may not like the direction of where the ship sails next, but it’s no longer your ship to steer when you take your hands off the wheel.

Executives sometimes get caught up in the moves a station makes after they’ve left, and they forget that the choices they made while in control aren’t guaranteed to remain permanent. I’ve gone thru it myself a few times. You can feel differently about the way an operation is being run, and want to rescue what you perceive as ‘your brand’, but all that matters in the end are the results, and how the people involved respond to the new path forward.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over time it’s that there are many different paths and styles to enjoy success. You may have to change a few parts to fit a new vision, but a good brand with good people serving a good audience will always find a way to remain relevant and successful.

Because so many involved in the radio business have passion and love for the work they do, they struggle to cut the cord. The station and staff becomes part of their heart and soul, and although they may care more about what happens to the brand than the executive sitting in a boardroom examining the brand’s profitability, it’s not their choice to make. The CEO made the financial investment in the station, you didn’t. That gives them the right to run it however they see fit.

The point behind this column isn’t to cast a black cloud over the industry, it’s to provide you with a cold dose of reality. Radio is a business, but the line of work you do is special. The people around you share a similar enthusiasm for sports, and it’s a common bond which brings us all together to distract us from the pressures we face each day in life. Yes it’s a job, but it’s a rewarding one whether you’re making $10 an hour or seven figures.

We all have opinions about the pros and cons of this business. The industry will never satisfy 100% of us. Some operators will do things to make employees feel essential to their success. Others may not. You can waste a lot of energy worrying about everything under the sun or ask yourself two questions: “Do I feel a connection to the job in my heart, mind and soul?” and “Is it a career worth investing myself in for the long haul?”

If the answer is yes, then that should be plenty enough reason to continue doing it. If you’re still unfulfilled and feel you need more control, then there’s a solution – buy a radio station. Then, and only then, is the station and each decision truly yours.

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