Cumulus Flint

[sixfigure]

Just Bob (jeremy Fenech) and the Nite Time Party got the budget axe yesterday at WWCK FM.

[Corky Marlowe]

Battle Creek downsized their creative director, too...

[Peter Cavanaugh]

That's a shame. They paid eighteen million for the station. Now they're saving pennies with their people paying the penalty. This wouldn't happen with a union. I've been on both sides. Ben Franklin was right.

"We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

Benjamin Franklin-In the Continental Congress just before signing
the Declaration of Independence, 1776.

Peter C. Cavanaugh
WTAC (1964-1980)
WWCK (1980-1988)
WildWednesday.com

[FredRichards]

BTW, Pete.  Thanks for all the great radio on TAC in its prime.

[Peter Cavanaugh]

Thanks, Fred.

WTAC was a remarkable experience for all involved.

PC

[artimus]

good point peter c,
however unions do not carry the weight they once did.   in my humble opinion deregulation was the beginning of the end.  all that did was pave the road for corporate greed to take over and monopolize the industry.  it was right to begin with to prevent that, one owner to have one am & one fm per market.  once the bean counters on wall street took over the radio product you hear on your tuner got cheaper.  my sincerest hope for the dickie brothers is they lose their asses from a class action suite when a hurricane or tornado strikes in one of their markets and nobody is in the studio to pass the information on to the public they are on the air to serve.

[FredRichards]

my sincerest hope for the dickie brothers is they lose their asses from a class action suite when a hurricane or tornado strikes in one of their markets and nobody is in the studio to pass the information on to the public they are on the air to serve.

We can only hope that the public is smart enough to know how to file against broadcasters not serving in the public interest.  The problem is, most do not.  But you're right, deregulation did the business in.  But I think the key is to pressure Congress to put some rules back in.    Or both.

To me, it's like allowing someone who has had their first 1st Aid class at Red Cross to start to practice medicine.  There is a complete lack of responsibility to the public fostered only by sheer greed.

Pete, when I listened to WTAC it was in the days of Pams series 40.  Later I worked with Fred "Boogie" Bryan at Honey Radio, and he had more than a few stories to tell. 

Loved to see the WTAC towers at Grand Blanc when I came up to visit my parents.  I understand they are gone due to a housing development.

[sixfigure]

Today more than 20 percent of the cluster personnel were gutted.
Gone is Les Root N.D  Michigan Hall of Famer
Jeff Wade PD. WRSR  Ten year plus vet of the station.
Bill Bailey GSM   WWCK/WRSR Radio Wayne GSM of the year
Rusty Thomas P.D. Super Talk 1570
Laurie Richter Office Manager
5 sales persons.

[Pat Appleson Studios]

Hey Boys,

Two weeks ago I blasted thru the Tri City Area after giving the keynote eulogy at the Johnny Irons Memorial in Waterford, MI. ( I also attended a private family service in Knoxville). I a four day period, I drove up to see me Mum in Traverse City the back to catch the plane in Detroit.  Man, was it cold.
Anyway I got to hear what's left of some of the signals I used to know and love.  I guess Citadel, fixed the ground system at WTRX-AM.  I couldn't find Les Root.  In fact, I didn't think he was still in the business.  Now, to here he got the axe.  What's wrong with them?  This guy is the "local news" Icon of the lower penninsula.   He stands heads above any other newcaster in the last forty years.  When I worked a short four years for Eastman, Les WAS news.  Larger than life with a staccoto delivery that made you stop and listen.  He made it exciting and thru his many connections made over the years, always got the scoop on the Flint yurnal and the other stations.  What is wrong with them?  Obama is just starting to make noises about localism and you fire the guy that has it tatooed on his ass?  We're doomed, all of us.

BTW, is really liked the sound of a country station I heard up there.  I think it was WSAI? perhaps.  1130Khz rings a bell.  Real oldies, but no programming structure. It sounded like somebodies mother on the air reading Country Music Today, between records.  Yes it was terrible, but the music was wonderful.  Then I switched to WWJ-AM (WJR ain't what it used to be). It booms into Genesse County.  I heard Sonny Elliot and laughed so hard, I almost drove off the road.  When I got to me Mum's house, (she's 85) I told here I heard Sonny Elliot.  She said, "I've always liked him, isn't he dead?"  Then I tuned to WNEM.  It sounds pretty good.

See Ya
pat
www.appleson.com