Difference Between SF and LA DJs

[crguy]

Okay there's Kari Steele and Lisa Foxx.  Who is the 3rd jock they share? I'm unaware.

Kari, Lisa and Ryan.

[SFStatic]

The PD "from LA" was also sent there from here. Actually, Andrew Jeffries is from New Zealand, programmed in London, came to Star in SF, then was given LA and forced to move there by CC from where he now also programs Star by remote control. The man must have a REALLY understanding wife, even by radio widow standards! BTW, he's smart as hell and a decent guy.

[calguy]

The PD "from LA" was also sent there from here. Actually, Andrew Jeffries is from New Zealand, programmed in London, came to Star in SF, then was given LA and forced to move there by CC from where he now also programs Star by remote control. The man must have a REALLY understanding wife, even by radio widow standards! BTW, he's smart as hell and a decent guy.

I don't know that I would count Ryan since he doesn't actually track for Star 101.  It's a show that has the same content for the most part on lots of stations.

As for Mr. Jeffries, well that's not the complete story from what I've heard, and I've heard a lot.  However, I don't want to burn bridges with my CC contacts, so I'll just say that he's quite ambitious.  Smart, yeah, but so are a lot of people at CC Burbank.

But smart doesn't always translate to having good taste or creativity.  I wish I could say more, but I was asked not to.  Lets just say that things aren't all what they seem and decency isn't always at the top of the list either.  By the way, I've heard a lot of the same things about this subject from the CC SF cluster, the armor has cracks...

[SFStatic]

A board op spends an hour and a half or 2 hours a day customizing Ryan's stuff for Star, but you are correct, they aren't really done "for" Star. As for your opinion of Andrew, I worked with him, not for him. I know people who share your veiled opinion.

[calguy]

A board op spends an hour and a half or 2 hours a day customizing Ryan's stuff for Star, but you are correct, they aren't really done "for" Star. As for your opinion of Andrew, I worked with him, not for him. I know people who share your veiled opinion.

Many successful people feel the need to manipulate their subordinates in sneaky ways.  It's sad really.  It seems that the want or need to put your stamp on something means that you're trying to fix something that isn't broken.  In the process that thing, or in this case readio station gets ripped apart and staff gets ripped apart with it all becase of someone's ego needing to be fed.  The question is really, how many radio station's does one prgrammer need to control and in the process ruin lives to do it?  It's all so unnessesary and in most cases the station sounds worse.  Someone gets fired for no good reason and it impacts the lives of that person's family.  Children get hurt, not just their father or mother all because of someone's stupid ego.  Doesn't matter what country you come from either, it's a universal problem.

[DavidKaye]

Many successful people feel the need to manipulate their subordinates in sneaky ways.  It's sad really.  It seems that the want or need to put your stamp on something means that you're trying to fix something that isn't broken.  In the process that thing, or in this case readio station gets ripped apart and staff gets ripped apart with it all becase of someone's ego needing to be fed. 

This is true in all industries, not just broadcasting.  Whenever someone is hired they're hired because management wants change.  They don't want same.  If they wanted same they wouldn't have fired/laid off the previous employee.  Thus, it's a mandate to change something. 

Often the changes are merely cosmetic because the employee (a DJ, a manager, an architect) knows that there's not really much they can do to change the fortunes of the company, so they go about rearranging the Titanic's deck chairs to make things look nicer.  They probably figure that they'll be there long enough to collect some hefty paychecks and then go elsewhere.

In most companies, be they radio stations, iron foundries, or bus systems, the company culture is what determines success, and the individuals usually don't have enough power to steer the company culture.  I once bought a restaurant that already had a toxic company culture so ingrained that short of firing everybody and starting over there was no way to overcome the thefts.  Unfortunately, I didn't fire everybody and I eventually lost a lot of money on the venture. 

[calguy]

Many successful people feel the need to manipulate their subordinates in sneaky ways.  It's sad really.  It seems that the want or need to put your stamp on something means that you're trying to fix something that isn't broken.  In the process that thing, or in this case readio station gets ripped apart and staff gets ripped apart with it all becase of someone's ego needing to be fed. 

This is true in all industries, not just broadcasting.  Whenever someone is hired they're hired because management wants change.  They don't want same.  If they wanted same they wouldn't have fired/laid off the previous employee.  Thus, it's a mandate to change something. 

Often the changes are merely cosmetic because the employee (a DJ, a manager, an architect) knows that there's not really much they can do to change the fortunes of the company, so they go about rearranging the Titanic's deck chairs to make things look nicer.  They probably figure that they'll be there long enough to collect some hefty paychecks and then go elsewhere.

In most companies, be they radio stations, iron foundries, or bus systems, the company culture is what determines success, and the individuals usually don't have enough power to steer the company culture.  I once bought a restaurant that already had a toxic company culture so ingrained that short of firing everybody and starting over there was no way to overcome the thefts.  Unfortunately, I didn't fire everybody and I eventually lost a lot of money on the venture. 

Well I can tell you for a fact that at one LA station someone decided to get back at a programmer for not doing something that they wanted by telling lies to the higher ups.  They then felt the need for oversight by bringing in another programmer to supervise the PD.  This new person who knows little or nothing about the format, station or market.  This a very successful property that has been torn asunder with changes that make no sense.  Some are cosmetic, but only serve to make the station sound bad.  Morale at that property is now in the dumps.  Bad morale is not good for any business.  It breeds discontent and like dominoes the station begins to fall apart.  The real villain is the first supervisor who by looking for revenge because he wanted something he had no right to, puts an entire staff at risk.  At least that bozo has moved on to another city.  I know all the names, but will refrain from identifying anyone for the sake of the innocent. 

[DavidKaye]

Bad morale is not good for any business. 

If Ed Stolz made any mistakes taking over KNGY 92.7 it was in the company morale situation.  However, since he's apparently using 92.7 as a relay for a little network he's building, it would have been hard for him to lay off most of the staff and just keep a couple.  It was probably better to start afresh. 

When Entercom took over KOIT from Bonneville I noticed that they left things intact.  And wonder of wonders, KOIT continues to do very well.  I've heard from people who have worked at KOIT at various times and was told that people have been treated well there.  It seems that if you have good company morale, the rest falls into place.

Certainly that was the case with KNGY.  Even though there was a huge debt service, there was positive cash flow.  This is very good for 92.7, which hadn't made a profit in 20 years.

[calguy]

Ed Stolz is not the kind of owner that will care about morale.  I know many people who have worked for him in the past and he's a real nightmare.  Lock up your daughters around this guy as well.

Entercom knew enough to leave KOIT pretty much as is.  Would have been dumb to acquire a top rated money-maker and change anything really, not that others haven't done that.  But it always blows up in your face.  Good example of fixing something that isn't broke is KOST in LA.  Newer, horrible jingles from Reel World, firing a popular morning co-host as well as their long time midday man has forced the rest of the staff to step up.  They saw some wobble and with no head to head competitor have been able to keep the ratings up, but I've heard that listeners are still upset almost two years after the firings.
But that's Clear Channel for ya, all to save a buck or two.  But hey, they only bill like 40 to 50 million or more there.  Matter of fact, most CC stations are running with skeleton staffs now and it's hard on those that are still there.

[punkdj]

 
Alice is all live and local.  Star is neither.


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