Sheldon Sharpless

[Stranger]

In the world of radio mistakes, the separation of Sheldon Sharpless from WPHB ranks right up there with the worst of them.

The CDT didn't have much on it today, but here's the link:

http://www.centredaily.com/2010/06/10/2028730/wphb-personality-leaves-quietly.html

They don't make 'em like Sheldon any more.

[edarmsttrong]

Another 'brilliant' move by Magnum.  Good luck replacing the advertisers, you'll lose as a result.

[Stranger]

Magnum did not fire Sheldon.  WPHB is operated by others under a lease agreement.  I don't know the specifics, but generally in an LMA, the owners cannot intervene in personnel matters or much of anything else.

[jackandcoke]

Sheldon is really quite a story--50 years on-air at the same station. And a very nice, bright guy, despite the hokey, homespun small-town 1960-style morning show act.

Don't know anything about the inside workings of this situation, but it sure appears to be a "Joe Paterno" parallel: a local icon who just refuses to retire--and until the icon decides on his own to hang it up, the employer risks looking like an A-hole if he pushes the issue. 

So if you're the boss and think the station needs to enter the current century--or at least the 1970's--what do you do?

Think Tim Curley and Graham Spanier can relate?

[jimmiejames]

jack has it right - sheldon refused to bend at all, to play music that was heard
during the rest of the broadcast day...and began to challenge the current operator.
i think he thought he was bulletproof, and no one is...

[edarmsttrong]

Another 'brilliant' move by Magnum.  Good luck replacing the advertisers, you'll lose as a result.

Magnum did not fire Sheldon.  WPHB is operated by others under a lease agreement.  I don't know the specifics, but generally in an LMA, the owners cannot intervene in personnel matters or much of anything else.

I guess I should revise my statement.

Another 'brilliant' move by a wanna-be 'Radio Management' outfit.  Good luck replacing the advertisers you'll lose as a result.

jack has it right - sheldon refused to bend at all, to play music that was heard
during the rest of the broadcast day...and began to challenge the current operator.
i think he thought he was bulletproof, and no one is...

Do you remember a guy named Howard Stern?  He used to be on Radio...now he makes an est. $100 million a year these days.  He had a similar work ethic.

Hope they can find some other person to get up at the crack of dawn, to entertain and inform the community for another 50 years.  It seems rather unlikely to me.

[jimmiejames]

i'm sure they will - and maybe that individual will understand that what the
boss says goes....took me 25 years...

[jimmiejames]

and one other thought - those who post on this board are constantly complaining
about state college area radio - it's all the same, it's all corporate, blah, blah, blah.
now here's an operator trying to do something different, with music that isn't
exposed anywhere else, and he has an air person who won't get with the program.
he's investing his own cash - why wouldn't he want to assure that all of his airstaff
was on the same page?

open your ears, ed.

[hunterrb]

Sheldon Sharpless is truly a legend in the Moshannon Valley. Anyone on the air at the same station for over 50 years deserves the respect he has earned over the years.

I take the responsibility for fact Sheldon is no longer on the air.  It was not an easy decision. I consulted numerous people and lost sleep in the process.  I will in all likelihood suffer a revenue drop, hopefully in the short term.  I admit to having limited experience in this wonderful business and I defer to all of you on radio issues.  However I do have business experience of over 30 years, most recently as a CFO.

As most of you are aware personnel issues may not be discussed publicly.  I can say this: no matter what business you have been in, Mr. Sharpless's actions would have had the same result.  The only reason I agonized over it, was Sheldon's longevity and popularity.

I have suffered hate mail, death threats, attempts to destroy the business, and now a movement organized by his family to bring him back. This has been a rather difficult situation. At the end of the day there are certain moral principals in business and in life and crossing them has consequences. I stand by my decision, based on the factual information I have.

Bob Benckert

[Stranger]

While most of us disagree with your decision and I disagree with some of the statements you made in your post, I have to salute you as being a stand up guy and replying as you did.  Thank you.  Others might slink away in the night until this all blows over, which, eventually, it will.

Sheldon is a good broadcaster, an influential man in the community and by all accounts a decent guy.  And managers new to the business will find that handling air people is like herding cats. Your previous business experience may be helpful on the financial side, but in no way prepares you for the culture shock of dealing with show-biz performers.  While Philipsburg is neither Broadway nor Hollywood, you're still in show business.

I can understand if not condone hate mail.  But death threats are unacceptable and attempts to destroy the business are just stupid.

Again, I salute you for coming out with a fairly detailed statement of your position.