Former WGST PD to Interim New York Position

[RoddyFreeman]

Eric Seidel, the PD who was at WGST when it last getting good ratings, has joined Merlin's WEMP-FM/New York as interim PD.  Merlin's CEO is Randy Michaels, former CEO of Clear Channel, Jacor and Tribune.

WEMP was launched last year as an FM competitor to all-news stations WCBS-AM and WINS-AM, and has gained no traction whatsoever.  Michaels recently hired Al Gardner, his former news director at WGST, in a management position at Merlin.

I've always considered Seidel a visionary.  He hired Neal Boortz, Clark Howard and Sean Hannity, recognizing their talent before WSB hired them (Boortz and Howard) away at higher salaries.  The story I heard about Clark Howard is that Seidel knew Clark from his synagogue.  Clark was a travel agent at the time, and Seidel wanted to start a Sunday travel show so he asked Clark.  Funny.

WEMP has a tough roe to hoe.  It will be interesting to see if Seidel succeeds in making the station a serious competitor.

[fussbudget]

Eric has the ability to find top notch talent but I think the hill WEMP has to climb is too steep, even for him. Al Gardner, who was hired immediately after my departure from WGST, ran a credible morning show but he could not replace Tom Hughes. WBT was a better fit for Al, a really good guy who may also hit a wall at Merlin.

[RoddyFreeman]

Eric has the ability to find top notch talent but I think the hill WEMP has to climb is too steep, even for him. Al Gardner, who was hired immediately after my departure from WGST, ran a credible morning show but he could not replace Tom Hughes. WBT was a better fit for Al, a really good guy who may also hit a wall at Merlin.

I agree it won't be easy for Eric at WEMP.  By the way, in my post, that should have been "tough row to hoe."

[adbuyer1]

You almost have to wonder if WEMP is actually planning a format change, from all news to either news-talk or just talk where there is far less competition.  Roddy is right in both observations; Eric was a premier talk talent developer and WEMP has run into a complete wall trying to compete directly against 1010 WINS and Newsradio CBS 880 in the all news format.  I just don't "buy it" that you bring in Eric to be a news director. 
WABC is the only real Talk competitor and mostly syndicated at that.  WOR is just flat out awful.