http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/netgnomes/56275/cumulus-planning-all-news-in-la-atlanta-minneapolis-more/Cumulus has stated over and over about their intent. It's about the National footprint . Radio+print+web + etc. It's not about "a" station or "a" talent.
They're playing for as many beans as they can get. They are not playing for best boss of the year award.
When you hear someone sub par on the air:
If Wal Mart has a bag of chips on the shelf that not many people buy but the store over all is still killin it in sales, then that bag of chips will get a longer than deserved shelf life. (it's not ALL about that particular 8 inch wide piece of realty on the shelf at that one store)
Flip side when someone above average goes away:
If Wal Mart has a bag of chips that brings in 3x the price point of the others but is regional, comes from an outside vendor that requires attention(is different from the national template), and doesn't turn as fast as 5 bags of Doritos at half the cost, it's shelf position will be eliminated in favor of something that fits the national operation plan.
From the bean counter standpoint it is the way to go. Fire all the local talent making a good living. Save that money. Slap on a syndicated show or lower paid talent. Revenue isn't going to be lost and the bottom line increased.
Good Bean Counting and Good Business are not always the same thing.
