MARK DAVIS LEAVING WBAP

[chrisdanger]

Cumulus has screwed up a major radio cluster in this market. Instead of acting like a top 5 market, they're a bush-league group of people who program on the cheap like a small market..Im shocked their bunk mates at KSCS, The Wolf, I93 and The Ticket haven't been given the shaft as of yet. I wouldn't be surprised if those stations boot on-air talent as their contracts come up..

[dismuke]

Cumulus has screwed up a major radio cluster in this market. Instead of acting like a top 5 market, they're a bush-league group of people who program on the cheap like a small market..Im shocked their bunk mates at KSCS, The Wolf, I93 and The Ticket haven't been given the shaft as of yet. I wouldn't be surprised if those stations boot on-air talent as their contracts come up..

What I wonder is if Davis' situation is simply a heavy-handed way for Cumulus to show former Citadel staffers who's boss and what's what when it comes to contract renewals.  If Davis refuses to accept and goes elsewhere, it sends a message "if we were willing to let Mark Davis walk away we sure as heck will have no problem letting you go too."   If Davis caves and comes back - well that also sends a message: "Mark Davis couldn't get a better offer elsewhere - what makes you think you can?"    Davis is certainly a good candidate to make such an example out of:  his contract happens to be expiring, he has been a popular fixture on the station for years and, because of his previous syndicated programs and his filling in for Limbaugh, he is undoubtedly well-known in the industry and at other former Citadel properties.  How many other former Citadel local personalities have similarly impressive credentials?  Sure, maybe WBAP will end up paying a price in terms of lost audience.  But, because WBAP is but one of many stations they now control, maybe they think such a price would be worth it.

I just feel sorry for Citadel employees who had to wake up one day and learn who and what they would now be working for.

[chrisdanger]

Its also sad because WBAP is one of those "Legacy" stations that everyone knows, yet its been a shell of its former self for years, even before the ABC spin-off.  When Bill Mack walked, You know the soul of the station had left..

[beachguy3b]

Dang. Just moved here, was looking forward to hearing the LOCAL Mark Davis show.

This sucks.

[mic_check]

I've listened to Mark for years and think he's a nice enough guy, but he's just a water carrying idealogue for the establishment repblican party. If he goes, oh well. I turned BAP off long enough ago it doesnt matter to me.

[dismuke]

It is official - Mark is out at WBAP

http://markdavisshow.typepad.com/marksworld-multimedia-adv/2012/05/a-door-closes.html

[dismuke]

I find this passage by Mark to be interesting:

"Emotionally, I am a little surprised at how mitigated my sentiments are.  I suppose it is because since the Cumulus takeover in September, the move to Dallas and the absolutely palpable change in the corporate culture and the “feel” of the place, it is as if it is not WBAP any more.

At least not the place where I did about 4,500 shows, all with the joy of working with, and for, people I profoundly respected.  And loved."

And this:

"The more I learned about this company, the more I saw that the things that make a radio talk show a magnificent, magical thing to me, the things that made March 28, 1994 to March 31, 2012 the most special days of my professional life--  constitute a language they do not speak.  "

This thread - and the behavior of Cumulus with regard to its promotion of the Huckabee program - made me curious enough to do some online research about the company.   I am not impressed with what that research turned up.   Looks to me like a house of cards - especially given the amount of debt the company is under.

[chrisdanger]

Cumulus, like dismuke said, reminds me of a house of cards as well. Their behavior makes me wonder what'll happen w/ the other stations in the local cluster, as it seems this group is destined to ruin radio even more..Like I said previously, they remind me of a small market company having problems wearing big boy broadcast pants. Instead of keeping legacy hosts like Mark and decent syndie like Coast To Coast AM at KLIF, they're tossing them aside and programming small market/minded fare like Mike Huckabee.

To mark(because I know he reads radio-info from time to time) even though I disagree w/ your political views, you did a quality show with quality guest and a high level of professionalism. I wish you nothing but success in your new ventures.

[longtimelistener]

Salem syndication. KSKY here. Just sayin'.

[cousintim]

he's just a water carrying idealogue for the establishment repblican party. If he goes, oh well. I turned BAP off long enough ago it doesnt matter to me.

You and many others.  Mark Davis is an old man and was talking to fewer and fewer older listeners.