Ronn Owens is a good man. Do I think he handled the KGO issue in a bad way? Yes, and then some, but deep down, I'm not a Ronn basher.
I was, like many, extremely disappointed in the manner in which he handled the whole affair. He should have never been on the air that day in the first place, but that's another story.
I want to make it clear: While I have taken shots at Owens, and stand behind them, I also want it to be known that he's a professional. He too, like all of us, has issues. Was it awkward for him to broadcast that day? Yeah, I'm sure had he, and whoever made the call for him to talk about what had transpired a day earlier, the best thing would have been for Owens to head off on vacation a day earlier. Hindsight is, indeed, twenty-twenty.
That said, I still cannot believe he said what he said. I still can't fathom him proclaiming that "I'm excited about this new format!" I mean, that!!/yikes!--you can't make up. Most of us, myself included, acknowledge that he was in a prickly situation--no one denies that, and yes, one could reasonably assume no matter what he said, it would have been difficult. Again, he should have never been placed in that situation to begin with--bad move.
I hope Ronn can do a better job on Thursday. We don't need a long drawn-out performance. We most certainly don't need any input from his producer, Jared, either. That guy needs to read the room.
Owens doesn't owe his ex-hosts an apology. He didn't fire them--management did. But he could have handled the whole matter far more professionally and at the same time, saved face. Even if he had to fake it.
Most of all, Owens owes his LISTENERS something far more profound and compelling. It's his listeners that were more offended by his remarks more than anyone else. Maybe after a few weeks, he'll have understood the outrage and why so many people recoiled at his inexplicable on-air behavior.
I'm sure all of us will be listening.
*Follow me on Twitter
Right on, Rich.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Ronn-basher, either, Mr. Lieberman. However, I am one of his regulars.
ReplyDeleteRather than gossip about him or take cheap shots anonymously, I just don't listen to him unless I find a subject I am interested in.
When I do, I have found Mr. Owens more than acceptable and a lot better than the hyberolic right-wing nutcase radio my conservative friends listen to.
The attacks Mr. Owens is taking are uncalled for ~ if he didn't know in advance.
And, if he did, they are still uncalled for.
If you don't like him, don't listen. Don't lower yourself to the level of 13-year-olds who cannot keep their mouths shut.
Furthermore, the guy was probably shocked and, yes, in fear of his own job so perhaps he said some things that he may even regret. He's human, too.
Take it form me: I resigned from my media management position three years ago because of a corrupt publisher. I still don't have a "regular" job and am trying to make it with a small business.
This job market is horrible, even for people with significant management and professional experience ~ perhaps more so in the Bay Area, where tech is the growth industry and it is populated by ageism.
Give Mr. Owens a chance, everyone.
Again, if you don't like him, then don't listen to him, but show some decency.
As Bono sings, and I'll paraphrase because being in my early 50s, I can no longer remember the lyrics by heart: don't become the monster you are opposed to.
Gossiping, backbiting, libeling (though not in a legal sense but surely in a moral sense) is just wrong.
And I'm the same one who said that I felt Mr. Owens' shows are largely mayo and baloney, mostly for the somewhat left-of-center materialistic Bay Area suburb audience that doesn't want its boat rocked, until, of course, the layoffs come their way.
I don't envy Mr. Owens, and having resigned on principle and then suffered the consequences, I don't blame him for not resigning.
I'll be listening. After all, Mr. Owens was victimized by the very same management team that cut loose all the hosts in a horrific way. How many other staff members lost their jobs? I am more concerned about them, their homes, etc., having lost my home because I stood on principle. In that home, I lost more than a huge down payment and principle. My fate could be the predicament of anyone who quits or loses their job.
Oh, regarding the attacks on Mr. Karel. I've heard him say "There is no God." Yet I still listen to him occasionally, but I don't attack him. I'm religious but I'm not offended. If those are his beliefs, I'll defend to the death his right to state them. I gain nothing by attacking his non-belief in the God I believe in, especially in a cowardly fashion as an anonymous poster.
That gets me to my last point: many people say that Karma will catch up to those at Cumulus responsible for these cut-throat decisions. Well, that may be true. Reap what you sow is an ageold teaching.
However, what about all of you who are gossiping, backbiting and slinging fiery arrows at Mr. Owens? Isn't that bad Karma? If not, then what is it?
Sure, you have the right in America to say anything you want (well, almost anything), but is there not a higher calling that demands more accountability? If you answer in the negative, then you are not self-reflective and the same Karma you are warning Cumulus about is, as Len Tillem says, "gonna bite you in YOUR ass."
I meant to say, I am not one of Mr. Owens' regulars.
ReplyDeleteNot a Ronn basher??!
ReplyDeleteYeah, right.
A couple of additional troubling quotes from Ronn's elephant in the room explanation to the KGO massacre that I found insulting to his "friends" was:
ReplyDelete"We were slipping"
"Management has come up with a concept that I think WILL work"
"I am thankful that 3 months ago I asked for two weeks off and that vacation begins tomorrow."
"I feel excited"
"I've got survivor guilt, but when I heard about the new format, I felt guilty that I felt excited"
Jared-"This is ancient-we should move on, take a couple of calls and then do a regular show".
RONNNN has a lot of explaining to do.
(I have this podcast archived and the quotes above are my best attempt at what I heard after only playing about 5 minutes, which was the most I could take)
Darn! Taking BART from the East Bay tomorrow morning...will have to miss Ronn's show! Should be innnnnnnteresting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, RIch, for this blog. I have bookmarked it and check it daily.
I'm very unhappy about the changes. I miss not having an intelligent talk show at 7 and 10 p. And I feel very badly for all the affected employees. I know from personal experience what it's like to be both a casualty and a survivor in situations like this. But I thought the personal attacks on Ronn, Brian and Karel were over-the-top. I thought it extremely unfair. In fact, with his regular December vacation already planned, Ronn could easily have slipped away without saying anything and waited for things to settle down by the time his vacation was done. I feel so strongly about this that I sent him a snail mail letter of support.
ReplyDeleteRonn, the fucker, is a weasel. I will not listen to his disingenuous hispster schtick ever again. The bastard.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good post, Rich.
ReplyDeleteMy comments have been critical of Ronn, but I agree he was put in an untenable situation. And, he probably truly is a good human being. He makes big bucks, by all accounts. Tomorrow, the 15th, he can earn them. He has a second chance at showing his character in this horrible situation. Please Ronn, come through. No one is perfect; the situation you were put in was a horrible one - you have a second chance. It is the highest of compliments to what was the "KGO family", the fired hosts, and you -Ronn Owens -- that people care so much and want to feel heard and understood, if not affirmed.
I think that Ronn was still in shock. I do not think that he is a back stabber or a ruthless hack.
ReplyDeleteHis producer on teh other hand needs a one way ticket to the moon; or at least Alcatraz. That guy is a jerk. He would do well in Nazi Germany, ratting out your neighbors
I disagree with the notion that Ronnnnn needed to be "protected". The guy has been on radio for decades, he is in the hall of fame. He certainly was capable of handling the situation. The problem is that although for years he assured us that NO ONE ever told him what to say on air, on that day he acted like a castrated company shill who was reading from a corporate script; and to add insult to injury, he let SF's most hated man Jared Hart say that taking calls would be "boring". So on the day after the mass firings the hall of famer with a huge ego gave us cell phones, Rock and Roll and Tony LaRussa. No wonder so many of us are pissed at him. Yeah, we will tune in tomorrow but I doubt he will change any minds or ever live this down. Shame on you Lowensteinnnnnnnnn
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a listener ratings check for KGO at 9:05 tomorrow moring. This would probably even top the anticipation of the Les Kelting vs Ray Taliafero prop 13 debate that took place on the Jim Eason show in 1978!
ReplyDeleteLook,I haven't heard a great deal of Ronn over the decades..but,I dont hear a hard right KSFO or Lew Dickey voice.
ReplyDeleteI think,It's a strong case of if you don't agree with Ronn,just wait until you hear who takes his place one day....
I's getting to where libs will even miss a sane Ronn Owens...
My sentiments exactly. The only thing half as shocking as the massacre was the manner in which Ronn conducted himself the day after. Freaking unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Rich got a letter from Ron's lawyer.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the first time I will tune into KGO since D-day. He has a chance to redeem. Will he rise to the occasion??
ReplyDeleteIt's official. The horse has been beaten to death.
ReplyDeleteRonn Owens OK.
ReplyDeleteCaught between a rock and a hard place as the cliche goes.
Jared the producer can take a hike.
"NOW lets discuss cell phone use on highways. Shall we."
Hey pal go back to your room. There is a reason why you are not hosting. You just proved it.
REMEMBER! To post your comments on Yelp for KGO, Cumulus, and Ronn Owens!
ReplyDeleteRich - Can you look into Raj Mathai at NBC? He has been missing and I just heard from the sports guy on TV that Raj is taking two months off? Maybe he's just joking?
ReplyDeleteYou people need to get a f--king life. Long live the Cloud. Ronn Owens is great. Ask Jan, she knows.
ReplyDeleteRonn may have still been in "shock", but he did have all afternoon and night to prepare something to say. In his open letter, he said he DIDN'T prepare and wanted to speak from the heart, so presumably the shocking things he said were truly from the heart. That makes it all the worse. Maybe it was just lazy that he didn't prepare himself for one of the most momentous shows of his career, but he may live to regret that heartfelt spiel. And deferring to Jared was a cop out.
ReplyDeleteRead it again, 5:24. Some people like mayo and baloney. What I meant is bland. It is bland to me. That is not bashing. That is just my personal taste. Mr. Owens is very successful at what he does. I respect him and like him. A more thoughtful response would be more appropriate than your juvenile reaction.
ReplyDelete6:06, I agree with what you say about Ronn.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my taste is not really his show on a daily basis, and although the juvenile 5:24 poster (perhaps a young intern plant who cannot think critically and therefore did not read all the parts of my post where I said the gossip and attacks on Ronn are unfair ~ how could you miss that, 5:24?) left a snarky, immature and stupid comment implying I'm a Ronn-basher, I am not a Ronn-basher.
My comments were quite thoughtful. Just because I am not too excited about a lot of Ronn's shows does not imply he is sub-par. That's just my taste. Some people like jazz. Some like classical. Does that make either one bad or good? No.
I guess 5:24 does not get the nuance in a thoughtful comment. Reading comprehension just isn't a skill anymore, I suppose. Too used to Twitter.
Anyway, I have emailed Ronn before, personally, to give him credit for some tough stands he has taken. I could even provide those emails, but then I would reveal who I am, and I don't want to do that.
The thing I won't do is bash him. If you are upset with him; don't listen, send him a civil note explaining your concerns or move on.
So many of you are talking about bad karma. And yet it's good karma to be carrying on all this character-assassination? Really?
I've actually found him to be an excellent interviewer when I tune in when he has subjects I'm interested in.
Lighten up, people. Cumulus and federal actions are the issue, not Ronn Owens.
I have been listening to KGO since 1982 and since my return from my trip I feel I have been betrayed by Cumulus for firing all the hosts and other on-air staff, with the exception of Ronn. I stopped listening to Ronn more than 15 years back. Ronn is SUPERFICIAL at best. He is just a GLORIFIED BSer. I have never heard him talk anything of substance when I used to listen to him. By the way many of my friends refer to his 20 something producer Jared Hart as a NAZI storm trooper. Ronn is an insult to the SF Bay Area. Ron is all Brawn and no Brain. Even though Bernie and Taliaferro were not liked by many, they spoke lot more substantively than Ronn. Ronn is just fluff at best. Ronn you have made your money, now go and hob nob with your rich Cumulus friends!
ReplyDeleteI don't get much of a chance to listen to Owens up here in Oregon, but when I'm down there he just seems to have lost the passion he had when he began.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to get excited about famous guests coming through, but seems to be disengaged from the rest of the world with a few exceptions. Maybe the ad load, his contract or just heading to the sunset has left him kind of jaded seeing so many friends walk out the door over the last decade. Maybe he's just kind of numb to it. Maybe he's HAD to numb himself to it in order to deal with it.
Who knows? maybe the break and the changes will revitalize his show and he'll be able to pick up the slack for those who have left and he'll be able to get his fastball back to go out on a high note.
Not everyone responds to crisis well. We've all been in situations where we wish we had done things differently, in hindsight. I had the feeling that Ronn had effectively been taken hostage - it seemed like he was responding the way a person would who had just been kidnapped or had someone pointing a gun at them. I doubt he could have said anything close to what he wished he could. I went through a major layoff at a company where I was with a security dept., and we had to keep a straight face, watching a lot of fine folks lose their 30 year jobs with no warning - 100's of people all at once, and with no severance pay that was owed. As devastating as it was, we were required to be "impersonal" and detached. It's just a lousy situation, for all. Ronn should be forgiven - he's as human as any of us, and he was doing what he was told to do, whether he liked it or not. We all make mistakes. He's a victim, too. The problem is that these kind of situations make us turn against ourselves, a divide and conquer situation. Pit people against people, and then they won't notice who's really pulling the strings. Which is Cumulus and the takeover of the media by corporatocracy, not by Ronn Owens.
ReplyDeleteI think Cumulus doesn't give a shit about the Bay Area and is just concentrating on New York. I think they aren't paying attention to anything we are saying about their horrible, horrible decision. Not sure the Occupy KGO will even make them blink.
ReplyDeleteI miss Gene Burns' and his "issues of the day" so much. I miss him telling about John Rothmann coming to introduce his show 3 times a night.
I'm putting all my hopeful energy into Mickey Luckoff hiring the bunch of them on a new station. That would be such an incredible Christmas present not only for the listeners but all the writers, producers and other staff that are trying to find a job in an economy without them.
Great job covering all of this, Rich. At least I have a place to read about my friends and know I will at least find out where everyone lands up.
All Access is reporting that Clear Channel is reconsidering sending Green 960 off to the HD Radio graveyard. And they may hire some of the KGO hosts who were let go.
ReplyDeleteThere have been 50 layoffs at the San Francisco Examiner and you do one short mention of this, but go on and on endlessly about KGO.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rich. You're doing a mighty fine job of expressing my exact thoughts. Though my livelihood wasn't impacted in the same way of the fired personalities (poor bastards), I too feel quite shat upon after being a listener for a solid twenty years.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
I agree, there's no way anyone could be "excited" about the new format of repetitive news. I lost a lot of respect for Ronn when he said that. When I first heard about the changes early that morning I was deeply disappointed, but thought at least I'd have Ronn. After hearing his performance I resolved myself to never listening to KGO again. I guess I'll give him one more shot to win me back, but he's gonna have to work for it.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of KGO is gone for good I'm afraid. I used to listen throughout the day while working and it's still strange and annoying to have to find alternatives.
OK, Ronn's Dec. 1, program was hardly his finest hour. Unfortunately, the failure came at the time that the KGO audience needed him more than ever before. He's all we have, now.
ReplyDeleteBut, it was probably the biggest shock that he's had, in his KGO tenure. I think he's a polished professional ... but, as someone else said "only human."
I'll be listening today, and I expect him to be honest with the listeners about what needs to be addressed. If he's less than that, we'll know.
I am one with those who have heard ENOUGH from, and about, Jared Hart, "boy producer." Ronn taking on-air programming advice from him was pitiful.
Yep, I'll be moving away from KGO, listening only to what's left of what I used to hear.
Thanks to Ben Fong Torres' item about Don Bleu going to KKSF (103.7, the old KGO-FM/KSFX), I've found happiness in "Oldies," and look forward to hearing Bleu, again.
When I need news, it'll be KCBS.
The change at KGO is terrible, indeed. But, I'm adaptable. ;)
"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
ReplyDeleteThen they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me." – Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
I'm pretty well sure we can all agree on one thing: Ronn Owens has been given a choice not many are given; will his legacy be December 1st, or December 15th?
In my anonymous opinion – short of resigning on-air today, it will be the former. He has a choice of being the toast of the town, or the skunk in the room everyone is whispering about.
The assertion that he was caught off-guard, and what he said on-air was prompted by some fear of losing his livelihood – pahleese! Everyone working at 900 Front Street could smell the Cumulus evil; he had plenty of time to rehearse those obituaries.
Mr. Owens is not slinging hash at some hole in the wall diner; he has options, places to land, and books to write. He was also shrewd enough to know the "business," and protect himself with an ironclad contract with zero chance of being fired.
A very dangerous man for wunderkind Jared Hart-less to blindside and put on-air without a script – ya think?
In the oft chance Mr. Owens was completely blindsided, he has had 2-weeks now to digest what has happened. Today, he writes the final chapter of a best seller, or a dollar store doorstop.
Will we be listening?
Does a cat have an arse?
Who is this Ronn Owens apologist here at 12:14am. For not being a regular listener of his you sure took a lot of time to write a few paragraphs in his defense. Criticizing the highest paid and most successful radio host in the history of the bay area for his screw up is warranted. People are understandably upset, even more so because he muzzled those of us who needed to vent the day after. He was disingenuos and came across as a gutless weasel. Every other host talked about what happened except Owens and Copeland. No wonder they are interchangeable at 9am.......Pat Thurston did by far the best job of all the hosts. She has more balls than the mattress guy.
ReplyDeleteI personally think Jared is a great guy. He is entertaining and straight forward on air. I am not sure why so many have an issue. He seems like a hard worker too.
ReplyDeleteDid Ronn get to you Rich?
ReplyDeleteI am still picking my jaw up off the floor! Ronnnnn has made NO mention of the format change, protests, etc. at the beginning of his show. He is taking calls AGAIN about cell phones and texting.
ReplyDeleteIf he is being forced to do this, Cumulus is destroying his career!
9:17 AM, nary a mention of the elephant. Looks like Ronnn is punting. Talking hands free phones. Boring to me.
ReplyDeleteCan't blame him in a way for not wanting to draw more attention to the situation. He's just trying to do what he does.
Still, I would have been impressed to the max if he would have "gotten real" and dedicated hour #1 to the destruction of our old friend, KGO, but I guess mgt. would frown, so Ronnn falls in line.
Sadder and sadder
The voice of treason is talking cell phones again. I guess Jared Hart convinced him we were disatissfied with the shortage of cell talk while he vacationed. I expect the same when OCCUPPY KGO is outside his window later on today. He will ignore the elephant in the room because he fucked up majorly. Ok, time to turn the dial.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Ronn realises he is *still* talking about cell phones, driving and talking... two weeks later and still on the same subject.
ReplyDeleteVery funny.
And, as I listen, very glaring that the so called hour of talk radio is ads ads ads and tired snippets of nooz.
Not worth the effort of turning the radio on... and I never was a Ronn fan anyway. Curiosity got the better of me this morning.
Michael Savage was right when he described Ronnnn as: "the guy with the hawaiian shirt who has been phoning it in for the last 15 years". Rich, you told the truth about Ronnnn on previous posts. I am surprised by your backpedaling. Do Ronnnn, Jared and Cimmulus have pictures? How did they get to you?
ReplyDeleteI don't get all the Ronn supporters, the guy only cares about himself. I never found him to be bright nor with much depth. A very simple man much like his listners. All we need to know about Ronn was his constant cheerleading for the Iraq war. My favorite Ronn moment was his great idea when he thought Bush was such a great foreign policy leader that maybe it would be a good idea to have one "President" for Foreign Policy and one for Domestic Issues. That was classic stupid. Ronn is not a stand up guy he is just a follower. I love this blog Rich thanks for keeping us informed on the innerworkings
ReplyDeleteI'm bummed I cannot attend rally in an hour--but my intentions were there. I will be there in spirit and support! All you former KGO fans of the dissed talk show hosts, give 'em @@#$%%$%$ at 900 Front Street and I'm right there with you all. Please everyone, I sure hope you post your feedback and comments this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteThank you again, Rich. I'm at the rally in spirit for sure!!
8:34 am -- is that you, Jared? Nice try.
ReplyDeleteResponse to 8:06 and 8:34: There was a movie with the same title as you both: CLUELESS (8:34 is especially a suck-up)
ReplyDeleteAgree with the above. Here we are two weeks later and Ronn Owens is still talking about cell phone use on the highways?
ReplyDeleteRonn who are you kidding?
What is wrong (as another poster suggested) taking calls for an hour?
Mr Owens is losing credibility very fast.