MELANIE MORGAN LEAVING KSFO
Melanie Morgan is leaving KSFO and is in the midst of negotiating an "out" from her contract, according to a reliable broadcast source.
Morgan was absent from her Morning Show duties virtually all of last week and on Monday. Her absence was never mentioned by co-host, Brian Sussman nor traffic reporter, Katie Green.
A veteran broadcast source told me that Morgan was unhappy with relations between her on-air partners and was especially displeased and upset about the direction of the conservative-oriented program. Morgan, according to the source, felt out of place and "ganged up." She was especially peeved about the added on-air presence of Green, the younger traffic reporter who has been more noticeable of late; she has been doing news and features in addition to her traffic duties.
Morgan was co-host of the Lee Rodgers-Melanie Morgan Show in the mid-nineties and also served as a reporter for KGO Radio and KGO-TV. She returned to KSFO to pair with Sussman in January, 2012.
Attempts to reach Morgan were unsuccessful.
It is not known if a replacement for Morgan is in the works.
*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive
*Follow me on Twitter
NOTES:
KSFO
SF Radio
Melanie Morgan
Broadcast
415 Media
Brian Sussman
San Francisco broadcasting
Good for her. That show is a bad joke on the public.
ReplyDeleteAs are your opinions
DeleteEveryone is entitled to opinions. You both have spoken yours. The facts will weight out. The realization, however, is that the show and the station just aren't working out in ratings and in revenue, the lifeblood of ownership.
DeleteThis isn't just for fun.
Plus, if Cumulus is truly looking to sell KSFO as widely rumored, you can bet that they'd save the low six figure salary and benefits of Mr. Morgan as they can.
Mr. L
ReplyDeleteI don't get why they need to negotiate an "out" from her contract. She's not happy she quits. So, she'll get paid to leave? If so..no wonder the public isn't kind to media/celebrities/athlete types...
Contracts work both ways. MM May have to pay the Q to get out.
Delete> I don't get why they need to negotiate an "out" from
Delete> her contract. She's not happy she quits.
That's not a contract, dummy. That's employment at will.
"That's not a contract, dummy. That's employment at will."
DeleteNow that's funny! This is what happens when people who have no experience in Media Markets 20-180 work in a top 10 Market station. Blame "Social Media" for not reading ". . .(now you know) the rest of the story." (Pause) "Good Day!"
@10:50pm you may feel safe typing "dummy" on a keyboard behind a monitor/screen. But I'd love for you to call me dummy to my face. I guess you wouldn't be that dummy, would you?
DeleteSouth Bay Bob
@South Bay Bob: You must have meant, "I guess you wouldn't be that "dumb", would you?" Instead of having "dummy" there.
DeleteWe "Keyboard Tough Guys" have to stick together.
She should have left when the "Go Giants" chants and "hang up on yourself" morning zoo stupidity started at least a year ago. That's when I left and bought an internet-capable radio and it's been pure pleasure since.
ReplyDeleteIs your radio any good? C Crane has had an ad running on RL Live. I am thinking about getting one
Delete8:41 - I wouldn't caught dead without my Grace Digital tuner. $150 at Best Buy. Thousands of stations AM, FM, HD, Internet, Pandora, etc. etc.
DeleteThe radio from C.Crane is just as good.
You'll enjoy it.
The quality, especially on AM stations, is CD quality suberb or at least FM quality, depending on the resolution.
I listen to Philly and New York radio as loud and as clear as Bay Area radio with no problems and great quality.
I didn't know an internet capable radio even existed! I'm always breaking my CCrane radios due to misuse, and I'd love to find out more about these. Thanks for the brief education! You made my morning!!!
DeleteI have the Grace Digital Mondo and it's been just about the best thing I ever bought. You can actually find good radio any time of the day. Very little of that good radio comes from the Bay Area.
Delete@8:51 well what do you expect from an area where the mental disease known as liberalism/socialism/democratic thinking runs wild?
DeleteA good move for her, if true.
ReplyDeleteShe's served her time under two horrific ownerships -- Citadel and Cumulus. The reasons behind her seeking an "out" have to do with her insurance package, her separation / vacation compensation and other contractual agreements. She may quit at anytime, given notice to her employer. If the employer (Cumulus) were to terminate her for "cause" - then the separation agreement is off the table. Being that it's an amicable separation, she is merely trying to collect on what compensation is contractually owed here. This is not the same as "buying out the contract" as she is the one who has quit. However, they may be a "limited" severance package due her by Cumulus, as well as exercizing of a negotiated "non-compete" for a certain time before she works someplace else in the market.
This is normal business practice in major markets, not how it is necessarily done in medium or small markets. It has nothing to do with "right to work" provisions, only the "when" since she is the one breaking the contract.
The company may still come back, as well, with a newly negotiated contract with her agent for more money, changes in work environment etc. This negotiation, as it has been for Ronn Owens, only lasts a certain time before becoming void.
This also has to do with what is possibly a separate "personal services" contract that involves specific sponsors, compensation for endorsements, etc.
She wouldn't just up and quit with such a contract still enforced, but would negotiate an "out clause."
This is not a finality, but merely a public relations ploy at this point. You can bet that both sides continue to talk ... for now.
Most people in broadcasting in a major market such as SF don't have the luxuries afforded by such negotiation because details, whether you are Don Buchwald or other agent/manager are not freely and openly discussed outside of conference rooms and certain entities. It's about "power" -- not whether she has finally decided to quit. I have my doubts.
Writer at Nine was extremely helpful in understanding the inside baseball that might occur with radio careers. Still having Melanie leave is sad, not knowing. How to find her. Brings to mind the Beatles 'She's Leaving Home'.
DeleteI'd love to know where you went to law school to come up with all that...
DeleteArizona State, thank you
DeleteThank you, 10:04. I've negotiated a few of these in Philadelphia, Memphis and LA county, pluse signed a few in my day as well. They are all different and are market / group dependent. Thank you again.
Delete10:52, law school or 'pre-law' has nothing to do with it, actually. It's all in black and white. Employer hands you a contract, plus, usually, something like a dollar bill, they sign, you sign, your attorney adds clauses before hand, they initial, you initial and off to Studio A you go. That way, they can't fire you at will, but they can fire you for cause. You can quit, but depending on the contract stipulations, you may have to pay out the rest of your contract or they have to pay out certain portions of yous.
No sweat, 10:04. Remember Rich's accurate lead heading "Melanie Morgan Leaving KSFO Morning Show." Nothing at all saying she's leaving KSFO. She may even return to a newly revamped morning show if Cumulus and her agent/manager think enough of her and their need for her.
DeletePR does that to people who right headlines and that's what the purpose is. Keeps everyone on edge. Give it a few days until you hear directly hear from her.
If she quits, it's because she's had enough and the terms were right to do so, especially if the station is for sale. The terms could become a lot more difficult at that time. She'll be fine. She is married to a man who, like she, has been down this path several times in a great career -- Jack Swanson. He signed and negotiated some of the best for himself and others.
How do you know the headline is accurate? It hasn't been confirmed anywhere.
Delete@9pm Thanks!
Deletesussman is fake and his new side kick is a blow hard bore.I don't blame Mrs Morgan leaving at all.
ReplyDeleteThe KSFO morning show is awful. Melanie Morgan is right to leave. When Lee Rodgers was the host, I used to set my alarm clock at 5AM just to hear his BS-free take on the stories in the news, and I would continue listening until he signed off at 9AM. Now, the only time I ever listen is in the car during my 10-15 minute commute to work--unless there's something better on another station.
ReplyDeleteDitto!!
Delete9:19 and 10:05 all make valid points.
ReplyDeleteSince the arrival of Brian Sussman KSFO has lost a lot of its appeal.
His opinions lack any kind of reason. More knee jerk.
And his bathroom humor and false manhood act are getting very old.
Melanie Morgan will do well for herself.
Good for her. KSFO's loss and her gain.
His comments on people's physical appearance such as calling Christie "fat" are childish. Why not just criticize their opinions if you disagree with them.
DeletePerhaps KSFOhno can Replace MM with the "King of weekends" Karel or as his Mama and lovers call him Charles.Chuckles the clown can pimp himself out for mortgage cash The "Susman" can can continue Dribbling nonsense. That would including bringing up his multi culti brood every 5 min. I am not sure where the young failed Broken FM DJ fits in but I am sure the 6 Morning show listeners are only there for her. At the end of the day this line up could save the station.
ReplyDeleteSussman and Karel. Perfect! Crossfire by Dummies.
Delete'Reichstag Radio' will never be the same with Melanie the Meanie!
ReplyDeleteAfter Lee Rodgers was unceremoniously fired, Sussman and Officer Vic worked very well together for a long time. For some reason Katie Green was introduced to the show with her inanities and it started going downhill. Then Cumulus fired OV. I think Cumulus is trying to eliminate everything that listeners enjoyed at KSFO and KGO.
ReplyDeleteWhen MM was brought in I kept waiting for Sussman and MM to hit their groove together, I thought they would be a great team. But they never established that chemistry. I think the only hope for the KSFO morning show now is for Cumulus to bring back OV, and dump Katie Green, cold as that sounds.
All you have to do is look at what Cumulus has done to KGO over the last year and you can see why it's fallen off the table. The mass firing of almost all of the talk show hosts with no back up plan. Making an inane yeller such as 'Monty' and nincompoop like 'Karel' regulars on the weekend. Firing News Director Paul Hosley and then not hiring a replacement. Are these people even living in reality, or are they simply out to lunch?
ReplyDeleteI liked the old show with Melanie and Lee Rodgers, and Officer Vic. They worked well together. Things went down when Brian Sussman was brought in after Rodgers was fired. He does not work well on radio and it shows. I was surprised when Melanie came back after she was fired (and her husband too). She came back when Rush Limbaugh left the station. The thinking was that having a stalwart conservative like Melanie would help blunt Limbaugh's departure.
ReplyDeleteMelanie was fine but the combo with Sussman and the other gal was not working. It ended up driving away listeners who could not stand Sussman. I suspect she will do just fine either at another station or through the Internet. As for Sussman, his ego is pretty large from what I have observed. Doubt he learned anything from this. KSFO, if they want a conservative talker for the morning show, needs someone with better tonsils and more talent than this former tv weatherman.
Mark, you hit the nail on the head. Katie is a disaster, and Mel was reduced to such a small role. It was clear that she was unhappy, and, while she tried to bring the show up, she was unable to.
DeleteGood for her. I loved it when she was with Uncle Lee and OV. I used to like Sussman when he was with OV, but bringing in Katie has brought the level of the show down!!! Now all they do is laugh at their own private jokes, and play stupid sounds. So childish. And if I hear, "the best damn morning show" one more time I may throw up. Sussman is good when he is talking about climate change, but he has become a one trick pony. When Katie was out for a week, the show was great, adult-oriented. When she came back, it dropped precipitously. I'd love to see Mel and OV have a show on one of the local stations!!!
ReplyDeleteKsfo was good listening when they had the GREAT Lee Rogers and Melanie/OV on in the morning. Suss was great in the PM slot. That is when there was truly free speech. Miss YOU Melanie. Now Suss and Katie SUCK. They are so PC. Suss your listeners don't care about sports or food. Steve Frank sucks, I knew obama was going to win, the fix was in and all you can say is, "what a great day in america, one less day of obama". Hey nimrod, maybe you should listen to Savage, obama is not going anywhere. He will be president until 2024. The only good thing about KSFO is the BABE and the prophet Savage, the rest sucks
ReplyDeleteMark, spot on. You have common sense brother
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the above. When it was Lee/MM/OV, that was "Must Listen" radio.
ReplyDeleteBrian is a light-weight (except re global warming). Katie is a light- weight-in-training.
Really liked Lee,Melanie was ok, OV was good, but Katy Green just really amped up the program in NOT a good way. I do not tune in anymore, just checked to see if MM was really gone. Good for her.
ReplyDeleteBrian really should reevaluate. The program is stupid now.
Thought Melanie vacation. (and her gaffs) Why no mention on air, Free Speech? Low brow "humor" like "best damned" not good
ReplyDeleteBrian is ok when working with Melanie, in fact she kept him real. I like Katie but that did not work well with Morgan. The clash was only too evident...Love you Melanie.
ReplyDeleteJeff
I used to look forward to the morning show, but now it resembles the TV comedy shows. I miss OV and Melanie, and Brian has changed.
ReplyDeleteI no longer listen. It is so silly with the stupid yuck-yuck jokes. I'm supposed to believe what Katie Green has to say about current events? Really?
ReplyDelete