This is NO double talk.
Not a silly press release that the trades have bought hook, line and sinker, not to mention a host of radio trolls and misinformed broadcast people.
And a whole bunch of people have been baited and switched with regard to what's really transpired at the life support corral in radio Oregon known as Talk Radio Network, the syndicate that is essentially living on fumes. The doofus patrol has bought the Kool-Aid. TRN is down and out. Maybe the buildings are still operational but people are not getting paid and several are now working for free looking for the tooth fairy.
My sources are impeccable. I know this might shock you but I have been told the real story, not the charred falsely-stated puff coming out of the mouth of TRN's head suit, Mark Masters.
Here's the situation, from multiple connections in the industry--
Several informed sources tell me the Washington crowd is furious. Several have lawyered up. Masters paid severance for Oregon employees but left the East Coast Operations in the lurch, owed thousands and thousands of dollars.
One employee said: "Spread the word Mark Masters is crazy. He refuses to take any responsibility for his company and what happened to it. He blamed everyone else."
One on-air talent is in the middle of breast cancer treatment and didn't get a dime in severance. I can't use her name because she asked me not to.
Dana Mills, (from America's Morning News)- was the lucky one. She got fired a month ago and got all her money. She's now in Florida looking for employment.
And finally, this note about Rusty Humphries from Inside Radio. They're done.
And finally, this note about Rusty Humphries from Inside Radio. They're done.
*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive
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Thanks for the Dana Mills update. She was just a voice on the radio at 3 in the morning, but I got used to her tones, her professional air, her classy humor. I liked the brother and sister relationship she and John seemed to have. Sometimes she would not let him finish his jokes if the jokes were too long, too sexy or otherwise distracting in their silliness. Big Sis says "Stop It!"
ReplyDeleteOh, forgive me for pointing out that "now working for free looking for the tooth ferry" got my attention. I think you meant Tooth Fairy, unless I missed an under-joke.
"Exclusive. The real story you only get here."
ReplyDeleteSounds like a local news tease. Does this bombshell qualify as BREAKING NEWS?
See you at eleven.
Everything correct about this story accept one thing: "Masters paid severance for Oregon employees." They received paychecks with no severance. They have also not been paid for their final week of work.
ReplyDeleteNice scoop, Rich. I feel for the employees.
ReplyDeleteThis is the new media of today; heartless, foolish, and run by bloodless cretins who have no interest in public service, responsible journalism, and haven't a concept of the word loyalty. The only thing these slime-balls care about is the bottom line, keeping the shareholders happy, and fattening their own wallets.
ReplyDeleteThey are the bane of the world, and one can only hope that some day they too, will get cut out and throw into the cold, dark night, just as they have done so heartlessly to so many in our profession. I am totally disgusted and done with the pea brained jerks that run our business, as deregulation has driven out responsible management in broadcasting and turned unimaginative bean counters into broadcast executives. They replace talented, respected and experienced names with untrained, unprofessional neophytes who wouldn't know a microphone if it bit them in the tush. Shame on America for allowing this to happen!
Didn't Reagan say (between naps) it's time to run America like a business?
DeleteI think Reagan was quoting Coolidge, another enlightened Republican. Boy that GOP has produced some real gems hasn't it? :(
ReplyDeleteFree-market capitalism works great in theory. In reality, a lot of people get destroyed.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say a lot of people get destroyed under free market captitalism, don't you really mean 'displaced' due to market demand? I hear this a lot whenever WalMart expands, that they are destroying Mom and Pop stores and therefore must cease to exist without tight government regulation. It is always sad when a small business closes.
DeleteHere in Novato, Zunnino's Shoe Repair, next door to the old theater is closing this week. Mr. Z. is a very nice fellow and a great storyteller. Mr. Z. has charisma without seeming to know it. In Zunnino's case, I think he is just ready to retire anyway. Still, if a small shoe repair shop should reopen at that same spot, I think they could succeed if they update the business and offer little things not offered at the bigger stores (fish pedicures maybe?). There is still room for the smaller shops most the time, if they can find a new hook, a new, appealing sort of distinction. If I was a reporter, I may want to do an exit-interview with Mr. Z. and his wife, who is also quite pleasant and helpful.
Off topic, but not sure where to ask. Sebastian Kunz,KKSF, strangely gone... lately has been the best part of Gil Gross show...and I USED to be number 1 fan.. Gil is supposed to be giving a story this afternoon. I'm not sure I'll believe it. Beginning to think that Gil is more than just the voice behind the mike, might be management? Getting rid of anyone that could be slightly considered competition?
ReplyDeleteSebastian Kunz and KKSF have parted ways. Gil does have a big say in programming decisions at KKSF, including the departure of Len "The Loyah" Tillem. Gil has proven adept at lining up advertisers for Talk 910 and building a solid and growing audience.
DeleteSebastian Kunz's employment by KKSF, Talk 910, and KNEW, 960, recently came to an end. I can't confirm whether or not Gil Gross made the decision or backed it. Said Kunz:"My boss at ClearChannel told me it was only a matter of time..." This marks the beginning of the new Sebastian Kunz media empire. His new role is Creator/Executive Producer for SebastianCentral, Inc.
Delete" Gil has proven adept at lining up advertisers for Talk 910 and building a solid and growing audience." Rhoda? Is it you? I really don't think, at least from the "numbers" nor from the comments on this blog, that Gil is "building a solid and growing audience." And, if you aren't Pat Vatucci or Ben Frenklin et al, it doesn't seem that the advertisers are streaming in. I've heard a few spots that have been on for a week or two and then are not heard again.
DeleteGil did do a few comments this afternoon..."not with the station, not caused by the station, everyone there loves him, it is a personal matter with Sebastian. He is not ill..great friends, etc. etc. etc..." hmmm, why do I still wonder if there was a knife present or not. Best of luck to Sebastian and will try to follow him.
America always has found a way to lead the world in new ideas and new opportunities. And it HAS worked well in the past.
ReplyDeleteBut in these recent times, we've allowed banks to remain unsupervised, and deregulation has been good for only the FEW, not the many. This is not good for America, because if you cut out the middle class, who is going to buy the goods and services?
However, with so many of these companies going global now, their CEOs and shareholders don't care, because they can opt to exploit markets elsewhere.
The very country that has given them the chance to start and build and flourish by letting them do their business unsupervised, trusted that they will do whst is 'fair and good and right' for this country and for themselves. But it's a proven fact these mega-companies have more than taken advantage of the situation to line their pockets even further at the expense of the little guy. Many of us in this country now believe that this rich moneyed class needs to be made accountable.
If you look at the concentration of wealth in this country over the last 30 some odd years since the 1980s, (when Reagan made the idea of deregulation a popular one) there hasn't been this kind of concentration of wealth since the 1920s. And we all know what happened when we got to the end of that decade!
TRN's CEO, Mark Masters, is none other than the son of long-time radio talk personality and Christian hypnotherapist Roy Masters who had his origins in Southern California before moving his cult-like ministry to Grants Pass, Oregon.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with 6:16, Gil these days is boring, tells stories that has no relevance to anything, at times he has some interesting expect or political figure on, he is still a good interviewer, but his stories are old and tired. Many would only be of interest to people who know Gil or is in the same business, it is the kind of stories one tells at a cocktail party, to keep the conversation going and trying to find common ground, they don't hold up in a talk show host format. Perhaps Sebastian just got tired of Gil's stories, and left before he got bored to death, perhaps 910 is cleaning house, we could hope Gil would be next, and they find someone who actually can keep us interested for 3-4 hours. These days I listen to Gil maybe 15 to 20 minutes of the 4 hours, I turn to Norm Goldman, even Mark Levin who I can't stand, but like he beats up on other republican's and he does take calls, although they are all ditto heads. Sometime I just turn to a music station.
ReplyDeleteUmmmmm, uhhhhhhhh, ummmmmm....
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