Is Jack Swanson still managing radio stations? I know about that one in Santa Rosa, that I can't hear in Marin, but are there others? Anything new on "Mrs. Swanson, Melanie Morgan. Why can't SHE do those True Car Ads, and get rid of that loudmouth amateur. It couldn't be an American who owns True Car, using that raspy voice to sell their product. Must be some stubborn foreigner.
I don't miss Ray either, although personally, I admire his intellect and wish him well. In my opinion, Taliafero was the Al Sharpton of the Bay Area, a professional race baiter, not even looking for actual solutions.
If Luckoff had remained KGO would still be in the top 10. He would've never gutted it the way the Dickies and their henchmen did...sure, it wasn't number 1 any longer but it is embarrassing to see it drop off into the 20s with hacks like Weintraub, Chef Scott, Mo Landgdon etc etc. the Ed Woods of radio...
Who hired Copeland, Owens, Thurston, and Karel? Seems to.me they were around when Mickey was there and they're the ones with no ratings now. Highly doubt Ryan Scott is the problem regardless of how bad the show is. If you think Luckoff would prevent changes then you have no idea how this works. Literally no idea at all. I thought Maureen, David and Matt were all great additions to a station that was already dead. Monty i couldn't stomach.
Matt Ray and David Weintraub were such GREAT additions that both were fired. Weintraub was such an AWESOME host that he was relegated to a midnight shift and then shown the door. Get your head out of your ass! I have to assume you're either Weintraub or boy wonder Jared Hart...
Mickey Luckoff loved the business of radio and was a gentleman compared to most of the weasels who work in broadcasting management today. I sat next to him once at a Cal game and really enjoyed talking with the guy. He loved sports, and while he had to sometimes be a 'cut-throat,' (which is unfortunately the nature of most management types in a byzantine, stressful, sometimes dysfunctional business such as broadcasting), he kept the core of t KGO intact for many years, and that's one of the reasons why that station was so successful.
It's kind of the same formula that great sports teams use; reward hard working, talented people, emphasize the positives and try to get everyone to work as a 'team,' not as individuals. I have seen, heard and even worked with far too many stations in both radio and TV that were not happy places, had instability, and had owners and GMs that were not good people.
I guess this is only a reflection of the business world in general. Human beings just love to argue and get petty and jealous, but that's one of the main things that will bring a station down in the ratings.
I think you're underestimating the impact of Jack Swanson but he was also the reason all of the current average weekend talent remains. Yet to defend Jack, they were just weekend talent when he was there.
I find it fascinating that Ronn Owens has such terrible ratings and yet people talk about him like he's some great host. Time and time again I have written how NOTHING CHANGED for Ronn Owens. His time slot stayed the same. The station stayed the same. Sorry. One thing did change: his ratings! They're terrible!
Was Ronn Owens a product of what surrounded him? I think the jury has delivered on that one. Nothing could be more apparent.
Mickey would have been fired 10 different times "had he been there now." It's not even an argument that makes sense. It's about as useful as saying, "If it were 1998..."
Jack mattered more than Mickey from a programming perspective but people like that don't exist in a corporate radio environment like the one we're witnessing.
Stop pining for the past. It's over. It's dead. It's done.
I don't know if I'll ever listen to a station again where I would "agree" with a host's views one day and find their opinion laughable the next day. KGO had a bunch of hosts like that. It tended to give them a bit more credibility and also forced you to question your own thinking, (besides theirs). Still miss it. Every day was like a family get-together, you had your share of weird uncles of course, but mostly it reminded me conversations we'd have at my grandparents with my aunts and uncles. Some screaming, some laughing, but mostly it was interesting.
Mickey may have been a good operator, but he was fortunate to have managed KGO under the old Nielsen "diary" methodology; not sure even he could have stopped the bleeding with the new Nielsen ppm.
He'd be shaking his head in disgust and also laughing because he wouldn't have to stress out over how the KGO ship has sunk
ReplyDeleteRich....I'm sure you know him....why don't you ask him what his thoughts are
ReplyDeleteIf was all so good, why haven't Mickey and Jack jump back into radio? Jack farmed out his wife (Melanie) to a hick station in Sonoma County.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I miss the old KGO (sans Bernie and Ray), but ABC/Disney sold it. Don't ride Cumulus, their just turning a profit.
Is Jack Swanson still managing radio stations? I know about that one in Santa Rosa, that I can't hear in Marin, but are there others? Anything new on "Mrs. Swanson, Melanie Morgan. Why can't SHE do those True Car Ads, and get rid of that loudmouth amateur. It couldn't be an American who owns True Car, using that raspy voice to sell their product. Must be some stubborn foreigner.
ReplyDeleteI don't miss Ray either, although personally, I admire his intellect and wish him well. In my opinion, Taliafero was the Al Sharpton of the Bay Area, a professional race baiter, not even looking for actual solutions.
ReplyDeleteRay is a really good radio guy.
DeleteBullshit
DeleteDoesn't take a genius to know what he would think. Let's be honest though even if he worked there it would still be tanking. He's not a wizard.
ReplyDeleteIf Luckoff had remained KGO would still be in the top 10. He would've never gutted it the way the Dickies and their henchmen did...sure, it wasn't number 1 any longer but it is embarrassing to see it drop off into the 20s with hacks like Weintraub, Chef Scott, Mo Landgdon etc etc. the Ed Woods of radio...
ReplyDeleteWho hired Copeland, Owens, Thurston, and Karel? Seems to.me they were around when Mickey was there and they're the ones with no ratings now. Highly doubt Ryan Scott is the problem regardless of how bad the show is. If you think Luckoff would prevent changes then you have no idea how this works. Literally no idea at all. I thought Maureen, David and Matt were all great additions to a station that was already dead. Monty i couldn't stomach.
DeleteMatt Ray and David Weintraub were such GREAT additions that both were fired. Weintraub was such an AWESOME host that he was relegated to a midnight shift and then shown the door. Get your head out of your ass! I have to assume you're either Weintraub or boy wonder Jared Hart...
DeleteMickey Luckoff loved the business of radio and was a gentleman compared to most of the weasels who work in broadcasting management today. I sat next to him once at a Cal game and really enjoyed talking with the guy. He loved sports, and while he had to sometimes be a 'cut-throat,' (which is unfortunately the nature of most management types in a byzantine, stressful, sometimes dysfunctional business such as broadcasting), he kept the core of t KGO intact for many years, and that's one of the reasons why that station was so successful.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of the same formula that great sports teams use; reward hard working, talented people, emphasize the positives and try to get everyone to work as a 'team,' not as individuals. I have seen, heard and even worked with far too many stations in both radio and TV that were not happy places, had instability, and had owners and GMs that were not good people.
I guess this is only a reflection of the business world in general. Human beings just love to argue and get petty and jealous, but that's one of the main things that will bring a station down in the ratings.
I think you're underestimating the impact of Jack Swanson but he was also the reason all of the current average weekend talent remains. Yet to defend Jack, they were just weekend talent when he was there.
DeleteI find it fascinating that Ronn Owens has such terrible ratings and yet people talk about him like he's some great host. Time and time again I have written how NOTHING CHANGED for Ronn Owens. His time slot stayed the same. The station stayed the same. Sorry. One thing did change: his ratings! They're terrible!
Was Ronn Owens a product of what surrounded him? I think the jury has delivered on that one. Nothing could be more apparent.
Mickey would have been fired 10 different times "had he been there now." It's not even an argument that makes sense. It's about as useful as saying, "If it were 1998..."
Jack mattered more than Mickey from a programming perspective but people like that don't exist in a corporate radio environment like the one we're witnessing.
Stop pining for the past. It's over. It's dead. It's done.
I don't know if I'll ever listen to a station again where I would "agree" with a host's views one day and find their opinion laughable the next day. KGO had a bunch of hosts like that. It tended to give them a bit more credibility and also forced you to question your own thinking, (besides theirs). Still miss it. Every day was like a family get-together, you had your share of weird uncles of course, but mostly it reminded me conversations we'd have at my grandparents with my aunts and uncles. Some screaming, some laughing, but mostly it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe one and only thing Cumulus Cloud did right was to fire Ray Tagliaferro! Good riddance! Ray was terrible! Where did Mickey get this guy?
ReplyDeleteYeah, Ray was every bit as pompous and intolerant as Warrensburg was.
DeleteMickey may have been a good operator, but he was fortunate to have managed KGO under the old Nielsen "diary" methodology; not sure even he could have stopped the bleeding with the new Nielsen ppm.
ReplyDelete