The current issue of my Radio Programming Letter discusses the age-old conflict between Radio Management and Radio Talent.
This post is for my subscribers to use to add their own comments, thoughts, rejoinders, etc.
RADIO TALENT vs. RADIO MANAGEMENT…
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I can top that! I’d been doing MIDDAYS (MIDDAYS, not overnights) at WSB-FM in Atlanta for a year when the GM walked in the studio one day, looked around and said “do I know you?” That’s how out-of-touch many of these corporate types are with the real business of broadcasting. I’m surprised he even knew where the control room was. Probably wandered in there by mistake.
I have been the Office/Sales Manager at 1,000 watt AM radio station in a small town in Wyoming for over five years. Even after all this time, it never ceases to amaze me how difficult and immature on-air talent can be. I’ve witnessed full-blown temper tantrums from every DJ (male or female) I have worked with. Slamming doors, breaking things, fits a two year old child couldn’t top. I’ve even had to call law enforcement to our station because they were threatening to “kill” the boss! The latest DJ and PD refused to read holiday turkey recipes from area school children ($800 worth of sponsorships), and packed up his desk and walked out as a result of it. Their disrespect towards our Station Manager and Owner/Operator is unbelievable and wouldn’t have been tolerated in any other industry I have worked in. I have continually expressed my concerns and disbelief to my boss regarding this behavior. He just tells me that all radio on-air personalities have an ego problem, that’s just the nature of the radio business, and I need to get used to it. I absolutely refuse to accept such an explanation! It takes all of us to make radio a success, and there is no one employee who is more important than the other. Almost all of the DJ’s I have worked with think they are not only better than their fellow employees, but their fellow man. What is going on Dan? How can this continue to be acceptable, professional, work-place behavior? When you act like a child in the workplace, all you do is show me how inappropriate and unprofessional you are, and I begin to look for a way to get rid of you. There is no crying in baseball, and there are no temper-tantrums in radio say I, the last “ego-free” radio station employee alive! Thanks for letting me vent, and I hope on-air talent everywhere will start to re-think the way they present themselves when they’re not on-the-air.
That kind of explanation bothers me too. It’s apparent that the GM needs to have a sit down with all concerned. He is right, the industry animal is composed of giant egos, but a zoo has rapid crocks and stomping elephants yet the handlers & zoo keepers have it under control. We all want to lead and it looks like your GM needs to take a course in leading horses to water, or fire the culprits as there are a lot of talent who wouldn’t mind reading Turkey receipes who are out of jobs! I think the receipe thing is a great idea by the way.